Observability
10,000+ instances rapidly enrolled through shared Dynatrace automationStaff DevOps • Platform Engineering • Multi-Account AWS • CI/CD • Secure Delivery
Design the platform. Automate the toil. Scale what works.
I’m Brandon White, a Staff DevOps Engineer focused on multi-account AWS architecture, platform automation, CI/CD standardization, and secure cloud operations. I build reusable systems that cut manual work, strengthen delivery confidence, and help engineering teams move faster with better guardrails.
Cost Savings
$220K+ annual savings delivered through governance automation, rightsizing, and DynamoDB optimizationPlatform Scale
50 AWS environments supported across accounts and regionsTeam Enablement
7 teams enabled through shared platform solutions and operational automationAbout
Built through problem solving, adaptability, and follow-through
I started as an on-prem engineer and moved into cloud engineering later in my career. That transition taught me that technical skill matters, but the bigger differentiators are curiosity, work ethic, and the ability to keep pushing until the problem is understood and solved.
The work I’m most proud of usually starts with something messy: unclear ownership, brittle delivery, too much manual effort, or a system that no longer scales cleanly. I like turning that into something more reliable, repeatable, and easier for teams to work with.
I care a lot about problem solving, learning quickly, and building systems that actually hold up in production. Mentors helped me get here, and I try to bring that same mindset into the way I work with other engineers now.
Signature wins
Work that stands out
ShutdownSheriff
Built ShutdownSheriff, an AWS-based EC2 governance system using EventBridge, Lambda, and email workflows to automate instance management, reduce waste, and create clearer ownership across teams. The project became an AI Cup finalist out of 65 entries and was presented to the CTO and senior leadership as a practical example of automation driving measurable business value.
- Delivered more than $120,000 per year in cloud savings
- Enabled action on 100+ servers through scheduling, rightsizing, and cleanup workflows
- Changed team behavior by making ownership visible and unused infrastructure easier to remove
Observability Modernization
Led a key part of the company’s observability modernization initiative by automating Dynatrace OneAgent rollout across 10,000+ instances. Built a shared SSM Automation solution integrated into server builds and daily checks, plus a serverless workflow that identifies SSM Agent gaps and reports them to Operations.
- Turned observability rollout into a reusable shared platform capability
- Integrated directly into provisioning and ongoing compliance workflows
- Improved fleet visibility and reduced operational blind spots
Impact
Results across scale, reliability, and delivery
Governance Automation & Cost Optimization
Built automation that reduced waste, improved ownership visibility, and turned cost control into a repeatable operational process across AWS environments.
- Delivered more than $220,000+ in annual savings through governance automation, rightsizing, EC2 scheduling, cleanup workflows, and DynamoDB optimization
- Used event-driven automation and operational notifications to make cost actions easier for teams to identify and complete
- Improved accountability by making ownership and idle-resource decisions more visible and easier to act on
Golden Image Automation
Architected and built an event-driven golden image automation solution for Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (AppStream 2.0). Using EventBridge and durable Lambda workflows, the system builds images, applies configuration, installs software and OS updates, copies images across regions, and shares them to 15 AWS accounts for client fleet use.
- Automated image configuration, software installation, patching, cross-region copy, and account sharing
- Built an automated golden image process that supports fast onboarding with up-to-date images and core software preinstalled
- Helped enable the broader shift from EC2-based application delivery to managed application streaming
CI/CD at Production Scale
Improved release confidence and developer experience in HIPAA-aware healthcare environments.
- Built pipelines that run unit tests with pytest, deploy to dev and test, run integration tests, and promote to production
- Supported automated deployment flows across as many as 15 AWS production accounts
- Embedded security scans with Semgrep and CrowdStrike into delivery workflows
Technology strengths
Core tools, delivery discipline, and platform depth
Cloud & Platform Engineering
Multi-account AWS architecture across dev, test, and up to 15 production accounts, using CloudFormation, Terraform, and AWS CDK to build scalable, repeatable platforms.
Automation & Development
Python, boto3, Bash, PowerShell, SQL, and event-driven AWS services for governance tooling, database workflows, and operational automation.
CI/CD & Developer Experience
Trunk-based delivery with Bitbucket Cloud, CodeBuild, pytest, deployment pipelines, and automated unit and integration testing that move code through dev, test, and production with minimal manual effort.
Observability & Operations
Dynatrace, CloudWatch, and AWS X-Ray, paired with standardized monitoring, operational visibility, and measurable cost optimization.
Security & Governance
HIPAA-aware cloud delivery using Secrets Manager, encryption, least-privilege IAM, permission boundaries, SCP guardrails, Semgrep, and CrowdStrike.
Shared Platform Leadership
Built shared systems, golden AMIs, reusable Terraform modules, and pipeline templates used across teams, with technical guidance, architecture reviews, and informal mentorship.
How I work
Always be automating
Turn repeated work into dependable systems that save time and make execution smoother.
Start small, scale what works
Prove the path first, then expand it into something teams can rely on.
Own the outcome
Push through ambiguity, find the root cause, and carry the work through to a real result.
Build for reliable delivery
Create secure, stable systems that hold up in production and make delivery easier for everyone.
Experience
Career timeline
Staff DevOps Engineer • NextGen Healthcare
Leading high-scale cloud initiatives focused on observability, governance, image automation, and shared platform engineering across AWS environments.
- Directed and automated Dynatrace deployment across 10,000+ EC2 instances using AWS Systems Manager Automation, Lambda, and operational alerting workflows
- Built ShutdownSheriff, an EventBridge / Lambda / SES governance system that automated EC2 lifecycle actions and delivered more than $120K/year in savings
- Architected AppStream 2.0 golden image modernization across regions and accounts, improving image consistency, delivery speed, and platform scalability
Senior DevOps Engineer • NextGen Healthcare
Built serverless automation, strengthened cloud security, and improved delivery reliability and cost efficiency across enterprise AWS workloads.
- Managed and optimized 50+ CI/CD pipelines with automated testing and security scanning, improving delivery reliability and aligning workflows with the AWS Well-Architected Framework
- Built serverless restore workflows for Amazon Aurora lower environments and automated operational tasks with Lambda, EventBridge, and Python / boto3
- Delivered more than $100K/year in savings through DynamoDB capacity analysis, ECS rightsizing, and CloudWatch log retention optimization, while strengthening Aurora security posture
Lead Application Developer • University of Rochester Medical Center
Owned the public web platform and infrastructure for URMC, improving operational reliability, deployment practices, and platform performance.
- Designed and implemented reusable Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines and YAML templates to standardize deployment workflows and reduce manual effort
- Improved uptime and resilience by modernizing CMS, web, and SQL infrastructure and introducing caching and high-availability patterns
Senior Web Developer • University of Rochester Medical Center
Led custom web development and enterprise CMS work, including legacy system integration, API-driven migrations, and payment platform improvements.
Earlier Roles • URMC / CedarCrestone
Built depth across IT operations, business systems, web applications, reporting, infrastructure, and technical support in demanding environments.
Credentials
Certifications, education, and publication
Certifications
Education
Clarkson University
B.S. in Information Systems and Business Processes
Publication
Secure Amazon Aurora clusters in HIPAA-compliant workloads
Authored a technical article published on the AWS Database Blog, covering how to secure Aurora PostgreSQL and MySQL in HIPAA-compliant environments using encryption, TLS 1.3, IAM guardrails, and operational security controls.
Contact
For collaboration, platform engineering discussions, or professional connection — reach out on LinkedIn.
Rochester, New York Metropolitan Area • linkedin.com/in/brandon-d-white