About Alexandru
I’m Alexandru Cerlat—a network engineer who thrives at the edge of technology and practical problem-solving. My background is in Telecommunications (Universitatea Tehnică a Moldovei), and I’ve built my expertise through real-world projects in banking, corporate, SMB, and cloud environments.
Staying hands-on is important to me: I love taking on challenging migrations, exploring automation in cloud environments, and sharing what I learn with others. Whether it’s VMware, Cisco, Fortinet, MikroTik, or scripting with Ansible and Terraform, I’m always refining my toolkit.
I’m passionate about transforming vulnerable, static networks into resilient, secure, and dynamic infrastructures. I also love creating educational content, sharing project stories, and connecting with people who are navigating similar tech journeys.
Let’s talk about:
- Building secure and automated networks (on-prem or cloud)
- Cybersecurity for modern businesses
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- Zero Trust architectures
- Real-world project insights & troubleshooting
If you want to share your own project wins or ask about anything network/security/devops, drop a comment or DM—I’m always happy to connect and exchange ideas!
Romanian
Native or bilingual
English
Conversational
Russian
Native or bilingual
Remote only
Primarily works remotely
Experience
- DAAC SYSTEM INTEGRATORNETWORK ENGINEERDIGITAL AND ITFebruary 2024 - Today (2 years and 4 months)Chișinău, CV, Moldova• Design customized network solutions based on client requirements.• Develop architectures using vendor technologies (e.g., Cisco routing/switching, Fortinet security, Dell networking).• Assist sales teams with technical presentations and product recommendations.• Conduct site surveys and assess client infrastructure.• Install, configure, and deploy hardware and software from partner vendors (routers, switches, firewalls, wireless solutions, etc.).• Ensure successful integration into the client's existing infrastructure.• Configure and troubleshoot Cisco devices, Fortinet FortiGate firewalls, Mikrotik, Juniper etc.• Utilize vendor best practices and standards.• Perform system testing and validation to ensure performance, security, and reliability.• Document and verify configurations before going live.• Create network diagrams, configuration guides, and operational manuals for clients.• Maintain internal documentation for repeatable deployments.• Provide ongoing support for deployed solutions, including troubleshooting and performance tuning.• Handle escalations from helpdesk or support teams.• Deliver client training sessions on deployed solutions.• Support internal training for team members on new technologies or solutions.• Deploy and configure firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, and other security features (especially Fortinet solutions).• Apply access control and network segmentation policies.• Maintain certifications from Cisco, Fortinet, and others.• Ensure deployments comply with vendor guidelines and licensing requirements.• Stay up to date with vendor updates, new releases, and emerging technologies.• Participate in labs, webinars, and training programs.
- STARLAB SRLENGINEER NOCMay 2022 - February 2024 (1 year and 9 months)Chișinău, CV, Moldova• Continuously monitor network performance using tools (e.g. Zabbix, SolarWinds).• Detect outages, latency, packet loss, and other issues in real time.• Respond quickly to alerts and incidents.• Troubleshoot network problems (e.g., routing issues, BGP flaps, link failures).• Escalate to appropriate teams when needed.• Assist in resolving customer connectivity issues escalated by support teams.• Communicate technical issues clearly to non-technical personnel.• Perform configuration changes on routers, switches (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, MikroTik).• Apply software updates, patches, and backups.• Maintain updated network topology diagrams, configuration files, and incident logs.• Analyze traffic patterns and performance metrics to identify bottlenecks.• Recommend or implement improvements.• Assist with provisioning new circuits, configuring new links, or expanding infrastructure.• Watch for signs of DDoS attacks, unauthorized access, or network abuse.• Work with security teams to mitigate threats.• Work in 24/7 shifts to ensure continuous network coverage.• Be available for on-call support during critical periods.• Coordinate with field engineers, system admins, and other technical teams.• Provide detailed handovers and status reports between shifts.
- starnetCUSTOMER BUSINESS OPERATORDIGITAL AND ITFebruary 2021 - May 2022 (1 year and 3 months)Chisinau, Moldova• Solving problems reported by bussines customers in a timely manner;• Correct identification and finding the best solutions for the client, providing professional answers;• Configuring VOIP, VPBX services;• Providing customers with the necessary online and telephone support for technical and Internet and IPTV technical issues.• Monitoring L2VPN services• Configure Backup, BGP on Mikrotic vendor• Setting Forwarding ports for surveillance cameras and servers (Ex.Synology, Bitrix24)• Monitoring Bussines customers through Tools (Ex: Dude, Zabbix)
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Education
- TELECOMMUNICATIONSTechnical University of Moldova2024TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Certifications
- LFS169: Introduction to GitOpsThe Linux Foundation2025
- LFD102: A Beginner's Guide to Open Source Software DevelopmentThe Linux Foundation2025