Dejaun Gayle

Integration Systems Engineer

About Me

Systems Engineer who automates large-scale data center integration, building provisioning, firmware, and validation pipelines that turn one-off builds into repeatable workflows. Automated a 216-server, two-site Dell PowerEdge deployment under a compressed timeline and built an internal FastAPI platform for health checks, order tracking, and firmware-library management. Deploys NVIDIA BasePOD and DGX environments end to end, from BCM provisioning and Kubernetes node partitioning through GPU, NVLink, and InfiniBand validation. NVIDIA MGX and BasePOD certified.

Technical Skills

A broad range of technical skills acquired through academic coursework, work experience, and extensive hands-on project work in my home lab.

Operating Systems Linux (RHEL, CentOS) Windows Server (2016-2022)
Scripting & Automation Python Ansible xCAT Redfish API
Data Center & GPU Infrastructure NVIDIA DGX & BasePOD NVIDIA MGX NVLink InfiniBand MLAG
Virtualization & Orchestration Kubernetes VMware Dell VxRail
Directory Services & IAM Active Directory Group Policy Microsoft 365 Okta
Security Eclypsium
Soft Skills Problem Solving Communication Collaboration Adaptability Leadership Stakeholder Communication

Work Experience

Integration Systems Engineer

SHI International Corp.
Jul 2025 – Present
  • Deployment engineer on a multi-rack NVIDIA BasePOD build, owning BCM11 provisioning, head-node HA config, Kubernetes node partitioning via CMSH, and Cisco 9k validation through customer signoff.
  • Lead Engineer who successfully automated a 216-server, two-site Dell PowerEdge R660 build covering BIOS, firmware, and ESXi 8.3 imaging and configuration with a highly compressed timeline, cited by name by the IDCS Director and VP for automation impact.
  • Design and deploy automation for enterprise server, storage, and network infrastructure using Python, Redfish, and xCAT, standardizing configuration and logging workflows across customer environments.
  • Recovered a failed NVIDIA DGX B200 rollout, owning system configuration, GPU bandwidth and CUDA performance validation, health log collection, and deployment documentation.
  • Build Python-based automation integrating the Airtable Build Planner API to generate live CSV/XLSX allocation reports, improving engineering capacity planning and visibility during weekly scrum and delivery reviews.
  • Automate patching and lifecycle operations across enterprise RHEL environments by integrating xCAT and Redfish endpoints, reducing manual intervention and improving consistency of updates.
  • Engineer standardized provisioning workflows using Ansible and Python across RHEL and VMware environments, ensuring repeatable deployments across multiple customer data centers.
  • Conduct technical interviews for Systems Engineer candidates alongside senior staff, evaluating automation, virtualization, Linux, and scripting competency.
  • Participated in system design reviews and technical planning sessions for enterprise clients, identifying configuration risks, incompatibilities, and design gaps prior to deployment.
NVIDIA BasePOD BCM11 Kubernetes Dell PowerEdge Redfish API xCAT Python Ansible RHEL VMware NVIDIA DGX B200 Automation

Junior System Administrator

Kean Information Technology
Sept 2024 – May 2025
  • Resolved complex escalations during a Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration, addressing mailbox synchronization failures, duplicate accounts, mail routing issues, and vendor access using M365 Admin Center, ADUC, and PowerShell.
  • Led and mentored a team of 13 student technicians providing L2 M365 support, implementing a structured escalation and training model that reduced improper escalations by ~15-20% while meeting SLA targets.
  • Deployed and managed print services for ~156 campus-wide MFPs using Group Policy and Active Directory security groups, standardizing drivers and improving security and reliability across diverse device models.
  • Implemented a centralized Scan-to-Share solution using SMB shares hosted on Windows Server 2022, managing permissions through AD groups to eliminate USB-based workflows and improve user productivity.
  • Authored and presented a technical proposal to the VP of IT/CIO for a PSI-approved testing center, covering hardware architecture, networking, security controls, and vendor cost analysis; proposal advanced to funding review.
System Administration Group Policy Management Active Directory Print Server PowerShell M365 Admin Troubleshooting Leadership Process Improvement

Helpdesk Analyst

OCIS
Oct 2023 – Sept 2024
  • Resolved an average of 11+ technical support tickets per shift via phone, email, and remote sessions (BeyondTrust), maintaining ~93% first-contact resolution while supporting account access, hardware diagnostics, and software issues.
  • Developed knowledge base articles and step-by-step troubleshooting guides using SharePoint, contributing to a 20%+ reduction in repeat support requests.
  • Processed identity and access requests including MFA resets, password changes, and group membership updates using Okta, ADUC, and PuTTY while ensuring FERPA compliance.
Technical Support Troubleshooting Okta ADUC PuTTY SharePoint Knowledge Management FERPA Compliance BeyondTrust

Projects

Hands-on projects demonstrating practical application of system administration, engineering, automation, and security skills.

Infrastructure & Virtualization (Home Lab)

Comprehensive self-hosted environment built on server-grade hardware for learning, testing, and running production services.

  • Designed, built, and manage a multi-node Proxmox VE cluster (ThinkServer RD550) utilizing ZFS (RAID1 for OS boot, RAID5 for VM/LXC storage) ensuring data redundancy and integrity.
  • Hosts diverse workloads including Linux LXC containers (Debian, Ubuntu) for lightweight services (Caddy, Cloudflared, AdGuard Home, Rsyslog) and full VMs (Windows Server, Linux distros) for testing and application hosting.
  • Configured Proxmox networking (bridges, VLAN tagging concepts) to segment traffic between different services and security zones.
Proxmox VE Linux (Debian) ZFS Virtualization LXC Containers Server Hardware Networking

Python Network & Security Tool Suite

Custom-built Python tools for automating security reconnaissance and threat intelligence gathering.

  • Engineered a modular tool suite using Python (`requests`, `json`, `re`, `dnspython`) to automate querying of external APIs (VirusTotal, AbuseIPDB) and perform DNS lookups for IP reputation analysis.
  • Developed components for network device fingerprinting (leveraging OSINT and potentially passive analysis concepts).
  • Implemented robust multi-key API management with rate limiting respecting free-tier constraints, exponential backoff for transient errors, and progress tracking for large datasets.
  • Included automated result parsing and generation of actionable recommendations (e.g., Block/Investigate/Monitor) based on aggregated threat data, significantly speeding up security investigations.
Python API Integration Automation Security Threat Intelligence Error Handling Data Parsing

Containerization & DevOps Practices

Deploying and managing applications efficiently using Docker and related tools.

  • Utilized Docker and Docker Compose to define, deploy, and manage various containerized applications (Caddy web server/reverse proxy, AdGuard Home DNS sinkhole, game servers like Minecraft) on Linux hosts within the Proxmox environment.
  • Managed container lifecycle, networking (macvlan, custom bridge networks), resource allocation (CPU/memory limits), and persistent data storage (volumes) using Portainer GUI and Docker Compose YAML files.
  • Streamlined application deployment, updates, and configuration management, improving service reliability and simplifying maintenance compared to traditional installations.
Docker Docker Compose Portainer Linux DevOps Concepts Container Networking Application Deployment

Infrastructure Monitoring Stack

Implementing real-time monitoring and visualization for home lab infrastructure.

  • Deployed and configured the Prometheus, Node Exporter, and Grafana stack (often via Docker) to collect and visualize real-time performance metrics from Proxmox hosts, VMs, and containers.
  • Collected metrics including CPU usage, memory utilization, disk I/O, network throughput, and system temperatures.
  • Created customized Grafana dashboards with graphs and alerts to provide actionable insights into system health, identify potential bottlenecks, and improve overall infrastructure observability.
Grafana Prometheus Node Exporter Monitoring Observability Docker Data Visualization

System Security Hardening

Applying security best practices across Linux and Windows systems.

  • Implemented robust security measures including fail-safe login configurations, custom port firewalls (UFW on Linux, Windows Firewall), and automatic IP banning for brute-force protection (Fail2ban).
  • Applied the principle of least privilege for user accounts, service permissions, and file system access on both Linux and Windows Server environments.
  • Secured remote access using VPN tunnels (Tailscale) and strong SSH key authentication practices (key rotation, disabling password auth).
  • Performed periodic vulnerability scanning using tools like Nmap to identify and remediate open ports or misconfigurations.
Security Hardening Linux Security Windows Security Firewalls (UFW) Fail2Ban Least Privilege VPN Nmap

Web & Email Systems Administration

Deploying and managing secure, self-hosted web and email services.

  • Managed personal domain (`futureforge.xyz`), utilizing Cloudflare for authoritative DNS, DDoS protection, and secure tunneling (Cloudflared) to expose self-hosted web applications (React builds, internal dashboards) without opening firewall ports.
  • Deployed, configured, and secured a complete self-hosted mail server stack on Linux using Postfix (SMTP relay/delivery) and Dovecot (IMAP/POP3 access).
  • Implemented email security best practices including DNS record configuration (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve deliverability and prevent spoofing.
Cloudflare DNS Linux Postfix Dovecot Email Protocols Web Hosting (Caddy) Security (SPF/DKIM)

Sophos Firewall & Zero-Trust Network

Implementing advanced network security using an edge firewall.

  • Architected and configured a Sophos firewall (virtual appliance) as the network edge gateway for the home lab environment.
  • Implemented network segmentation using VLANs and firewall rules to isolate different security zones (e.g., management, servers, user devices).
  • Configured advanced Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (IDS/IPS) policies and enabled traffic/application monitoring for enhanced network visibility and threat detection.
  • Applied zero-trust principles through granular firewall policies restricting inter-VLAN traffic and enforcing least privilege network access.
Sophos Firewall Firewall Rules Networking Network Security IDS/IPS Zero Trust VLANs

IDCS Portal

Internal web platform for infrastructure health checks, sales-order tracking, and firmware-library management.

  • Built a FastAPI and Uvicorn platform on RHEL providing infrastructure health checks, sales-order tracking, firmware-library management, and bench-document reconciliation.
  • Designed an interactive terminal console alongside a production UI to give engineers a single point of access for build status and documentation.
FastAPI Uvicorn Python RHEL

NVIDIA DGX BasePOD Deployment

End-to-end deployment of NVIDIA DGX systems and BasePOD-class environments.

  • Deployed NVIDIA DGX systems and BasePOD-class environments, handling logical configuration, system bring-up, and production readiness.
  • Worked across BCM11 provisioning, Kubernetes node partitioning, and Run:AI integration to prepare clusters for customer handoff.
BCM11 Kubernetes Run:AI NVIDIA DGX NVIDIA BasePOD

Dell AI Platform Deployment

Engineering lead on a university AI-platform deployment integrating Kubernetes and ClearML on Dell hardware.

  • Led engineering on a university AI-platform deployment integrating Kubernetes and ClearML using Dell hardware.
  • Worked through Active Directory integration, BCM architectural gaps, and control-plane sizing in coordination with NVIDIA and ClearML.
ClearML BCM10 Active Directory Kubernetes Dell

Provisioning and Scanning Suite

Automated switch bring-up, vulnerability scanning, and configuration wipe for customer handoff.

  • Automated switch bring-up, SSH enablement, and firmware installation with Cisco compatibility logic using Python, Netmiko, and Ansible.
  • Built vulnerability scanning and configuration wipe workflows to standardize customer handoff.
Python Netmiko Ansible Cisco

Digital Spark

Internal AI assistant for team procedures, configuration, and project knowledge.

  • Built an internal AI assistant using a local LLM (Ollama, Gemma4) with RAG over team procedures, configuration, and project knowledge.
  • Ran a second instance on a local Gemma model dedicated to automated log analysis.
Local LLM Ollama Python RAG Gemma4

Deployment Automation

Templated automation to generate configurations, collect inventory, and run system readiness checks.

  • Built templated automation using Python, Ansible, and Postman to generate configurations, collect inventory, and run system readiness checks during deployments.
  • Reduced configuration drift across customer builds through standardized, repeatable templates.
Python Ansible Postman Automation

Research Experience & Publications

Research Programs

Google - CAHSI Collaboration
January 2025 – Present
Focus: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Social Impact initiatives
AI Research Cybersecurity Collaborative Research
Kean University Internship (SpF)
May 2024 – August 2024
Focus: Transformer Neural Networks and LLMs for airborne surveillance systems
Neural Networks Computer Vision Drone Systems
Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI)
February 2024 – July 2024
Focus: Multimodal adversarial testing of LLMs and image generators
Adversarial AI Security Testing LLM Research
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
October 2023 – December 2023
Focus: Security vulnerabilities and mitigation in Large Language Models
AI Security Data Analysis Technical Writing

Presentations & Publications

  • [1]
    D. Gayle and Y. Kumar, "Detection and Mitigation of Multimodal Adversarial Attacks," presented at the Annual GMiS Conference, Fort Worth, TX, Nov. 6–9, 2024.
  • [2]
    D. Gayle, B. Hannon, Y. Kumar, and J. J. Li, "Navigating Adversarial Prompts to Secure Large Language Models," presented at Kean Research Days, Union, NJ, Apr. 17, 2024.
  • [3]
    B. Hannon, Y. Kumar, D. Gayle, J. J. Li, and P. Morreale, "Robust Testing of AI Language Model Resiliency with Novel Adversarial Prompts," Electronics, vol. 13, no. 5, p. 842, 2024. View Article

Education & Affiliations

Education

Kean University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Specialization: Cybersecurity

Graduated: May 2025

Distinction in Research
Computer Science Cybersecurity Research

Organizations & Memberships

  • Center for Cybersecurity

    March 2023 - July 2025

    Active member participating in cybersecurity research and training initiatives

  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

    October 2022 - July 2025

    Member of premier computing society focused on advancing computing as a science and profession

Networking Leadership

Get In Touch

Let's Connect

I'm an Integration Systems Engineer at SHI International, focused on data center automation and NVIDIA GPU infrastructure. Always open to connecting with others in Systems Engineering, DevOps, or Infrastructure Automation. Let's connect!

Contact Me via Email