David Cantrell
Verified Expert in Engineering
Systems Architect and Developer
Linden, TN, United States
Toptal member since April 22, 2025
David is an IT systems senior tech lead and architect with 15+ years of experience in IT architecture, design, and administration. A Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert and Security+ certified virtualization specialist, he installs secure networks based on Infosec best practices. David also has 10+ years of experience across VMware products, including ESX and vCenter, as well as Citrix XenDesktop (Virtual Desktop), XenApp (Virtual Apps), and XenServer.
Portfolio
Experience
- Windows Server 2008 - 17 years
- VMware - 15 years
- VMware ESXi - 14 years
- Citrix - 10 years
- Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktops - 10 years
- Windows Server 2016 - 9 years
- Windows 10 - 5 years
- Windows Server 2022 - 3 years
Availability
Preferred Environment
Citrix
The most amazing...
...thing I've done is build virtualization environments based on Citrix, Hyper-V, and VMware.
Work Experience
Virtualization Architect | Senior Tech Lead SME
HCL Technologies
- Provided virtualization engineering support to Citrix (TIBCO Cloud Software Group) for a new virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) project to support the internal user base.
- Supported the installation and configuration of a Citrix environment hosted on Azure.
- Led a team of 20 level 2 and 3 techs. Handled team training, escalations, conflict resolution, and team direction.
- Assisted senior and executive leadership on team direction and outage debriefs.
Virtualization Architect | Senior Tech Lead SME
HCL Technologies
- Handled virtualization architecture support for the Kyndryl (IBM) team, supporting a huge healthcare customer with a large installed Azure Virtual Desktop and Citrix user base of 40,000 virtualized users.
- Led a team of 23 level 2 and 3 techs. Handled team training, escalations, conflict resolution, and team direction.
- Provided support to senior and executive leadership on team direction and outage debriefs.
- Oversaw escalation support for resolving user tickets for Citrix-related issues.
- Upgraded and supported Citrix ADC, Virtual Apps and Desktops, and Hypervisor.
- Architected and led initiatives to move from Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) to Citrix Machine Creation Services (MCS) for all machine catalogs.
- Supported efforts to off-site the Citrix infrastructure to Citrix Cloud solutions based on Azure.
Virtualization Support Specialist
Collabera
- Filled a senior virtualization admin position supporting an IBM managed services team, focusing on VMware and Citrix for a large Blue Cross affiliate.
- Resolved problems in tickets generated by clients.
- Assisted in designing and deploying new technologies based on client needs.
- Created documentation of changes and new software and hardware deployments, including Citrix XenDesktop 7.6.
- Led the migration of 1,500 Windows 7 VDI user virtual machines to a new XenDesktop 7.11 Windows 10 environment. This initiative included full architecture design, testing, server deployment, and patch management.
Experience
Website for Training Persons with Disability
https://consurgoservices.org/Skills
Tools
VMware, Apache
Platforms
Citrix, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2022, WordPress, Azure
Frameworks
Windows PowerShell
Languages
YAML
Other
Windows 10, VMware ESXi, Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktops, Citrix XenDesktop, Virtualization, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Azure VDI, Team Leadership, Training, Azure Virtual Desktop, Citrix ADC (formerly NetScaler), Citrix Hypervisor, Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS), Citrix Machine Creation Services (MCS), Virtual Machines, Websites
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