About
Robert Melcher
HPC System Administrator / DevOps-Focused
👋 Hello, I’m Robert
I’m a DevOps-focused HPC System Administrator and former Cybersecurity Engineer with 8+ years of experience building secure, scalable, and high-performance IT infrastructures. My passion lies in leveraging automation, cloud technology, and containerization to solve complex infrastructure challenges.
Currently serving as an HPC System Administrator at Forvia, where I manage enterprise-grade HPC environments, coordinate datacenter deployment activities, and collaborate with cross-functional IT teams for demanding computational workloads.
🚀 Core Expertise
| Focus Area | Key Activities |
|---|---|
| HPC Infrastructure & Operations | Coordinating datacenter deployment activities (server racking, patching, cabling), collaborating with network/firewall teams for VLAN/port allocation and security flows, managing InfiniBand (Mellanox switches), and handling end-to-end infrastructure provisioning. |
| Enterprise Systems Management | Remote server deployment via iDRAC, OS installation and configuration, managing SMB/NFS shares, implementing PBS job scheduling, and supporting HPC applications (CST, Moldflow, Altair) with vendor coordination. |
| Hybrid Cloud & Virtualization | Designing and managing Linux/Windows servers, AWS (EC2/S3), Oracle Cloud (Ampere), Proxmox virtualization, and Docker containerization. |
| DevOps & Automation | Implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Puppet automation, GitOps workflows, and orchestrating Kubernetes (K8s/K3S) clusters with Rancher. |
| Security & Network Engineering | VLAN design coordination, firewall flow configuration, vulnerability assessments (NESSUS), next-gen firewall management (Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper), and enterprise access control. |
🛠️ Technical Stack
HPC & Infrastructure
- PBS (Portable Batch System) job scheduling & resource management
- InfiniBand networking (Mellanox switch configuration)
- HPC application support: CST, Moldflow, Altair (troubleshooting & vendor coordination)
- iDRAC remote management & bare-metal provisioning
- SMB/NFS storage solutions & enterprise file sharing
Cloud & Virtualization
- AWS (EC2 instances, S3 storage) & Oracle Cloud (Ampere 4vCPU/24GB/200GB in Phoenix datacenter)
- Kubernetes (K8s, K3S with Rancher) & Docker (Portainer orchestration)
- Proxmox, XEN hypervisors, ManageIQ virtual management
System Administration & Automation
- Linux/Windows Server (enterprise production environments)
- Puppet & SALT configuration management
- Active Directory integration & BAREOS enterprise backup solutions
Networking & Security
- CCNA certified - VLAN design, network segmentation, firewall flow management
- Cross-team collaboration (network team for VLAN/port allocation, firewall team for security flows)
- Next-gen firewall management (Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper)
- IPsec VPN (StrongSwan), WAF deployment, enterprise network architecture
💡 Key Projects & Achievements
HPC Infrastructure Operations @ Forvia
- End-to-end datacenter deployment: Coordinating with IT teams for physical server installation (racking, cabling, patching) in enterprise datacenters
- Cross-functional collaboration: Working alongside network teams for VLAN/port allocation and firewall teams for security flow approvals
- Bare-metal provisioning: Remote OS deployment via iDRAC with automated configuration workflows
- Storage infrastructure: Implementing enterprise SMB/NFS shares for HPC workload data management
- HPC application support: Managing PBS scheduler, troubleshooting CST, Moldflow, and Altair applications with vendor support coordination
- InfiniBand networking: Configuring Mellanox switches for high-speed interconnects in HPC clusters
Production Homelab
- Dell PowerEdge R720 running Proxmox with multi-tenant VM environment
- K3S cluster managed via Rancher with Portainer-orchestrated containers
- Network security: pFsense firewall, VLAN isolation, web application firewall
Cloud Exploration
- Hands-on experience with AWS EC2/S3 for scalable application deployment
- Running production Oracle Cloud Ampere instance (4vCPU/24GB RAM/200GB storage) in Phoenix datacenter for performance testing and ARM architecture exploration
Infrastructure Transformation (Previous Roles)
- Migrated legacy Puppet infrastructure to Kubernetes cluster, improving scalability and deployment velocity
- Designed enterprise BAREOS backup architecture ensuring 99.9% data integrity
- Implemented Forescout policy framework for 1000+ Windows 10 endpoints
Founder @ Dolphost (2022–2024)
- Built and managed secure WordPress hosting platform with automated deployment
- Integrated WHMCS/cPanel for streamlined client management and VPS provisioning
💼 Career Highlights
HPC System Administrator @ Forvia (2022–Present)
- Datacenter operations: Coordinating server deployment activities including racking, patching, and cabling infrastructure
- Cross-team collaboration: Working with network teams for VLAN design and port allocation, and firewall teams for secure flow implementation
- Infrastructure provisioning: Managing end-to-end server deployment from physical installation to application readiness
- Network architecture: Configuring InfiniBand (Mellanox) switches for high-speed cluster interconnects
- HPC systems: Implementing PBS job scheduler, managing Active Directory/SALT integration, supporting computational applications (CST, Moldflow, Altair)
- Storage solutions: Configuring enterprise SMB/NFS shares for distributed HPC workloads
- Remote management: Deploying and configuring servers via iDRAC with automated OS provisioning
Cybersecurity Engineer @ Atos IT Solutions (2020–2022)
- Conducted enterprise security assessments and delivered detailed risk reports to senior management
- Configured firewall policies across multi-vendor environments (Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper)
- Managed endpoint security with CyberArk and led Forescout Windows 10 migration
System Administrator @ Netex Romania (2018–2020)
- Led infrastructure modernization initiatives including Puppet-to-Kubernetes migration
- Deployed Asterisk VOIP system with CISCO phone integration
- Managed datacenter operations: rack installations, network cabling, UPS maintenance
🎓 Education & Certifications
Computer Science - West University of Timișoara (2016–2018)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) - Credential ID: NJXWKRFD7D1EQ7C0 (2019–2020)
Completed intensive 7-month training program with hands-on CISCO hardware labs and GNS3 network simulation
🔮 Currently Exploring
- HPC cluster optimization and high-speed interconnect technologies
- Multi-cloud infrastructure strategies (AWS, Oracle Cloud, Azure)
- Kubernetes-native security & service mesh architectures
- ARM-based computing optimization (Ampere processors)
- Terraform & Ansible for declarative infrastructure automation
🏷️ About the Merox Name
The name merox represents my technical identity — a carefully crafted blend of personal heritage and digital evolution:
- ME = Melcher (family name)
- RO = Robert (first name)
- X = Added for phonetic impact and modern appeal
Originally, my handle was mer0x39 (hexadecimal notation), where 0x39 equals 57 — representing my birth day and month (May 7th). I simplified it to merox for a clean, memorable professional brand that’s concise and instantly recognizable.
Ready to connect? I’m always open to discussing infrastructure challenges, HPC architecture, or cybersecurity initiatives.