Platform and infrastructure engineer with 15+ years building and operating production systems. I design Kubernetes-hosted platforms, modernize cloud and identity infrastructure, and ship internal tooling that real users depend on. My current production work runs on a 3-node Kubernetes cluster serving 350+ dealers across North America. I started as a software engineer, spent the last decade building and leading the systems behind manufacturing and operations, and I am now focused full-time on hands-on platform and DevOps work. Currently completing the Certified Kubernetes Administrator exam (expected Aug 2026).

Franco Lopez

Technical Focus

  • Platform & Infrastructure: Kubernetes, Docker, Talos Linux, Linux, VMware, Hyper-V, Networking, Cisco, Fortinet
  • Cloud & Identity: Microsoft Azure, Linode, Cloudflare, Azure IaaS, Azure AD / Entra ID, MFA, Conditional Access
  • DevOps & Automation: GitOps, Flux CD, GitHub Actions, CI/CD, Helm, Bash, Python, Automation
  • Applications & Data: PostgreSQL, REST APIs, SQL, React, Microsoft 365

Experience

LS Tractor USA · IT Manager — Platform & Infrastructure

North American operations of LS Mtron — a global tractor manufacturer (LS Group, Korea) sold in the US under both LS and New Holland Agriculture Tractors.

Raleigh, NC · Oct 2022 – Present

  • Designed, built, and operate Start Blue (startblue.lstractorusa.com) — a Kubernetes-hosted quote platform serving 350+ dealers across the US and Canada. 3-node cluster with two years in production with no major incidents; 2,000+ quotes processed.
  • Built the platform end-to-end: React + PostgreSQL application, container images, deployment workflows, backups, disaster recovery, and analytics on dealer engagement, regional demand, and product mix.
  • Building LS Academy — a Kubernetes-hosted learning platform projected for 500+ dealer users. Architecting on a GitOps pipeline with Argo CD and GitHub Actions, applying patterns proven in personal homelab work on Talos Linux and Flux CD.
  • Built and shipped recruitment.lstractorusa.com — the corporate dealer recruitment site. Owned design, build, deployment, and DNS/TLS configuration on a corporate subdomain.
  • Led full migration from on-prem Active Directory to Azure AD / Entra ID for 200+ users: hybrid identity via Azure AD Connect, MFA, Conditional Access policies, GPO modernization, and corporate NAS-to-OneDrive transition.
  • Designed and deployed end-to-end infrastructure for two new manufacturing sites in Texas and North Carolina from ground up — networking, compute, security, identity, and secure remote access.
  • Build and mentor a cross-functional engineering team across infrastructure, applications, and security.

Stack: Kubernetes · Linode · Azure · Docker · GitHub Actions · React · PostgreSQL · Fortinet · Cloudflare

Interamerican Foods Corp. / La Moderna USA · IT Manager — Infrastructure & Cloud

US arm of Grupo La Moderna — the leading pasta brand in Mexico and one of the largest pasta manufacturers in Latin America. Flagship US plant produces private-label pasta for Walmart (Great Value), Campbell's, and Goya.

Cleburne, TX · Jun 2017 – Oct 2022

  • Stood up the entire IT and infrastructure stack for a 24/7 automated manufacturing facility from greenfield — networking, compute, storage, identity, and OT/IT integration.
  • Designed and deployed the company's US web platform (lamodernausa.com) on Azure IaaS, including DNS, TLS, and supporting infrastructure.
  • Built and implemented a multi-tier cloud backup and disaster recovery system to protect multiple 24/7 production and packaging line servers, with automated validation and failover testing, reducing recovery time from over 1 hour to under 10 minutes.
  • Hardened the perimeter with next-gen firewalls, Cloudflare DNS/WAF, WireGuard VPN, and network segmentation across distributed sites.
  • Led Cisco Meraki rollout (networking, wireless, security cameras) across all US locations with zero production downtime.
  • Rolled out FreshService ITSM across 27 sites in the US, Mexico, and Guatemala — 2,500+ users, with SLA tracking and automated workflows.

Stack: Azure · VMware · HPE SimpliVity · Cisco Meraki · Fortinet · Cloudflare · WireGuard · Microsoft 365 · FreshService

SR Traffic Service Inc. · Software Engineer

Cross-border logistics operator running four distribution facilities between the US and Mexico.

Laredo, TX · Jan 2010 – Jun 2017

  • Built a Warehouse Management System from scratch — barcode generation, handheld scanner integration, mobile and desktop clients, real-time inventory, customs documentation, and client-facing reporting. Served 20+ international clients across 4 facilities.
  • Designed REST APIs and SQL-backed workflows powering inventory, dispatch, customs paperwork, and customer portals.
  • Automated build, test, and deployment processes; migrated workloads to cloud infrastructure for scalability and cost control.
  • Ran regular security audits and led remediation work across business-critical systems.

Stack: JavaScript · PHP · SQL · REST APIs · BASH · Filemaker Claris · Cloud Infrastructure · CI/CD Foundations

Projects

Start Blue — Production Quote Platform

3-node Kubernetes cluster serving 350+ dealers across the US and Canada. Built the React + PostgreSQL application end-to-end and operate the cluster, deployment workflows, backups, and DR. Two years in production with no major incidents; 2,000+ quotes processed; ~$216/month operating cost — a deliberate cost-vs-managed-services tradeoff for the workload size.

Stack: Kubernetes · Linode · React · PostgreSQL · Docker · GitHub Actions

LS Academy — Learning Platform (in progress)

Kubernetes-hosted learning platform for 500+ users. Architecting on a GitOps pipeline with Argo CD and GitHub Actions, applying patterns proven in personal homelab work on Talos Linux and Flux CD.

Stack: Kubernetes · Argo CD · GitHub Actions · GitOps

Domum — GitOps Homelab

GitOps-driven Kubernetes homelab on Talos Linux with Flux CD. Demonstrates declarative service deployment, automated reconciliation, and modern DevOps patterns end-to-end. The reference architecture I am applying to LS Academy.

Stack: Kubernetes · Talos Linux · Flux CD · GitOps · Helm

Domum-core — Self-Updating Home Services Platform

One-command, self-managing services platform for Raspberry Pi or any Debian/Ubuntu host. Curl-installs Docker, clones the repo, initializes the host, and applies desired state. GitOps philosophy applied to single-host environments.

Stack: Docker · Bash · GitOps · Linux

LibrAIry — AI-Powered File Organization

Bash pipeline combining local AI model analysis, metadata fingerprinting, and structured move-planning to automate large-scale file reorganization. Practical experiment in integrating local AI models into infrastructure tooling, running from a docker container.

Stack: Bash · Local AI Models · Linux

LS Tractor Dealer Recruitment Site

Corporate recruitment funnel for prospective LS Tractor dealers. Owned design, frontend build, deployment, DNS, and TLS on a corporate subdomain.

Stack: HTML/CSS/JS · DNS/TLS · Subdomain Provisioning

Azure AD / Entra ID Migration

Migrated 200+ users from on-prem Active Directory to Entra ID. Hybrid identity via Azure AD Connect, MFA, Conditional Access, GPO modernization, and NAS-to-OneDrive transition.

Stack: Azure AD / Entra ID · Azure AD Connect · Microsoft 365 · PowerShell

Education and Certifications

  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) — The Linux Foundation (In progress · expected Aug 2026)
  • B.S. Computer Systems Engineering — Universidad del Valle de México (2005 – 2010)
  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) — Microsoft (Mar 2022)
  • Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions — Cisco Meraki (Sep 2021)
  • HPE SimpliVity 380 System Administration (VMware) — HPE (Apr 2019)

Currently Learning

  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) — exam Aug 2026
  • Argo CD and advanced GitOps patterns (deploying with LS Academy)
  • Terraform and Infrastructure as Code (next, post-CKA)
  • Go Programming Language (for building Kubernetes tooling and automation) (on the roadmap)
  • Building with AI developer tools (Claude Code, MCP, agentic workflows) for infrastructure automation and documentation

Languages

English and Spanish.