Career Transition: After 9 years as an independent IT consultant, I'm now pursuing a full-time in-house Systems Engineer role. Seeking Full-Time Role: Ready to bring 13+ years of consulting expertise to an internal IT team. Learn more »

Christopher Rothmeier – IT Infrastructure ConsultantSenior Systems EngineerSenior Infrastructure Engineer – Available Immediately

13+ years delivering enterprise Microsoft/Azure infrastructure solutions. Available for consulting engagements. 13+ years leading Microsoft/Azure infrastructure. After 9 years consulting, I'm pursuing full-time opportunities. 13+ years of Microsoft/Azure expertise, ready to bring consulting experience in-house as a dedicated team member.

Now Accepting Consulting Projects for infrastructure design, cloud migrations, security assessments, and Azure optimization.

Hi, I'm Chris. I design, secure, and optimize enterprise IT systems, including nearly a decade running my own consulting practice. I'm ready to bring that breadth in-house as a dedicated team member. This portfolio shows how I help organizations build secure, efficient, and scalable infrastructure.

  • • Technical Portfolio: Review case studies on cloud migrations, security upgrades, and infrastructure programs I've led.
  • • Homelab & R&D: Visit my production-grade homelab powering Kubernetes clusters, 10GbE networking, and GPU workloads.
  • • Blog Articles: Read insights on cloud architecture, automation, and lessons from nine years of consulting.

Ready to elevate your infrastructure. Let's discuss how I can help solve your technical challenges. Open to new opportunities. Available for consulting projects and exploring full-time roles in Philadelphia or remote. Seeking my next career home. If you're hiring for senior infrastructure roles in Philadelphia or remote, let's connect.

About Christopher Rothmeier

After 13 years in IT infrastructure — including 9 years as an independent consultant — I'm transitioning from running my own business to joining an internal IT team. Why the change? In short, consulting gave me breadth, but now I'm seeking depth. I've loved helping many clients achieve their goals, but I'm ready to focus on one organization's success and see projects through long-term.

Why the Transition?

As a consultant, I gained exposure to a wide range of industries, challenges, and technologies. I designed Azure and VMware hybrid clouds, tightened cybersecurity for healthcare providers, led Office 365 migrations, and more. It was incredibly rewarding, but projects would wrap up and I'd move on. I want to be part of a dedicated team, building and refining systems over years rather than handing them off. Beyond that, I'm craving the camaraderie and shared mission you get as an in-house engineer. (I understand some might wonder if I'd feel "overqualified" or restless in a permanent role — truthfully, I'm excited to roll up my sleeves on day-to-day operations and contribute long-term. This transition is about finding a stable home where I can make a deeper impact, not a temporary stopgap between contracts.)

What I Bring

  • Hands-on expertise: 13+ years architecting and managing Microsoft-centric environments (Active Directory, Exchange, Microsoft 365, Azure) and VMware virtualization at enterprise scale.
  • Proven results: Achieved significant improvements for clients (e.g. ~30% average cost savings via cloud optimizations, 99.9% uptime on critical systems, 98%+ security compliance in regulated industries).
  • Project leadership: Successfully led complex initiatives like data center consolidations, cloud migrations, and cybersecurity audits — from planning and design through execution and support.
  • Business-minded communication: Adept at translating technical concepts into business value. I've presented to executives, written IT policies, and trained staff, ensuring technology projects meet organizational goals.
  • Continuous learning: Passionate about keeping skills sharp. I even maintain a full homelab with a mini data center (10GbE network, Kubernetes cluster, GPU servers) to test new technologies and best practices before deploying them in production.

What I'm Seeking

I'm looking for a Senior Systems Administrator / Infrastructure Engineer position in a stable, growth-minded organization (Philadelphia-area or remote). My ideal environment values security-first architecture, long-term planning, and continuous improvement. I want to collaborate with a team, share the knowledge I've gained, and tackle challenging projects where I can contribute hands-on every day. In return, you'll get a veteran engineer who's ready to hit the ground running and committed to your company's mission for the long haul.

Thank you for reading my story. If you think my background might be a fit for your team, I'd love to chat!

Consulting Services & Expertise Core Competencies & Technical Experience Technical Skills & Experience

13+ years of hands-on experience delivering enterprise-grade infrastructure solutions

Microsoft & Azure Infrastructure

Expert in Active Directory, Exchange, M365, and Azure cloud services with 13+ years of experience.

Cloud & Hybrid Infrastructure

Efficient and scalable cloud environments, bridging on-premises systems and modern cloud solutions.

Cybersecurity Solutions

Advanced threat protection, security assessments, and proactive defenses to keep your data secure.

Data Backup & Recovery

Reliable, automated backup solutions ensuring rapid recovery and minimal downtime.

VMware & Virtualization

Extensive experience with vSphere, ESXi, vCenter, and migrations to alternative platforms like Proxmox.

Automation & DevOps

PowerShell, Python, Terraform, and CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure automation and efficiency.

Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)

Currently pursuing certification – Demonstrating proficiency in Kubernetes architecture, container orchestration, and cloud-native technologies

In Progress

What I Bring to Your Organization

A unique combination of technical depth, business acumen, and proven leadership from nearly a decade of running my own consulting practice.

Enterprise Experience

  • Led 50+ cloud migrations and hybrid infrastructure deployments.
  • Managed infrastructure for organizations ranging from 10 to 500+ users.
  • Implemented zero-trust security frameworks and compliance solutions.
  • Reduced infrastructure costs by 30-40% through optimization and automation.
IT Expertise
Data Center Infrastructure

Continuous Learning & Innovation

  • Active homelab with enterprise-grade equipment for testing and validation.
  • Regular contributions to technical blogs and open-source projects.
  • Staying current with emerging technologies like AI/ML infrastructure and containerization.

During COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020

"Lazarus Laboratories didn't just upgrade our systems—they saved our business. The infrastructure Chris built let us pivot to remote work overnight while our competitors struggled for months. His foresight in modernizing our systems before the pandemic was nothing short of prophetic."

Patricia Ellenwood

Patricia Ellenwood

President, CSI Crystalizations Systems, Inc.

Technical Articles & Case Studies

Securing Healthcare LLMs: On-Prem Deployment Architecture for PHI Protection

May 14, 2025

Large Language Models (LLMs) are revolutionizing healthcare operations, but their deployment introduces significant security and compliance challenges. Explore battle-tested architecture patterns...

Read Article
VMware to Proxmox Migration
Migration

The Great Escape: VMware to Proxmox/KVM

May 10, 2025

Practical strategies for migrating from VMware to Proxmox/KVM following the Broadcom acquisition...

Read More
AI Chatbot
AI Development

Building an AEI Chatbot

April 12, 2025

Learn how to build an emotionally intelligent chatbot with real-time emotion detection...

Read More
GPU Infrastructure
Security

GPU Infrastructure Security

April 11, 2025

Best practices for ensuring robust on-premises GPU deployments in the modern AI landscape...

Read More
Enterprise Data Protection
Backup

The Microsoft 365 Backup Reality: When 1TB of OneDrive Data Demands Enterprise-Grade Protection

June 20, 2025

Explore how Veeam Enterprise addresses massive Microsoft 365 backup requirements and licensing complexities for enterprise-grade data protection.

Read More

Let's Work Together Let's Connect Ready to Join Your Team

Available for consulting engagements and infrastructure projects Open to consulting projects and full-time opportunities Seeking senior infrastructure and systems engineering roles

Request QuoteEmail MeSend Resume Request LinkedIn Profile