DARREN WARING
LEEDS,North Yorkshire
Summary
Infrastructure engineer with nearly 30 years in IT, most recently building and managing secure development environments for government and enterprise clients. I set up the VMware platforms, Windows and Linux servers, and networking that developers and analysts need to do their work safely - including cyber test ranges and cloud-integrated labs.
Day-to-day, I work across virtualisation (VMware, Hyper-V), automation (Terraform, Ansible, Packer), and networking (Cisco, NSX). I'm comfortable being customer-facing, writing technical documentation, and managing service delivery, and managing small projects.
I've also developed a strong interest in AI and automation beyond the enterprise space using tools that use AI to solve real business problems, from workflow automation to data processing. It's an area I'm actively working in and learning more about every week. For example Claude Code integration with VS Code, Gemini and ChatGPT, n8n etc.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Environments Platforms Engineer
Capgemini/BAE Systems
04.2025 - Current
- Design & support of a developer’s cloud hosting environment to enable low-side working. A virtual lab based on VMWare with a physical component co-located at a supplier, accessible via an AWS authentication layer/AWS cloud infrastructure front-end for colocation services i.e. a local datacentre.
Environments Platforms Engineer
Capgemini/BAE Systems
04.2020 - 04.2025
- Part of the range engineering team providing analysts with safe to fail environments, where they can exercise and develop their tradecraft e.g. cyber test ranges for exercise. Virtualisation (VMWare, Hyper-V) Windows system admin (MCP), Linux system admin (RHSA), Networking (Cisco, VyOS, NSX), Automation (Terraform, Puppet, Packer, Ansible, DSC), Agile
Consultant Systems Engineer
Sopra Steria
06.2015 - 04.2020
- Working for the same end-client but this time delivering Windows 7 64-bit desktop, with the intention to upgrade to Windows 10 64-bit in 2016. Again, working on various build engineering activities and ongoing Managed Desktop Support. Customer facing role with regular stakeholder engagement, project meetings and reporting responsibilities. Day-today activities include implementation and support of Active Directory, VMware v5.5, SCCM 2012, Server 2012r2 and endpoint security such as Sophos and McAfee, implementation of new SharePoint Intranet SQL Server DB solution.
Consultant Systems Engineer
Hewlett Packard
12.2011 - 06.2015
- Managed Enterprise Desktop Delivery Project. I worked on various build engineering activities enabling HP to deliver a new Windows 7 32-bit desktop to the customer and then provide ongoing Managed Desktop Support. I initially supplied Application Packaging and Microsoft Sequencing consultancy, however within a short period of time was asked to be involved in the delivery of a new managed service providing a new Specialist Workspace Service based on a VMware ESXi infrastructure. As the SME for this service I maintained the operation of the clients virtual UAD infrastructure performing a Service Line Manager role, which I have been doing for the last 2 years, essentially a 2nd/3rd Line Technical Support role with a customer-facing managerial element.
- Large Government Organization based in Cheltenham.
Consultant Application Packager / Sequencer
Hewlett-Packard
12.2010 - 12.2011
- Providing MSI Packaging & sequencing of COTS, GOTS and bespoke applications. Microsoft Application, Virtualization (App-V) in a Windows XP, Windows 7, Server 2003/2008 environment. I also provided technical input on a number of projects gathering business requirements, feeding into the integration and build process, and creating Specialist Workspace VDIs and software virtualisation. Managed enterprise deployment using a combination of Microsoft System Centre Configuration Manager and Altiris DS/NS. Application Packager
Application Packager Workstream Lead
Fujitsu Services
01.2008 - 11.2010
- ATLAS Consortium DII project to replace numerous individual information systems throughout the MoD with a single, more efficient information infrastructure. Packaging and tailoring of COTS and bespoke software using Installshield, Wise Package Studio, ORCA and VBScripting to create clean, internally consistent, packages. This applied to both client and server environments, many of which needed to be scripted. Managed a team of 5 providing packages for MoD Battlespace, afloat, ashore and deployed environments. Tools included VMWare Workstation, Regmon, Filemon & Installwatch Application Packager ATLAS Consortium
Application Packaging Consultant
EDS
01.2005 - 01.2007
- ATLAS project (UK MoD Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) Consulting on the packaging of legacy applications into MSI format, transforming and/or scripting existing Microsoft Installer COTS applications and quality assurance product testing / documentation. Tooling included Installshield and VMWare snapshots to create clean, ICE free, packages.
Application Packaging Consultant
CSC
08.2004 - 07.2005
- Contract role application packaging for the National Grid Transco (NGT) Desktop Remediation Project. Standard COTS repackaging using Wise Package Studio. Repackaging of bespoke and 3rd party products, reverse engineering legacy SMS and Netware packages.
3rd Line & Packaging Team Lead
Computacenter UK
05.2002 - 07.2004
- 3rd Level Support role for HP/Compaq server solutions (plus on-call for out of hours support and remote access dial-in), SmartStart recovery, QA sign-off of for all customer client and server build images. Lead team for 3 packagers at O2 (blue-chip telco) Project to rationalise a 250+ legacy application portfolio to a fully documented and supportable MSI based deployment infrastructure. SMS 2.0 (now SCCM), package creation, management and deployment. Meeting tight SLA (Service Level Agreement) targets attend regular meetings with client (customer) and create reports. Identify areas of new business and propose solutions.
Senior Support Analyst
Computacenter UK
01.2000 - 05.2002
- On-site Senior Analyst at Halifax PLC/Head Office/Treasury Department supporting City Trader Consoles in a high-pressure fast-response environment requiring 100% uptime. Technologies included Bloomberg, City Financials, Site Resiliency (cloning), telecoms support, Client/Server Dell, Compaq, Windows 2000/NT, AS/400
Field Systems Engineer
Unisys
08.1995 - 01.2000
- Four years supporting a range of commercial, public and private enterprise systems based on CTOS, ATM's, document & image (cheque processing) systems, EPOS, MAINFRAME, UNIX, Windows workstations and servers, network patching and diagnostics.
Field Service Engineer
Olivetti
06.1995 - 07.1995
- Plan and implement field upgrades for back-office banking systems. A challenging role working to strict deadlines at disparate locations across the Southeast. At the close of the contract, I was offered a permanent position with Olivetti, chose to accept new opportunity at Unisys.
Education
HNC (Higher National Certificate) - Electronics and Computing
Leeds College of Technology
Leeds01.1995
City & Guilds 233 - Computer Technology (parts 1 & 2)
Leeds College of Technology
Leeds01.1993
BTEC - Business and Computing
Wakefield Business College
Wakefield01.1984
General Certificate of Education (GCSE) O-level - 5 Subjects
North Ossett High School
Ossett01.1981
Skills
- VMware ESXi/vSphere
- Windows Server
- Linux (CentOS/Rocky/Ubuntu)
- Hybrid low‑side platforms
- AWS
- Terraform
- Ansible
- Packer
- PowerShell scripting
- Environment build automation
- Networking/Firewalls/NSX
- Zabbix monitoring
- SCCM/ConfigMgr
- Endpoint security
- SharePoint deployment & support
- Databases Postgre/SQL Server
- Bitbucket/GitLab
- Atlassian toolset
- Agile/Scrum
- Change management
- Customer‑facing leadership
- Technical documentation (LLDs/HLDs)
- Cloud infrastructure
- Virtualization technologies
- Systems administration
- Automation frameworks
- Network management
- Agile methodologies
- Stakeholder engagement
- Technical documentation
- Customer relationship management
- Service delivery
- AI proficiency with ChatGPT, Claude Code, Google Gemini
Certification
- 2014 MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist)
- 2008 MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer)
- 2004 ASE (Accredited Systems Engineer HP Compaq)
- 2001 MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional)
Hobbies and interests
- Keeping fit and active running with my dog, swimming and mountain biking. I love nothing better than to spending the weekend hiking in the hills with my camera.
- Keeping up with latest trends in AI, and how they can be utilised at work and home.
Timeline
Environments Platforms Engineer
Capgemini/BAE Systems
04.2025 - Current
Environments Platforms Engineer
Capgemini/BAE Systems
04.2020 - 04.2025
Consultant Systems Engineer
Sopra Steria
06.2015 - 04.2020
Consultant Systems Engineer
Hewlett Packard
12.2011 - 06.2015
Consultant Application Packager / Sequencer
Hewlett-Packard
12.2010 - 12.2011
Application Packager Workstream Lead
Fujitsu Services
01.2008 - 11.2010
Application Packaging Consultant
EDS
01.2005 - 01.2007
Application Packaging Consultant
CSC
08.2004 - 07.2005
3rd Line & Packaging Team Lead
Computacenter UK
05.2002 - 07.2004
Senior Support Analyst
Computacenter UK
01.2000 - 05.2002
Field Systems Engineer
Unisys
08.1995 - 01.2000
Field Service Engineer
Olivetti
06.1995 - 07.1995
HNC (Higher National Certificate) - Electronics and Computing
Leeds College of Technology
City & Guilds 233 - Computer Technology (parts 1 & 2)
Leeds College of Technology
BTEC - Business and Computing
Wakefield Business College
General Certificate of Education (GCSE) O-level - 5 Subjects
North Ossett High School