As the cloud networking experts, Aviatrix wants to elevate the work of cloud networking heroes who labor to keep networks secure, effective, and performant. We’re proud to highlight people who have taught themselves the necessary skills, designed and managed successful networks, and have the expertise to share, including several who joined Aviatrix in New York at the NASDAQ tower.
Our next hero spotlight is on Jack Yu, Senior Principal Cloud Infrastructure Engineer. See our other hero spotlights here.
Adventurous Beginnings: A Geeky DIY Project
Jack Yu’s cloud networking career began in high school with a shared passion project:
“My brother and I, both StarCraft fanatics, decided to build our own gaming computer,” he explained. “It was our geeky DIY project that lit the spark for my tech obsession.”
More than 15 years later, Jack is now a Senior Principal Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, where he can continue to collaborate with like-mind coworkers in networking innovation and problem-solving.
“Every day, I get to play with cutting-edge tech, solve complex problems, and keep our cloud infrastructure running smoothly,” he said. “It’s been an epic journey from gaming rigs to cloud engineering, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
The Network is the Cloud: Global Connectivity
When asked what “the network is the cloud” means to him, Jack explained the unity of concepts and vast possibilities in modern networking: “the Internet and cloud services are now so closely connected that they work together as one. It’s like saying the Internet has become the cloud.”
Jack explains that this integration enables us to access data, apps, and services from anywhere, anytime, no matter where the servers are located.
“It’s what allows us to stream movies, store photos, and run apps smoothly and efficiently, no matter where we are,” he said.
Staying on the Leading Edge
The part of Jack’s role that excites him the most is continuing to learn and embrace the latest technological advancements. He describes one of his proudest achievements, architecting his company’s cloud infrastructure on AWS from the ground up five years ago.
“Starting with just two AWS accounts, we’ve expanded to an impressive 130+ AWS accounts,” he said. “This robust infrastructure now powers the company’s operations, contributing to over $7 billion annually in revenue. None of this would have been possible without the seamless orchestration of our cloud networking through Aviatrix, which has been instrumental in our success.”
The Challenge of Complexity
Like another of Aviatrix’s cloud networking heroes, Adam Stipkovits, Jack Yu names complexity as the greatest challenge in his job. More specifically, he faces the challenge of “solving complex architectural designs for application teams that are building or migrating their applications to the cloud.”
This work involves making sure designs are secure, reliable, and redundant while keeping within the InfoSec team’s guidelines. “Balancing these critical requirements can be quite demanding, but it’s essential for achieving robust and compliant cloud solutions,” he said.
Adventures Outside of Work
Outside of work, Jack and his wife love embarking on new adventures: they travel the world, exploring different countries and immersing themselves in new cultures.
“Trying out local foods and living like a local is my favorite way to experience the unique aspects of each place I visit,” he said. “It’s a fantastic way to unwind and gain fresh perspectives, making every trip an adventure and a learning experience.”
Curious about other cloud networking heroes like Jack Yu?
- We’ll keep highlighting networking professionals on this blog.
- Learn more about the Cloud Networking Heroes program and apply on the The Cloud Network Community.