From Creative Tech to Cyber Defense

Hi, I’m Jacob — a former creative technologist now focusing on network defense, security automation, and infrastructure operations.

Before shifting to cybersecurity, I worked for over a decade in the creative tech and digital design industry. I studied graphic and interaction design in Australia and Canada, then specialized in real-time data visualization, electronics, and interactive installations for agencies, festivals, and institutions — mostly in Montreal and Réunion Island.

My roles often blended technical prototyping, project coordination, and creative direction in multidisciplinary teams. These experiences taught me to work in fast-paced environments, simplify complexity, and collaborate effectively with engineers, designers, and clients alike.

In 2017, I launched and managed a public yoga and wellness center — overseeing everything from business strategy to client engagement and space management. As a solo founder, I built automated systems for class registration, payments, email flows, and scheduling — which sparked my practical interest in automation and operational efficiency.

More importantly, that experience strengthened my understanding of human behavior and psychology — deepening the human-centered mindset I had already developed through years of interactive design and real-time installations.

Why Cybersecurity?

Because I’m driven by clarity, structure, and the need to build systems that matter.

Cybersecurity — especially network defense, threat automation, and infrastructure operations — brings together the analytical, the technical, and the strategic. It’s a space where rigor and curiosity are essential, and where small decisions can have real-world impact.

I’m particularly drawn to:

  • Network defense & threat detection
  • Automation pipelines, GitOps & Infrastructure as Code (learning)
  • Open-source tooling for observability and response (Wazuh, CrowdSec, OPNsense, Zabbix, Grafana, etc.)

What I Bring

Technical Experience:

  • Real-world experience in network administration, firewalling (Palo Alto, Fortinet), and log analysis (Wazuh, Loki, Grafana)
  • 1 year at Orange Réunion (IP Network & Security Dept), trained by Orange CyberDefense, where I deployed the IPS/IDS module, managed the Palo Alto / Panorama stack, and built Python-based tools for automated threat monitoring, dynamic EDL updates, and alert workflows
  • Strong skills in Python scripting, REST APIs, and version-controlled automation with GitLab — currently learning CI/CD concepts and Infrastructure-as-Code workflows (GitLab CI, Docker, Ansible)

Leadership & Collaboration:

  • A proven ability to lead or support tech projects with calm, clarity, and follow-through
  • Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex projects across different cultures and time zones

Where I Am Now

Education:

  • Graduated top of class with a Bachelor’s in Network & Telecom (Cybersecurity track) in July 2025
  • Currently pursuing a Master’s in Network & Security (2025–2027)

Actively seeking:

  • Open to international 🌍, remote, or hybrid roles in cybersecurity, network security, SecOps, or automation engineering
  • Happy to relocate or work across time zones for the right opportunity
  • Also available for apprenticeships, part-time contracts, or freelance projects
  • Particularly interested in cloud security, automation, and real-world threat detection

Core Values & Soft Skills

What I value most in work and collaboration:

  • Clear and honest communication
  • Creative thinking under pressure
  • Working across disciplines and bridging silos
  • Delivering reliable solutions — not just clever ones
  • Being calm, focused, and adaptive in complex environments

Off the Clock 🐱

  • Living with 3 curious cats who enjoy sleeping on my keyboard and inspecting my YAML files
  • Long-time yoga practitioner and Brazilian jiu-jitsu enthusiast
  • Passionate about clean architecture, ethical tech, and lifelong learning

Feel free to connect with me and checkout my GitLab!