Resume

John MacDonald

📍 Los Angeles, CA

Director – AI, Information Technology, Infrastructure, Network Strategy

Network, Technology, & Infrastructure Leadership: 20+ years of Strategic Infrastructure Leadership & Optimization leading global-scale infrastructure and network engineering teams, delivering uptime improvement, cost reduction, and resilient architecture.

Professional Experience

The Walt Disney Studios | Burbank, CA

Senior Manager, Network Engineering Operations
December 2023 – Present

Championed initiatives in AI/ML-driven network performance and automation, advancing predictive analytics and intelligent routing.
Directed global network operations for Studio organizations and cross-Studio initiatives.
Delivered 70% reduction in downtime via operational overhaul and process refinement.
Unified all remaining network ops teams under a single structure.
Achieved $4M annual savings (CapEx + OpEx) with efficient resource allocation.
Delivered three VxLAN/EVPN datacenters for HPC and storage.
Collaborated across dozens of teams aligning technical with business goals.
Recruited and retained top talent, building an inclusive workplace.

Manager, Network Engineering Operations
Aug 2022 – Dec 2023

Reduced incidents by 80% and downtime by 70% with standardized processes.
Merged NOC with ops support, creating a unified escalation team.
Staffed a brand-new 24/7 NOC team serving Walt Disney Studios.
Achieved 98%+ SLA adherence through streamlined processes.
Eliminated preventable outages with workflow and config improvements.

Staff Network Engineer, Studio Network Architecture
Oct 2019 – Jul 2022

Championed escalation support in on-call rotations.
Integrated automation into Ansible Tower infrastructure.
Architected Avid Editorial in the Cloud with Microsoft/Avid.
Built automation to meet 7× increase in content production.
Resolved persistent G.ARP interoperability outage across Dell EMC Isilon/Juniper EVPN.

Senior Network Engineer, Disney Live Action (MPP)
Jan 2019 – Oct 2019

Delivered 15+ reliable networks for film production sites.
Developed full-stack automation in Python (subnets, VLANs, IPAM, Excel reporting).
Mentored engineers in networking, automation, and coding.

Sohonet Ltd. | Marina Del Rey, CA

Network Engineer
2017 – 2019

Designed MPLS and BGP solutions for global media customers.
Partnered with Apple, Google, Amazon, and others on IX connectivity.
Engineered DWDM/MPLS solutions for media companies.
Delivered hybrid Vancouver–Sydney solution at reduced cost.
Managed/audited firewalls to meet MPA standards.

Website Management Systems | Las Vegas, NV

Software Developer / Network Analyst
2016 – 2017

Rebooted tech career with focus on DevOps and Agile.
Developed software and networking solutions reigniting engineering passion.

Sheep’s Clothing | Kennewick, WA

Owner
2010 – 2015

Increased revenue 10× and successfully sold business.

President | Avitus Aviation Corp | Gig Harbor, WA

President 2001–2010

Pilot & Aviation leasing operations, building skills in risk management, safety culture, and operational resilience.

Earlier Roles

Owner Hyakdev.com LLC Snoqualmie Pass, WA (2005–2010)
Partner White Dog Media, LLC Las Vegas, NV (2001–2003)
Senior Partner 5GuysTech.com, LLC Seattle, WA (1997–2001)
Co-Founder PowerSurge Technologies, Inc. / FastServers.net Cedar Rapids, IA (1995–1996)

Summary of Qualifications

Award-winning technology leader with 25+ years of experience in network engineering, software development, and operational transformation.
Inventor on U.S. Patent 12,360,789 for applying AI/ML algorithms to cloud networking file transfers — demonstrating the ability to turn research into enterprise-scale innovation.
Visionary strategist leveraging AI/ML, automation, and Infrastructure as Code to optimize cost, reliability, and scalability.
Skilled leader in building high-performing, inclusive teams and aligning technology with business objectives.
Proven record of delivering uptime improvement, cost reduction, and measurable reliability gains across global enterprises.

Awards & Certifications

U.S. Patent No. 12,360,789 (2025): Machine learning methods for optimized cloud networking file transfers.
Disney Inventor Award (2021): Applied machine learning algorithms to networking.
Previously held certifications: Cisco (CCDP, CCNP), Juniper (JNCDA), Microsoft (MCP+i), etc.

Education

Associate in Arts and Sciences – Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA