James Simelus

James Simelus

Data Scientist · Data Engineer · IT Systems Architect

Infrastructure Depth.
Data Ambition.

I'm a Data Engineer and IT professional with over 20 years of progressive experience designing, implementing, and optimizing enterprise-scale infrastructure and data solutions. My career represents a strategic evolution — transitioning from foundational systems administration into cutting-edge data engineering, creating a unique bridge between operational excellence and data-driven innovation.

My distinctive career trajectory, combining deep infrastructure knowledge with modern data engineering skills and formal data science education, allows me to architect solutions that are not only technically sound but operationally sustainable. I'm passionate about leveraging technology to transform raw data into strategic business insights.

In the near future, I plan to pursue a Doctorate degree — likely in Health Informatics or GIS — continuing a lifelong commitment to academic excellence and applied research.

2005 – 2013
Early Foundation
Infrastructure management, network administration, enterprise architecture, and VMware virtualization at IBM.
2013 – 2021
Infrastructure Leadership
Enterprise virtualization design, automated provisioning, security hardening, and disaster recovery at IBM and Veterans United.
2021 – Present
Data Engineering
Scalable ETL pipelines, SSIS data marts, SQL optimization, automated testing, and data governance at Veterans United.

My systems administration background provides invaluable context for building robust, scalable data pipelines. I design and implement enterprise-scale ETL processes using SSIS, sophisticated pipelines connecting multiple enterprise systems, data warehouse architecture aligned with business requirements, and advanced SQL optimization with complex stored procedures.

Education & Credentials

M.S. Data Science & Analytics
University of Missouri · May 2025
Advanced machine learning, statistical modeling, big data technologies, distributed systems, data visualization, and cloud computing platforms.
GPA 3.94 / 4.0
B.S. Information Technology
American Intercontinental University · 2004
Foundation in systems administration, network infrastructure, and enterprise IT architecture.
GPA 3.14 / 4.0
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