Aaron Cruz

About Aaron Cruz

Hi there! I’m an IT Systems Engineer focused on building clean, scalable, and automated environments that remove friction and empower teams to do their best work.My journey started at Geek Squad and evolved into 7+ years of hands-on IT engineering—designing Okta workflows, managing Jamf/Intune fleets, optimizing Google Workspace and AWS, and driving security-minded automation. At Houzz, I’m continuing the impact I made at Bolt: modernizing IT systems, revamping onboarding flows, reducing manual work, and creating processes that scale globally.I thrive at the intersection of people and technology. Whether I’m architecting a new workflow, solving complex issues, or improving user experience across hundreds of employees, my goal is the same: make IT invisible, reliable, and efficient.I’m passionate about leadership, team culture, and building systems that elevate both the business and the people behind it. Always excited to connect with others who value innovation, automation, and great user experience.#ITEngineering #Automation #Okta #Jamf #WorkflowDesign #TechOps

Experience

1. IT Engineer

   Houzz

   Feb 2024 — Present

   Automated Freshdesk operations by designing and refining workflows that reduced ticket volume, eliminated repetitive tasks, and minimized the need for manual IT intervention.Led JAMF administration & endpoint security by restructuring zero-touch deployment, automating patching, and strengthening Mac fleet governance; recognized as the JAMF SME and primary escalation point.Drove Okta identity strategy by building scalable workflows, enforcing security policies, and reducing manual lifecycle tasks; partnered with cross-functional teams to align identity management with company-wide security needs; recognized as the Okta SME.Streamlined AWS governance & automation by implementing environment cleanup, tightening IAM and policy enforcement, and building automation that improved operational efficiency and security; served as the AWS SME.Managed VPN access and security workflows as the VPN SME, overseeing access controls, policy enforcement, and account lifecycle processes to ensure secure, compliant connectivity across the organization.Collaborated directly with Security teams to strengthen controls, close audit gaps, and prepare the organization for compliance readiness—ensuring systems, identity infrastructure, and device trust policies met required standards.Provided escalated support for complex IT incidents, owning high-priority issues and driving rapid resolutions to minimize business disruption.Optimized Google Workspace by leading cleanup efforts, tightening access controls, and improving collaboration structures; recognized as the Google Workspace SME, supporting teams across the company.Built scalable documentation & standards by developing robust device trust policies, security protocols, workflow procedures, and operational runbooks that improved consistency, compliance, and long-term scalability.

Education

• Mira Mesa High School

  High School Diploma

  2006 — 2010

• Notre Dame de Namur University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Computer Science with Emphasis of Software Engineering

  2010 — 2015