Christopher Contreras

About Christopher Contreras

Cloud Security and DevSecOps Engineer specializing in secure, scalable cloud environments across Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. I design and implement solutions that strengthen security posture, automate infrastructure lifecycles, and integrate least-privilege access controls, system hardening, and monitoring from deployment through operations to promote a security-first engineering culture.My key accomplishments include:Driving Azure cloud security implementations by configuring Network Security Groups, SSH key authentication, and secure REST APIs supporting real-time detection systems for aerial surveillance operations.Automating GCP Cloud SQL lifecycle management using Workflows and Scheduler, reducing operational costs by 58% while enforcing RBAC and OAuth2-based access controls.Hardening Windows Server, Active Directory, and Linux environments prior to Azure migration, reducing attack surface by 53% through NIST-aligned security controls and CVE-informed remediation.Building Splunk SIEM dashboards correlating security events across distributed systems to improve threat detection visibility and incident response efficiency.My goal is to design and secure resilient cloud and hybrid infrastructures, reduce organizational risk, and enable secure innovation at scale.Core Competencies:Cloud: Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud PlatformSecurity: IAM, RBAC, Least Privilege, System Hardening, CVE Analysis, NIST Controls, CompTIA Security+DevSecOps & Automation: Infrastructure as Code, Cloud Workflows, CI/CD Security Integration, Python, BashMonitoring & Detection: Splunk SIEM, Log Correlation, Threat AnalysisInfrastructure: Virtual Networks, Active Directory, Hybrid Cloud EnvironmentsScripting: Python, Bash, PowerShellI’m always open to connecting with cloud and cybersecurity professionals. Feel free to reach out here on LinkedIn or at c••••••••@gmail.com.

Experience

1. Security Engineer

   Mission Mirage, Inc

   Dec 2025 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

   Designed and implemented a secure cloud architecture for a drone-based surveillance platform on Microsoft Azure, applying network segmentation, API security controls, and SSH key authentication.• Improved computer vision performance by tuning a Python-based YOLOv8 detection pipeline, increasing real-time processing efficiency and enabling consistent multi-object tracking.• Contributed to embedded drone firmware development in C++, implementing safety mechanisms such as signal-loss handling, arming validation, and automated failsafe behavior.• Built and maintained a real-time monitoring interface using JavaScript that visualizes telemetry, detection events, and operational status for aerial mission oversight.

Education

• California State University, Fullerton

  Bachelor's degree, Computer Science

  2021 — 2026