robert@robertafnani.com
Based in Washington, DC
© 2026 Robert Afnani. All Rights Reserved
Contact MeIntroduction
Hello World!
I'm Robert Afnani
As a computer scientist and technologist, I bring a wealth of expertise across systems engineering, cloud architecture, software development, and machine learning. My work sits at the intersection of these disciplines, where infrastructure, code, and intelligent systems converge to solve problems that none of them could address alone. Behind it all is a genuine love for the craft, for the architecture of complex systems, for the discipline required to secure and scale them, and for the conviction that the best technology is built with both technical rigor and measured restraint.
13+
Years of Professional
Experience
35+
projects completed across
4 countries
About
Every great project begins with
an even better story
My journey began at the frontier of the early internet and cryptocurrency movements. As an early builder, I co-owned and operated web properties that ranked among the top ten internet media networks across multiple categories. These ventures exposed me to the full arc of product, infrastructure, and market dynamics. Not every chapter succeeded, but each one refined my instincts for innovation, resilience, and disciplined execution.
From there, I moved into systems engineering, beginning with the fundamentals of hardware, networking, and security protocols, then advancing into the design and stewardship of complex enterprise infrastructures. Today, my expertise spans cloud architecture with deep specialization in Microsoft Azure, hybrid identity, zero trust network design, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance with international frameworks including ISO 27001.
In parallel, I developed a rigorous foundation in software development, first through independent study and later refined through formal academic training. I design robust, scalable systems and write software with a systems engineer's sensibility for performance, security, and maintainability. In Spring 2026, I completed my Master of Science in Computer Science at Georgia Tech, specializing in machine learning and the ethics of intelligent systems. That work spanned deep learning, algorithmic fairness, human-computer interaction with machine learning systems, and the operationalization of production models. It now anchors my practice as a machine learning engineer, where I focus on building systems that are not merely performant, but principled, interpretable, and deployable at scale.
Driven by an enduring commitment to technical craft and to excellence, I continue to work at the intersection of infrastructure, software, and intelligence, drawn to the problems that demand all three.
resume
Education & Certifications
Master of Science in Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Oregon State University
Professional Certifications
Certified Ethical Hacker v13, Certified ISMS ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Auditor, CompTIA Security+ CE, Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Amazon AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2024 Generative AI Professional, Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900), Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900), Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
Services
My Specializations
Systems Engineering
As a systems engineer, I design, implement, and steward the complex infrastructures that modern enterprises run on. My practice is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of systems integration and lifecycle management, from initial architecture and requirements gathering through deployment, operation, and continuous refinement. I build for seamless functionality, deliberate performance, and the kind of long term reliability that only comes from getting the fundamentals right.
My expertise spans cloud architecture with deep specialization in Microsoft Azure, hybrid identity and Entra ID, zero trust network design, enterprise cybersecurity, data governance through Microsoft Purview, server and endpoint lifecycle management, and compliance with international frameworks including ISO 27001. I hold multiple industry recognized certifications, among them AZ 104, CEH v13, Security Plus, and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, and I draw on that foundation to architect solutions that are tailored, defensible, and genuinely fit for the business they serve.
Over my career I have led initiatives spanning Azure migrations, hybrid connectivity architectures, enterprise network overhauls, Palo Alto and Zscaler security deployments, data loss prevention programs, and Windows Server and Microsoft 365 modernizations at Fortune 500 scale. I have directed cross functional teams of engineers and developers, set the technical direction for projects, and maintained system and network infrastructures for leading global consulting firms and government contractors. What connects these engagements is a consistent philosophy, that infrastructure is not merely plumbing but a first class product in its own right, and that the care taken in its design shows up in everything built on top of it.
17 ProjectsSoftware Development & Machine Learning
As a software developer and machine learning engineer, I bring a deep command of programming languages, modern development frameworks, and the engineering disciplines that turn ideas into production systems. I specialize in building software that is robust, scalable, and efficient, with a particular focus on the intersection of traditional software engineering and applied machine learning. My fluency spans Python, C, Java, and the contemporary web stack, along with the data and model tooling that modern intelligent systems demand, including PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit learn, and the broader ecosystem of MLOps frameworks that bring models from research into reliable production use.
My machine learning work is informed by formal graduate training at Georgia Tech, where I studied deep learning, algorithmic fairness, human computer interaction with machine learning systems, and the ethical dimensions of deploying intelligent software at scale. I approach model development the way I approach infrastructure, with an emphasis on reproducibility, observability, and the rigorous evaluation of behavior under real world conditions. A model that performs beautifully in a notebook is not yet a product, and much of the interesting work lies in the path between the two.
My development philosophy prioritizes clean code, thoughtful architecture, and user centered design, with continuous refinement woven through every stage of the lifecycle. Whether the output is a distributed service, a data pipeline, or a machine learning system operating behind a polished interface, I aim for software that is not only performant but considered, software that reflects care in its design and earns trust in its behavior.
9 ProjectsCryptocurrencies & Decentralized Systems
My engagement with cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology predates the mainstream market by many years, and it continues to inform how I think about distributed systems, incentive design, and the architecture of trustless networks. I am fluent in the principles and intricacies of decentralized finance, from the mechanics of automated market makers and liquidity provisioning to the game theoretic underpinnings that give these systems their stability. My practical experience spans blockchain application development, smart contract engineering, and the design of secure digital transactions, with a consistent eye toward the security and economic rigor that production grade systems demand.
At the intersection of this domain and my machine learning practice, I have built a sophisticated MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) bot that applies reinforcement learning with an LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) architecture to execute sandwich trades in live market conditions. The system operates across the full pipeline from mempool observation and opportunity identification through model inference, transaction construction, and on chain execution, and it stands as a representative example of how I bring advanced machine learning techniques to bear on problems that reward both technical depth and strategic precision.
More broadly, I am interested in the cryptocurrency space as a living laboratory for ideas that matter well beyond trading, including verifiable computation, decentralized identity, programmable incentives, and the design of systems that remain coherent without a central authority. It is one of the few domains where software engineering, economics, cryptography, and human behavior all converge on the same problem at once, and that is precisely what makes the work rewarding.
8 Projectsmy skills
My Strengths
92%
Azure
85%
Windows
84%
Python
82%
ISO
78%
Cisco
77%
AWS
76%
Linux
70%
Oracle
69%
React
67%
Java
64%
SQL
61%
PHP
contact
Let's Work Together!
robert@robertafnani.com
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