> pivoting career_vector...

Securing the Future of Artificial Intelligence.

I am a Cybersecurity Expert transitioning into AI Engineering. Applying rigorous defense principles to LLMs, Reinforcement Learning, and Prompt Engineering.

Let's Collaborate View AI Experiments
AI and Security Abstract

>>> import torch

>>> model.load("llm-v2")

> Starting RLHF...

> Context: Optimized

> Reward Score: 0.92

10+

Years in Security

100's

Prompts Tested

100%

Committed to Protect Customers

100%

Committed to AI Safety

About My Transition

The landscape of technology is shifting, and so am I. After a decade of protecting networks from external threats, I am now focusing on the internal logic of Artificial Intelligence.

I believe that a Security Mindset is the missing link in robust AI development. My goal is to leverage my experience in threat modeling and adversarial thinking to build safer, more aligned AI systems. I am currently deep-diving into the mathematics behind Large Language Models and the practical applications of Post-Training.

Current Learning Focus

  • Reinforcement Learning (RLHF)
    Understanding reward models and policy optimization.
  • Prompt Engineering
    Zero-shot, Few-shot prompting and Chain-of-Thought.
  • Context Engineering
    Managing RAG pipelines and long context windows.
  • Adversarial AI
    Red Teaming LLMs to find prompt injections.

New Expertise

LLM Red Teaming

Applying traditional pentesting logic to AI. Identifying jailbreaks, prompt injection vulnerabilities, and data leakage in model outputs.

Reinforcement Learning

Designing reward functions and collecting human feedback data to fine-tune models for alignment and safety.

Prompt Engineering

Developing robust, production-grade system prompts that maximize model performance while minimizing hallucinations.

Context Engineering

Building Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems to provide models with secure, up-to-date, and relevant context.

AI Governance

Helping organizations establish policies for ethical AI usage, data privacy, and model deployment standards.

MLOps & Security

Securing the model supply chain and ensuring integrity during the training and inference phases.

Career Journey

April 2024 - Present

Cortex Specialist - Systems Engineer

Palo Alto Networks

I am passionate about cybersecurity and dedicated to protecting digital assets. As a Cortex Specialist Systems Engineer at Palo Alto Networks, I leverage my expertise in Cortex solutions to design, implement, and support cutting-edge cybersecurity measures for our clients. Key Responsibilities: Solution Design, Implementation Mastery, Technical Expertise, Client Empowerment.

July 2022 - April 2024

Senior Security Technical Specialist

Microsoft

As a Senior Security Technical Specialist at Microsoft, I'm at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge security solutions that drive our clients' success. I'm passionate about helping customers and partners achieve their security and compliance goals through the effective use of Microsoft products. Key Contributions: Strategic Analysis & Implementation, Customer Engagement & Growth, Collaboration & Market Expansion, Product Enhancement, Contribute to Microsoft Security strategy development, Presentations and Demos.

September 2021 - July 2022

Technical Solutions Specialist at Cisco Duo Security

Cisco

At Cisco Duo Security, I leveraged my expertise in cybersecurity and pre-sales to advocate for and sell the DUO MFA solution as a critical component of Cisco’s Zero Trust solution. My role was pivotal in securing end-user identities against cybersecurity threats and driving the growth of the DUO Multifactor authentication solution. Key Contributions: Product Advocacy & Sales, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Engagement, Product Management Collaboration.

February 2020 - September 2021

Pre-Sales Security Systems Engineer

Cisco

As a Pre-Sales Security Systems Engineer at Cisco, I utilized my deep knowledge of cybersecurity and pre-sales to support our SLED West accounts selling team, product positioning, and selling Cloud solutions. I demonstrated consistent technical leadership and consulting acumen, surpassing FY 20 and FY 21 sales quotas. Key Contributions: Sales Excellence, Technical Leadership, Leadership Development.

June 2018 - February 2020

Network Consulting Engineer

Cisco

As a Network Consulting Engineer at Cisco, I was pivotal in supporting the wireless and mobility teams, managing customer support relationships, and resolving complex customer issues. My unique skills in Lab deployment and Linux knowledge were instrumental in accelerating the team's efforts and delivering successful solutions. Key Contributions: Innovation & Efficiency, Technology Implementation, Customer Retention & Expansion, Innovation Challenge.

AI Experiments

Let's Build Safe AI

I'm passionate about advancing AI Safety, Prompt Engineering, and RLHF while continuing to grow in my current role. If you're working in these areas or exploring how security mindsets can strengthen AI systems, I'd love to connect and exchange ideas.

hello@ferdinandsoto.com
github.com/ferdinand-soto
linkedin.com/in/ferdinandsoto/
NC (Remote Available)