John Velegrakis
About John Velegrakis
John Velegrakis is a Data Center Architect and Head of IT Operations Department at Sunlight.io in Iráklion, Crete, Greece, where he has worked since 2020. He has a background in computer science and engineering, with previous roles at Kaleao Ltd and ICS-FORTH.
Work at Sunlight
John Velegrakis has been employed at Sunlight.io since 2020, where he serves as the Data Center Architect and Head of IT Operations Department. In this role, he is responsible for the design and implementation of the main data room, emphasizing safety and fault tolerance in the electricity topology. He leads the day-to-day operations of the data center, ensuring effective management and performance. Additionally, he trains the newly created IT Operations team to enhance their capabilities in managing the data center. His responsibilities also include the installation of advanced servers and the design of Linux utility servers for various functions such as routing, firewalling, security, and load-balancing.
Education and Expertise
John Velegrakis studied at the University of Crete, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from 2002 to 2007. He furthered his education at the same institution, obtaining a Master of Science (MSc) in Distributed and Parallel Systems from 2008 to 2010. His educational background includes specialized training at military institutions, including a brief period at the special forces school and non-commissioned officers school in 2012. This combination of academic and military training contributes to his expertise in data center architecture and IT operations.
Background
Prior to his current role at Sunlight.io, John Velegrakis held various positions in the technology sector. He worked at Kaleao Ltd as a Printed Circuit Board Design Engineer and later as Head of Systems Group. His experience also includes a role as Project Manager and Lead Systems Engineer at OnApp. Earlier in his career, he was involved in research at ICS-FORTH, where he served as a Post-Graduate Research Fellow and worked in the Computer Architecture & VLSI Laboratory as an Undergraduate Trainee. His diverse background in engineering and project management has shaped his current professional capabilities.
Professional Experience
John Velegrakis has accumulated extensive professional experience across various organizations. At Kaleao Ltd, he progressed through several roles, including Senior Systems Engineer and Head of Systems Group. His tenure at ICS-FORTH spanned multiple years, where he contributed to projects in both the Computer & Electronic Systems Engineering and Distributed Computing Systems Laboratories. Additionally, he worked at Texas Instruments as an Engineer. This breadth of experience across different companies and roles has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of systems engineering and data center operations.