About The Systems Notebook

I'm Jarrod Kimmel, and this site is my personal repository for observations, experiences, and lessons learned from nearly two decades of building, managing, and troubleshooting complex technology systems.

I started The Systems Notebook to document and share practical insights that I've gained over years of hands-on experience - partly for my own clarity, and partly because good lessons are worth sharing.

At heart, I'm driven by curiosity and the challenge of understanding how things work. My professional background includes designing, scaling, and maintaining highly available systems, leading technical teams, and continuously refining the processes that keep everything running smoothly. Along the way, I've developed an appreciation for aligning technical decisions with strategic business objectives, ensuring technology supports meaningful business outcomes.

My background includes:

• Leading engineering teams responsible for large-scale infrastructure and automation.
• Implementing and managing multi-tenant private cloud environments for regulated industries.
• Extensive hands-on troubleshooting and incident-response experience.
• Mentoring and developing teams, guiding engineers into senior and leadership roles.
• Strategic planning and decision-making, especially translating technical complexity into clear business terms.

Beyond technology itself, I also have a deep interest in leadership, coaching, and mentoring, particularly in how to build effective teams and help engineers develop their skills and careers. I believe technology leadership is as much about people and clarity as it is about systems and architecture.

When I'm not working, you might find me at a heavy metal concert or fishing - two very different ways I unwind when I step away from my desk.

If anything you read here resonates with you, feel free to subscribe or connect on LinkedIn. I'm always open to good conversations, sharing experiences, or exploring tough technical problems.

Thanks for reading.