Hi, I'm Cheyenne Bounds

Cybersecurity Engineer | Zero Trust Architecture Specialist | Security Operations Expert

Proven track record of innovation and leadership in the development and implementation of secure network infrastructure solutions by leveraging in-depth understanding of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) concepts and application-level segmentation. Passion for maintaining the security of networks with a deep understanding of the security protocols and best practices associated with ZTNA, as well as experience in cyber security incident management and response. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

About Me

Cybersecurity & Systems Engineer specializing in enterprise security solutions

My Expertise

Specializing in Zero Trust Architecture, security operations, and compliance frameworks. Experienced in deploying and administering enterprise security tools, aligning systems with regulatory requirements (SOX, PCI, CPNI), and automating access reviews and vulnerability management.

What I Deliver

Hands-on experience in firewall administration, incident response, cloud security, and audit lifecycle documentation. Proven ability to troubleshoot system alerts, support remediation efforts, and collaborate across IT and security teams to deliver secure, business-aligned solutions.

Key Achievements

Zero Trust Implementation

Developed and enforced secure, scalable access controls for SaaS applications using identity-driven Zero Trust models.

Security Hardening

Led security configuration assessments and remediations to harden enterprise SaaS environments and reduce misconfiguration risks.

Automation Excellence

Automated access review and policy validation workflows to increase operational efficiency and improve audit readiness.

Efficiency Improvements

Streamlined firewall rule workflows, reducing turnaround times by 25% and improving network operations response by 20%.

Professional Experience

My career journey in cybersecurity and systems engineering

February 2025 - Present

Cybersecurity Engineer - ZTNA

T-Mobile

Develop, implement, and maintain secure network infrastructure solutions utilizing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) technologies. Assess existing network security architectures and document findings and recommendations aligned with industry best practices. Monitor network security protocols and best practices related to ZTNA and provide guidance on improvements or updates. Respond to and manage cyber security incidents. Act as a leader and mentor to junior technical personnel. Collaborate with internal teams to develop and improve processes related to network security. Analyze data and trends to understand network security threats and vulnerabilities. Create and maintain technical documentation related to network security. Research and recommend new products and technologies to improve network security. Perform hands-on implementations and configurations of network security technologies. Ensure all security operations and maintenance activities are fully documented and up to date.

Key contributions

  • Supported identity- and policy-based access control implementations using Zscaler, integrating SCIM provisioning and Microsoft Entra ID to enforce Zero Trust access across legacy and data center–hosted environments.
  • Improved access visibility and reduced misconfigurations across enterprise infrastructure by aligning identity-based controls with existing network architectures.
  • Automated 42% of previously manual security and access management tasks, increasing operational efficiency and reducing engineer workload.
  • Led and participated in security control walkthroughs with GRC, infrastructure, and application teams, validating alignment between technical controls, SLAs, and compliance requirements.
  • Participated in control effectiveness testing and remediation efforts that resulted in 100% compliance with SOX, PCI, and CPNI requirements.
  • Developed standardized documentation and repeatable evidence templates to improve audit readiness and support ongoing compliance cycles.
  • Partnered with threat, engineering, and compliance teams to identify internal vulnerabilities, strengthen the control environment, and reduce insider risk in alignment with security best practices.
Zero Trust ZTNA IAM Compliance
April 2024 - February 2025

Engineer, Systems Architecture

T-Mobile

Oversaw total life cycle focus for the program from requirements development and architecture creation with a focus on complex system designs through architect definition. Partnered closely with internal teams, SMEs, program management, and Systems Engineering leadership to drive the technical solution across the program. Ensure the requirements and architecture focused on “building the right thing.” Developed architectures, defining the physical architecture, allocating requirements to architecture elements, deriving requirements to drive details into the model, creating and refining modeling standards and design patterns, and distributing and merging model elements back into the baseline.

Key contributions

  • Designed and deployed hybrid-cloud infrastructure aligned with Zero Trust and On-Prem Cloud principles.
  • Integrated advanced security protocols and hardening techniques to proactively reduce vulnerabilities and improve system resilience.
  • Automated network operations, improving response times by 20% and reducing manual intervention.
  • Led capacity planning initiatives to support traffic growth without degrading network performance.
  • Developed and enforced policies to ensure high availability and compliance with SOX, PCI, and CPNI regulations.
  • Collaborated with engineering and security teams to deliver secure, business-aligned network solutions.
  • Mentored junior and senior engineers in troubleshooting, infrastructure best practices, and security-first design.
Cloud Security Automation Network Security
September 2021 - April 2024

Associate Engineer, Systems Architecture

T-Mobile

Designed and developed system architectures, and defined key capabilities and performance requirements. Defined total systems design and technology maturity constraints in accordance with mission requirements. Developed system element architecture and design and interface definitions. Defined system implementation approach and operational concept. Developed models and architectural guidelines for current and future system development.

Key contributions

  • Led firewall and perimeter security operations, supporting high-priority applications and audits for SOX/PCI compliance.
  • Managed escalations and high-pressure project requests with efficiency and consistent delivery under tight deadlines.
  • Streamlined approval and validation workflows, reducing firewall rule turnaround times by 25%.
  • Identified operational risks and implemented proactive measures to strengthen compliance readiness.
  • Facilitated application migrations (e.g., PCF and TKE) while ensuring policy integrity and secure access during transition.
  • Delivered technical documentation and collaborated with security, payment, and ops teams for infrastructure-aligned change control.
  • Streamlined workflows and advocated for enhancements to operational tools to reduce friction and improve system performance.
Firewall Management SOX/PCI Migration
April 2021 - June 2021

Launch Engineer Intern

Firefly Aerospace

Developed launch pad safety beacon and public alert systems. Automated internal workflows to improve testing operations by 30%. Supported pad readiness and engineering problem-solving during critical launch preparation stages.

Automation Safety Systems
August 2015 - May 2016

Technical Support Specialist

Wave Broadband

Delivered remote technical troubleshooting for broadband, TV, and voice services. Identified root causes and implemented solutions, reducing service disruptions by 20%. Improved customer retention through accurate diagnostics and secure data handling.

Technical Support Troubleshooting

Core Competencies

Technical skills and security expertise

Security & Compliance

Zero Trust Architecture Expert
Firewall & Network Security Expert
Compliance (SOX, PCI, CPNI) Advanced
Vulnerability Management Advanced
Incident Response Advanced

Tools & Technologies

Zscaler (ZIA & ZPA) Expert
Palo Alto / Checkpoint Firewalls Advanced
SIEM/SOAR Tools Proficient
Cloud Security (AWS/Azure) Proficient
Python Automation Proficient

Additional Technologies & Frameworks

IAM & SSO Splunk ServiceNow Jira DLP Tools SaaS Security NIST Framework CIS Controls Risk Assessment Agile/Scrum Security Documentation Access Reviews

Education

Academic credentials and certifications

Master of Science, Information Technology

Purdue University Global

Specialization: Cybersecurity

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

Colorado State University Global

Let's Connect

Interested in discussing cybersecurity solutions, Zero Trust architecture, or potential opportunities? I'm always open to connecting with fellow security professionals and exploring new challenges.