About Ilya Sulakov
Production AI platforms for large operating companies
I build production AI platforms for large operating companies.
Knowledge, identity, and the gateway that keeps both auditable.
My Journey
Key moments, achievements, and milestones that have shaped my path
Knowledge Central / AI Platform Engineer
AI Platform Engineer at EssilorLuxottica. Knowledge Central for NA retail IT: production gateway, governed chat, MCP tools, and the knowledge loop (ask → act → publish).
AI Platform Engineer at Luxottica
Lead Knowledge Central for EssilorLuxottica NA retail IT — the internal AI platform for knowledge systems, identity, and the production gateway. Chat, MCP tools, and the knowledge loop ship as one governed platform.
System Administrator, Luxottica
Came in as System Administrator for NA retail IT: Azure automation, privileged access, and audit-friendly operations. That seat is what made the later platform work possible.
System Administrator at Luxottica
North American retail IT operations: partner with store operations, corporate IT, audit, and security stakeholders on Azure automation, privileged access, and audit-friendly operations for POS-adjacent systems. This is the role I came in as.
Youth Villages Lived Experience Impact Grant
Secured grant funding for the SUN Pathways AI platform development
CyberCincy Conference Speaker
Featured speaker at Cincinnati's largest AI community conference
Presented at CyberCincy
Presented 'Value Systems & Utility Convergence in LLMs' at Cincinnati's regional AI conference — how enterprise AI has to hold up under real operational use.
SUN Pathways Platform
Led technical architecture for SUN Pathways, a grant-funded AI platform connecting foster youth with college and career resources.
Apache Guacamole POC
Built a privileged-access POC with web-based SSH/RDP, LDAP, and session recording to meet IT audit requirements — later folded into the Knowledge Central identity path.
Founded The Conrad Group
Founded The Conrad Group to do first-party engineering on identity, edge, and applied AI for founder-led and enterprise operators.
Founder at The Conrad Group
Founder-engineer delivering digital transformation, secure AI, and automation for medium and large organizations. Hands-on architecture and implementation on identity, edge, and product engineering alongside a skilled delivery team.
Information Technology Administrator at CJR
Oversaw IT operations including network management and system administration. Implemented firewall security and managed Active Directory. Provided technical guidance and support to IT staff. Performed forensic analysis for litigation. Assisted the director of IT with policy drafting and governance.
Information Technology Support Analyst at Connecticut Children's
Supported hospital IT operations across clinical and enterprise systems, focusing on high-priority incident triage, identity/access continuity, and cross-team implementation support in a regulated healthcare environment.
Bachelor of Science - BS in Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare
Central Connecticut State University (Attended)
Cyber Security & Networks in Cyber Security
University of New Haven (Attended)
Understanding the Interconnected World
This photo is a turning point: I understood that the systems we were connecting would become the operating layer of work, and I wanted to build that layer — not just observe it.
How I work
What I optimize for
Production over pilots
Internal AI only counts if operators can use it every day — with identity, cost controls, and a path from chat to durable knowledge.
Knowledge that lasts
A good answer in chat is not the product. The product is a reviewed knowledge system agents and people can cite next week.
Identity in the loop
Gateways without IAM are demos. I keep Keycloak, privileged access, and audit logging in the same platform as the models.
Looking Forward
What I want next
Open to Senior AI Platform and Applied AI roles. Same work at a larger scope: internal AI platforms for enterprise operations — knowledge systems, identity, production gateways.
Let's Build Together
Interested in AI platforms, knowledge systems, or identity for enterprise operations? Let's talk about Senior AI Platform or Applied AI work.