Walter Pinson

Curriculum Vitae

Three decades of building.

Software industry veteran with deep experience delivering SaaS products and leading engineering organizations. Driven, competitive, and focused on meaningful solutions to customer problems. Effective change agent with a proven record building productive teams, growing business through relationship management, and solving complex problems. Demonstrated experience with global sourcing, managing distributed teams, and servicing global markets.

Core competencies

Strategic PlanningFinancial ModelingClient RelationsProduct DevelopmentInternational BusinessProgram ManagementTeam Building & LeadershipSoftware Architecture

Recent experience

Microsoft · Cloud + AI · Remote

Principal Software Engineering Manager

2024 – Present

Leading software engineering in Microsoft's Cloud + AI organization. Currently working at the intersection of AI agents and production engineering — the space where the rules of software development are not being rewritten by AI so much as amplified. Driving the disciplines that make AI-augmented software development trustworthy at scale: clear intent, contract-first thinking, and behavior-driven specification as the primitive for human-and-agent collaboration.

Smashing Boxes · Durham, NC

Consultant

Jul 2021 – 2024

Remained engaged following departure, managing a focused portfolio of client engagements — preserving continuity through the leadership transition while the organization executed on the foundation built during the prior roles.


President & COO

May 2020 – Jun 2021

Promoted to lead the company through a critical period of transformation, reversing financial performance from a loss-making position to sustainable profitability. Ran the business using a customized variant of EOS — coaching VP-level leaders as they managed their individual organizations and accountabilities.

Highlights

  • Achieved a 300% revenue increase and transformed an operating loss into a 25% operating profit margin by restructuring the service delivery model and shifting focus to higher-margin enterprise clients.
  • Led 50-person organization with responsibility for Sales, Service Delivery, and Administration.
  • Transitioned the workforce to a senior, globally distributed team, significantly improving delivery quality and efficiency.
  • Implemented time tracking and project accounting, achieving 80% utilization rates for billable resources.

VP of Strategy & Blockchain Practice Lead

Oct 2019 – May 2020

Responsible for strategic growth, building out the blockchain practice, and executing the venture-studio business model. Also held direct management responsibility for the Marketing team — spanning product marketing and product management. As Blockchain Practice Lead, created, grew, and led the firm's blockchain practice — a natural extension of Smashing Boxes' commitment to leading customers and partners on their Web3 journey.

Alekto Corporation · Durham, NC

Founder & CEO

2012 – 2017

Used lean-startup techniques to build a business from the ground up. Developed a sustainable business model, determined the addressable market, identified customer beachheads. Managed boards of directors and advisors, investors, legal and regulatory matters, and product development. Prepared budgets, managed burn-rate, performed financial reporting, pitched the business.

Highlights

  • Entrepreneur in Residence, The Startup Factory, Fall 2012
  • Entrepreneur in Residence, Bull City Startup Stampede 3.0
  • US Patent US8401960 — Online Credit Escrow Service

Independent · Various Locations

Contractor

2010 – 2018

Took on a series of contract positions providing program management, software architecture, and engineering support. Most recently used Flutter/Dart to build a cross-platform iOS and Android native mobile application. Technical focus on agile Scrum teams developing RESTful microservices with .NET Core, NodeJS, NGINX, Docker, Kubernetes, SaaS ASP.NET MVC web applications and ASP.NET Web API REST APIs applying the Onion Architecture using DDD and TDD principles. Mobile web applications using Angular and ReactJS.

Selected engagements

  • Peoplefluent— Tasked with "fixing" the troubled Learning Management System product. Performed source-code audit, determined a greenfield approach due to massive technical debt, redesigned the product using microservice architecture secured via OAuth/OIDC, implemented CI/CD leveraging AWS, Docker, Docker Swarm, and Drone. Trained the development team on Onion Architecture, DDD, microservice API patterns, and unit testing.
  • Connecture — Enterprise Architect on the team developing the next-gen platform for Healthcare Information Exchanges and marketplaces in support of the ACA. Designed and implemented the platform Identity and Access Management solution. Designed and developed external and internal SSO leveraging OAuth 2.0 and OIDC including a SAML 2.0-integrated partner proxy service.
  • Peoplefluent (earlier engagement) — Implemented various REST-based microservice APIs. Re-architected and redesigned a failing multi-threaded Windows service for advanced sourcing. Implemented OAuth 2.0 for the Recruiting Mirror suite. Introduced DDD and Onion Architecture to both iPaaS and the Recruiting Management System.

SMBLive Inc. · Reston, VA

Chief Software Architect

2008 – 2009

Responsible for overall technology vision, product development, and customer delivery for a SaaS-based software company servicing SMBs through global telecommunications partners. Led architecture and product development including build-vs-buy analysis, investment rationalization, and delivery scheduling for the product portfolio.

Highlights

  • Developed and maintained products servicing SMBs across the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and Mexico — including TradeSpace, a social marketing platform for small business.
  • Managed the world's largest MS SharePoint deployment at the time, BT TradeSpace, with 300K+ sites.
  • Strengthened the BT partnership by building a professional product-development organization.
  • Member of the senior leadership team responsible for strategy, budgeting, and business development.
  • Managed front-line relationships with global telecommunications partners including BT, TelMex, Swisscom, and Telus.

Pinson3 Systems, LLC · Ashburn, VA

Principal

2004 – 2010

Responsible for all aspects of starting and operating a small business — legal, finance, sales and marketing, operations. Developed and executed go-to-market strategy and marketing plans. Managed a globally distributed professional services organization. Provided program-management support for private and public sector engagements.

Highlights

  • Delivered next-generation .NET Windows client software for Transmitter Location Systems initially deployed with SatMex.
  • Delivered a multi-modal biometric and bio-demographic analysis system, BAIT, for Verizon Business.
  • Delivered an information-warfare training platform, NEMISYS, for Verizon Business.
  • Web-enabled Qwest's B2B sales process for Mural Consulting.

Microsoft · Washington, DC

Enterprise Strategy Consultant

2001 – 2004

Responsible for ensuring customers achieved maximum ROI from their Microsoft technology investments. Created service offerings and programs, aligned IT strategy with the direction of next-generation technology. Engaged directly with Fortune 500 senior leadership including C-suite executives. Evangelized .NET server software and development tools to key customers and partners in the telecommunications sector.

Highlights

  • Motorola ($30M+ account) — Key member of the global account team. Crafted solutions for $1B+ business problems across the Motorola footprint. Key contributor in the vetting process for a $1.6B IT outsourcing deal.
  • NTT Verio— Grew engagement revenue from $200K to $3M+. Guided development and implementation of NTT Verio's managed-services strategy.
  • Devised a .NET platform migration strategy for Verizon.com.
  • Developed Finance iConsole, a .NET-based solution for Verizon's multi-billion-dollar receivables and collections issue.
  • Led the Microsoft Passport Managed Namespace SDK development team.
  • Additional accounts: Williams Energy Services, Global Crossings, Nextel.

marchFIRST, Inc. (USWeb / CKS) · Herndon, VA

Senior Manager, iFrame Platform Services Group

1999 – 2001

Responsible for defining the overall product feature set of iFrame, the managed-services hosting platform (an early cloud service). Defined and delivered iFrame Directory and Security Services. Responsible for product management, program management, and product development. Managed the front-line partner relationship with Microsoft, ensuring maximum ROI on its $90M investment in the Managed Services Division.

Highlights

  • Developed a scalable, high-availability directory and security services platform.
  • Contributed to the USWeb/CKS Account Management Methodology.
  • Helped grow the organization from 7 to 200+ people.
  • Helped Microsoft program managers understand the high-availability and scalability requirements server products had to meet to enable suitable SLAs from hosting partners.

Education

YearUniversityDegree
2024MIT
Professional Education
Certificate Data Science, Machine Learning & Generative AI
2019MIT
Sloan School of Management
Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation — Focus: Blockchain, Platform Strategy, Design Thinking, Digital Marketing
2010University of Oxford
Mansfield College
Certificate, EU Market Dynamics — Focus: Business in the EU
2010George Mason University, School of ManagementMBA— Focus: Entrepreneurship, International Business & Emerging Markets
1997George Mason University, Volgenau School of EngineeringB.S., Computer Science — Focus: Distributed Computing and Parallel Algorithms

Awards & recognition

2002Microsoft NSP Utilization Award — Cash award
1997SENTEL Employee Excellence Award — Cash award and certificate
1995GMU Outstanding Employee of the Quarter — Cash award and certificate
1994AOL Innovation Award — Cash award and certificate
1991RSA Scholar Award — Excellence in academic achievement, undergraduate Computer Science

Patents

US8401960Online Credit Escrow Service — A business method and associated technology that enhances accuracy in credit reporting by applying escrow techniques to credit-influencing consumer and commercial transactions.

Historical experience

Held positions during the 1990s of progressively increased responsibility, requiring deeply technical software engineering skills and thought leadership. Roles ranged across research, internal IT, product support, product development, and consulting. Evolved from software engineer and technical lead into software architect and project manager. Technology-agnostic during this period — focus was cross-platform client-server applications across many operating systems and programming languages. Developing proprietary middleware was a specialty.

1997 – 1999Corporate Software & TechnologySr. Software Engineer
1996 – 1997SENTEL CorporationSr. Software Engineer
1994 – 1996George Mason UniversitySr. Programmer Analyst
1993 – 1994AOLSr. Support Engineer
1992 – 1993US Department of InteriorComputer Specialist I
1991George Mason UniversityDatabase Programmer

Certification & training

2019Platform Strategy: Building and Thriving in a Vibrant Ecosystem — MIT Sloan
2019Digital Marketing Analytics — MIT Sloan
2019Mastering Design Thinking — MIT Sloan
2018Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application — MIT Sloan
2011Certified Scrum Master (CSM) — Scrum Alliance
2010Doing Business with the EU at Mansfield College — Oxford University
2003Technology Strategy Consulting 101 — Microsoft
2002Essential ASP.NET, Essential Web Services .NET — Developmentor
2002Application Security Principles — @stake Academy
2001Programming the .NET Framework — Wintellect
2001Essential C#.NET — Developmentor
2000ITIL — Pink Elephant
1999Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF), Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF), Essential NT Security
1998Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Professional + Internet (MCP+I)
1997Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)

Security clearance

2005 – 2010Top Secret, SBI
1995 – 2000Secret