Neil Sambol

Founder | Fractional CTO

Area 51 Software, LLC · Roswell, Georgia, United States

Feb 2025 – Present(1 yr 3 mos)

• Use the latest AI technologies, tools, and practices to make teams significantly more productive. • Lead software process optimization initiatives to ensure compliance. • Implement AI/ML tools to secure, ingest, and make application data actionable. • Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and address key business needs for sustainable growth. • Incorporate AI-driven (LLM) chat and AI-driven (NLSR) voice technology into next-gen UX.

Chief Technology Officer

MedHaul

Sep 2022 – Feb 2025(2 yrs 6 mos)

• Re-designed and managed the evolution of MedHaul's architecture from MVP to enterprise level, ensuring zero unplanned downtime for over 2.5 years. • Developed an AI/ML algorithm to optimize patient pick-up times based on various data inputs, enhancing operational efficiency. • Led technology strategy and personnel, overseeing quality metrics, architecture, and software processes while collaborating with product teams.

Head Of Engineering

MedHaul · Atlanta Metropolitan Area

Sep 2021 – Feb 2025(3 yrs 6 mos)

• Functioned as the architect and team lead for NEMT scheduling software, ensuring seamless user experience. • Guided the development team in making informed technical decisions aligned with product goals. • Translated product features into actionable technical stories in Jira, prioritizing business needs. • Conducted proof of concept experiments for vendor integrations using Swift, Python, and NodeJS.

Fractional CTO

GameForm

Feb 2020 – Sep 2023(3 yrs 8 mos)

• Ensured the seamless operation of AWS Ruby-based infrastructure, enhancing system reliability. • Maintained and optimized HTML, JavaScript, and Native iOS games for optimal performance. • Collaborated with leadership and games consultant to select games for Unity porting, improving portability and maintainability.

Senior Software Development Manager

Vroom

Apr 2021 – Sep 2021(6 mos)

• Led a small accounting team through Sarbanes Oxley compliance adjustments with guidance from Deloitte consultants. • Developed and maintained Golang services to process transactions from legacy systems into the Kafka system. • Implemented an event-driven architecture using Apache Kafka on AWS, ensuring data consistency and compliance with DataDog monitoring.

Director of Software Engineering

OTG Management · Greater New York City Area

Jan 2020 – Apr 2021(1 yr 4 mos)

• Oversaw a full-stack engineering team to modernize technologies from native iOS and PHP to a responsive web stack using ReactJS and Node. • Pioneered the transition to a Node/React stack on AWS, enhancing team productivity and flexibility. • Managed Agile Scrum processes and CI/CD pipelines, ensuring seamless collaboration between onshore and offshore teams.

Director of Software Engineering

SmileDirectClub · Nashville, Tennessee

Dec 2018 – Jun 2019(7 mos)

• Directed five engineering teams, including .NET Core micro-services, Python/Django services, Big Data, and mobile development. • Spearheaded the DevOps transformation and migration to micro-services architecture, enhancing scalability and deployment efficiency. • Managed a diverse organization of approximately 25 engineers, fostering collaboration and innovation across teams. • Hired an AI/ML team based out of the Bay area to determine if any characteristics were common to those people who missed their Smileshop appointments. I was an active participant in the project and it was my primary introduction to modern Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning. • The AI/ML team also mined data from A/B testing of our production website to determine the most important web-site factors influencing purchasing.

VP of Engineering

CallMaX, an MRI Software company · Atlanta, GA (Buckhead)

Jan 2016 – Nov 2018(2 yrs 11 mos)

• Led the development of innovative SaaS products at CallMaX, ensuring seamless integration with the MRI suite. • Oversaw multiple development teams focused on Telecom IVR, Twilio integration, and mobile applications. • Implemented Agile methodologies to boost team productivity and foster collaboration. • Integrated AI-based OCR software into mobile applications, enhancing package scanning and check-in processes.

Executive Director, Software Development

Amplify Learning (News Corp) · Alpharetta, Georgia

Jan 2015 – Dec 2015(1 yr)

. Responsible for 7 Alpharetta-based development teams and Agile process coach/consultant/mentor across Amplify locations (33 developers) . Responsible for QA teams in Alpharetta and Durham (19 QA engineers) . Responsible for team alignment, coordinating and training, hiring, and retention . Responsible with Product Owners for coordination with Product teams . Promoted two times each with greater responsibility. Director -> Senior Director -> Executive Director

Senior Director, Engineering (Mobile Applications)

Amplify Learning (News Corp) · Brooklyn, New York 11201

May 2012 – Dec 2015(3 yrs 8 mos)

• Led a cross-functional team of 11 developers to create educational mobile applications for science, utilizing Lean UX methodology. • Managed two Android development teams, ensuring timely delivery of tablet-based educational software across multiple locations. • Oversaw hiring and personnel management for four development teams, conducting performance reviews and promoting internal talent.

Manager, Software Development

TMX Finance · Alpharetta, GA

Mar 2010 – May 2012(2 yrs 3 mos)

• Managed three project teams, overseeing 18 developers and 7 QA professionals to enhance software quality. • Spearheaded the Equity Auto Loan project, achieving over 10 on-time releases and expanding product usage from 40 to 125 stores. • Built a high-performance team for the Cash Management project, delivering on-time results and prioritizing company objectives.

Software Development Manager (Level 2)

HP · Alpharetta, GA

Jul 2007 – Feb 2010(2 yrs 8 mos)

• Managed multiple teams, including QAInspect, DevInspect .NET, DevInspect Java, and WebInspect, overseeing a total of 19 team members. • Led the successful release of six software products, maintaining on-time delivery for five major product releases. • Developed and implemented a customized Agile Scrum methodology, enhancing the software development process and ensuring quality.

Senior Software Engineer

Witness Systems · Roswell, GA

Jul 2005 – Jul 2007(2 yrs 1 mo)

• Developed and maintained an IP telephony call recorder using MS Visual Studio 2003 with C++. • Conducted JAD sessions to estimate effort for next-generation products, enhancing project planning. • Supervised an offshore team in Bangalore, ensuring adherence to project requirements and code reviews. • Collaborated with Cisco and RSA to improve security applications for the Witness recorder.

Senior Software Engineer

ChoicePoint · Alpharetta, GA

Apr 2004 – Jul 2005(1 yr 4 mos)

• Developed and maintained web front-ends for employee background check services across 20 websites, enhancing user experience. • Designed middleware applications in Perl and C++ to support background check operations and reporting functionalities. • Created an early-AI-based "SHERIFF" fraud detection application, automating suspicious activity reporting for timely management action.

Senior Software Engineer - Team Lead

Witness Systems · Roswell, GA

Nov 2002 – Apr 2004(1 yr 6 mos)

• Led a team of 7 engineers in integration engineering, tackling both tactical and strategic challenges. • Instituted an automated build process to enhance code validation before handoff to other teams. • Streamlined the defect turn-around cycle, reducing it from 3 days to less than half a day.

Web Developer (Consultant, part time)

Voice Innovations · Marietta, GA

Jun 2002 – Jun 2003(1 yr 1 mo)

• Collaborated with the CEO of an early-stage startup to develop a web application using classic ASP. • Gathered requirements, created a prototype, and refined the design to ensure user satisfaction. • Released the finished product, which remains in production over 10 years later. • Resolved defects and updated documentation, contributing to the company's ongoing viability.

Software Engineer (Consultant)

Equifax · Alpharetta, GA

Jun 2002 – Oct 2002(5 mos)

• Developed an AI-based rules engine utilizing fuzzy logic to enhance data accuracy in matching residence history with individuals' names. • Created an encryption tool to secure customer login credentials, ensuring compliance with SAS-70 standards. • Automated job queuing based on priority, significantly improving the efficiency and reliability of job execution.

Senior Software Engineer (Consultant)

Hughes Network Systems · Germantown, MD

Mar 2001 – Jun 2002(1 yr 4 mos)

• Developed a CORBA-like interface specification language and compiler using lex and yacc, ensuring code and documentation alignment. • Collaborated with senior engineers to define the Hughes Network Management Protocol (HNMP) for satellite terminal control. • Created a lint utility for error-checking in customized interface specification documents, enhancing documentation quality and ensuring code quality. • Automated verification and compilation processes on Solaris with Korn shell scripts, streamlining workflow in ClearCase.

Staff Software Engineer (AKA eshare Communications)

Melita International · Norcross, GA

May 1999 – Feb 2001(1 yr 10 mos)

• Led a team of 5 developers in the design and implementation of the NetAgent™ product, ensuring high-quality code through rigorous reviews. • Enhanced CGI code in C++ for HTML configuration generation, improving application performance. • Successfully delivered release 4.0 to market on schedule, showcasing strong project management skills.

Senior Software Engineer

Syntellect · Roswell, GA

Jul 1997 – May 1999(1 yr 11 mos)

• Collaborated with customers to define product requirements for an enterprise-level medical record dictation system. • Conducted vendor evaluations of Natural Language products for potential integration, enhancing system capabilities. • Developed a utility to remove silence from dictated files, improving overall product efficiency. • Resolved a critical product issue within 24 hours, ensuring timely delivery for pilot use in five hospitals.

Software Engineer Intern

Daniel Nauke Associates · New York, New York, United States

Sep 1989 – May 1992(2 yrs 9 mos)

• Contributed to the development of software for a computer-driven optical printer, facilitating remote operation. • Developed AI automation to codify special effects, enhancing productivity in the film industry. • Collaborated with a dynamic team at Daniel Nauke Associates, a startup focused on innovative printing solutions.

Software Engineer Intern

Debartolo Gemcutters · New York City Metropolitan Area

Mar 1987 – Apr 1990(3 yrs 2 mos)

• Developed innovative software for a robotic gem cutter, enhancing remote operation capabilities. • Implemented rules-based AI automation to streamline gem cutting processes, reducing manual errors. • Collaborated with a dynamic team at Debartolo Gemcutters, a startup focused on revolutionizing semi-precious gemstone processing in Central and South America.