Kevin Peno Principal Engineer / Enterprise Architect
About me

With almost two decades of experience, I am an accomplished engineering leader adept at driving both strategic planning and technical innovation. I specialize in aligning engineering efficiency with compliance standards, consistently ensuring the delivery of mission-critical software solutions. I have a demonstrated track record of success in managing budgets, monitoring KPIs, and guiding distributed teams towards achieving and maintaining a high-performance engineering lifecycle.

Primary Skillset
Leadership — Software Acquisition, Budget Management, KPI Management, Strategic Planning, Agile/Kanban/Scrum, Distributed/Remote Teams
Architecture — Problem Solving, Consensus building, Solutioning, Documentation, Process Management
Web Systems — javascript, typescript, node.js, deno, React, Redux, Next.js
Web Services — RPC, REST, XML, Python, Ruby, PHP, C#, Java, Go, Rust, Data systems
Web Standards — HTTP, DOM, HTML, CSS, W3C, ADA, WCAG
Notable Experience

In response to the company's transition from a technology firm to an IT-focused enterprise, I established a reliable advisory team for executive leadership on technology initiatives.

  • -Developed and communicated a comprehensive technology strategy to executive leadership.
  • -Guided technology usage, best practices, and provisioning, offering frameworks for implementation and integration.
  • -Ensured compliance with a range of standards including Security, Privacy, PCI, and SOC.
  • -Formulated a strategic technology planning roadmap, aligning technical innovation with business growth and budget management.
  • -Aligned all technology initiatives with SOC 2, ISO 2700x, and PCI standards, establishing ongoing auditing and security governance.
  • -Enhanced departmental performance through KPI management, setting goals that improved engineering output while upholding privacy and security protocols.
    • Principal Software Engineer, Dollar Shave Club
    2018 – 2023

    As a Principal Engineer, I played a crucial role in leading key projects, resolving urgent issues, and removing obstacles to ensure project efficiency. I guided junior team members, developed systems, collaborated with business stakeholders, and supported various engineering operations.

  • -I led the design, planning, and execution of the company's Shopify migration. This seamless transition, which maintained 1.5 million subscriptions across four regions, resulted in substantial annual savings.
  • -I solved a complex issue related to migrating PayPal subscribers to Shopify. This solution averted a potential $20 million loss in annual revenue and showcased my ability to learn quickly and adapt to unfamiliar systems.
  • -Faced with the risk of multiple ADA lawsuits, I spearheaded the effort to address our site’s ADA compliance issues within one month by implementing effective processes and standards, enhancing stakeholder confidence.
  • -In response to evolving privacy regulations, I worked closely with the legal team to establish processes that prevented potential privacy breaches, avoiding significant legal costs for the company.
    • Staff Software Engineer, Deloitte Digital
    2013 – 2018

    As a technology consultant, I consistently embraced new learning opportunities with each project, gaining insights into various business operations and their technology needs. I collaborated with high-profile clients and partners such as Walmart, Macy's, IBM, and Papa Murphy's.

  • -Served as a Team Lead, Subject Matter Expert, and Solutions Architect specializing in web technologies, focusing primarily on e-commerce and retail sectors.
  • -Established and maintained web standards, including conducting code reviews, enforcing coding standards, managing pull requests, and overseeing release management processes.
  • -Assisted in the crafting and execution of technical strategies that addressed key client problems and promoted market-leading solutions.
  • -Collaborated with global client teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget, exceeding expectations on multiple accounts.
    • Senior Software Engineer, MSNBC (contractor)
    2012 – 2013

    Re-designed MSNBC's election site during the NBC and Microsoft joint ownership to enhance performance and minimize previous downtime issues.

  • -Achieved over 1 million views per hour on election night 2012 with zero downtime or reported issues, improving significantly from past performance difficulties.
  • -Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and align specifications for the redesigned site.
  • -Conducted comprehensive testing and quality assurance to ensure seamless performance under heavy usage conditions.
  • -Original code from this project still serves as the foundation of the current site.
    • UX Engineer, ADP; The Cobalt Group
    2009 – 2011

    Transitioned from backend and integration-level engineering to focus on front-end engineering and user experience, aiming to promote accessibility and UX best practices within the industry.

  • -Established a dedicated group within the company to highlight the significance of accessibility in web development, emphasizing its crucial role in the evolving landscape of web technology.
  • -Collaborated with traditional engineers to raise awareness about the importance of front-end engineering, facilitating understanding of its value and fostering the skills needed to leverage its potential.
  • -Led workshops and training sessions for team members on UX design principles and accessibility guidelines.
  • -Designed user interfaces that enhanced cross-platform consistency and accessibility, benefiting responsive design performance.
  • -Collaborated with designers and product managers to integrate user-centered design practices into the development cycle.
    • Senior Software Engineer, Microsoft (contractor)
    2008 – 2008

    Contributed to open-source projects, such as Drupal and Joomla, to add support for MSSQL and assist in the adoption of Windows support in the PHP core.

  • -Designed and implemented new features to optimize database interaction and increase efficiency.
  • -Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully roll out software upgrades enhancing Windows compatibility.
  • -Developed and reviewed code documentation for software deployment protocols, ensuring best practices.