Brandon Wilburn
Executive Summary
Engineering and applied AI leader with 15+ years leading large-scale platform, data, and infrastructure systems in complex, real-time environments. Currently Managing Director of AI Strategy & Enablement at Sayer Strategy, where I established the technology practice serving mid-market private equity firms and their portfolio companies. Previously Chief Software Architect at Spirent Communications through its acquisition by Keysight. Track record of measurable improvement in system performance, engineering throughput, and operational efficiency, leading organizations of 70+ engineers directly with accountability across multi-program environments spanning up to 500 engineers.
Selected Impact
- •Guided AI-driven root cause analysis reducing resolution time from weeks to minutes
- •Drove AI-assisted development workflows improving engineering throughput by 20-40%
- •Reduced outage identification from over 60 minutes to under 7 minutes through a real-time operational intelligence platform
- •Established security and IP governance standards achieving zero critical vulnerabilities and enabling acquisition readiness
- •Reclaimed and expanded $12M in at-risk revenue through platform and customer alignment
- •Built and scaled global R&D innovation organization with $5M budget
Experience
Sayer Strategy
June 2026 - PresentManaging Director, AI Strategy & Enablement
- •Established the technology practice at Sayer, focused on mid-market private equity firms and their portfolio companies
- •Deliver institutional AI solutions, driving technology innovation internally and across the client portfolio
- •Lead the AI Harness along with internal SDLC, go-to-market, and IP playbooks
- •Provide enterprise operations and management consulting to improve client performance and efficiency
- •Serve as fractional CTO for preferred private equity clients
Spirent Communications
March 2021 - June 2026Chief Software Architect
- •Led engineering organization of 70+ engineers directly, with accountability across multi-program environments spanning up to 500 engineers
- •Provided strategic counsel to the ATA General Manager, VP of Engineering, and business unit leaders (VPs), influencing platform strategy, product direction, and investment priorities
- •Advised executive leadership on M&A strategy, technical diligence, and integration planning through the acquisition by Keysight
- •Served as product sponsor and platform lead for an AI-driven root cause analysis system, reducing resolution time from weeks of multi-team escalation to minutes
- •Drove adoption of AI-assisted software development workflows across engineering programs, improving throughput by 20-40%
- •Delivered real-time operational intelligence platform reducing outage identification from 60+ minutes to under 7 minutes
- •Defined software security and IP governance standards achieving zero critical vulnerabilities and enabling acquisition readiness
- •Recovered $12M in at-risk revenue through platform and delivery alignment
- •Built and scaled global R&D innovation lab ($5M budget)
Viavi Solutions
April 2015 - March 2021Principal Architect, CTO Organization
- •Led platform strategy for network intelligence and service assurance systems used by tier-1 operators
- •Designed scalable platforms across air-gapped and cloud environments supporting real-time analytics
- •Standardized DevSecOps practices and reusable platform frameworks across engineering teams
- •Aligned engineering and product roadmaps across multiple teams and domains
- •Built UX and platform enablement capabilities to improve developer velocity and product usability
Hyla Mobile
February 2014 - April 2015Technical Lead
- •Led re-architecture of monolithic Java/Spring system into modular, scalable platform
- •Managed distributed engineering teams across concurrent initiatives
- •Designed APIs and service interfaces supporting scalable system architecture
- •Established development standards and automated testing practices to improve code quality and maintainability
Earlier Experience
- Trendium — Senior Software EngineerJune 2012 - February 2014
- Neohapsis — Senior Software EngineerMay 2010 - September 2012
- IBM — Software EngineerFebruary 2008 - April 2010
Core Skills
Agentic AIApplied AILLMsAI InfrastructureMLOpsPlatform EngineeringData PlatformsDistributed SystemsOperational IntelligenceDevSecOpsCloud ArchitectureSoftware ArchitectureNew Product IntroductionCorporate Strategy