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San Diego, CA, USA

Vlad I.

Head of Engineering @ Sketchy • AI & EdTech CTO • Mentor (Big Brothers Big Sisters) • Co‑Founder, MentraTrack

Technology executive with 12+ years building SaaS and AI-powered learning platforms. I lead Sketchy’s engineering org to deliver scalable, compliance-ready products for consumers and institutions, driving measurable learning and business outcomes. I’ve scaled engineering from 3→15 while cutting onboarding ramp time ~50%, launched an AI-driven simulation product that opened enterprise channels and contributed to 20–30% YoY revenue growth, and consolidated cloud infrastructure to improve uptime and reduce costs. I represent technology at the board level and have hands-on experience with HIPAA/FERPA/SOC2, multi-cloud strategy, and technical due diligence for M&A. I’m passionate about mentorship and impact — I mentor engineers, serve as a Big Brother at Big Brothers Big Sisters, and co-founded MentraTrack to bring better tech to the ABA field. I focus on building user-centric, reliable systems that empower learners and teams.
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Vlad I.

Work

Nike acquires TraceMe, a Seattle startup founded by Russell Wilson and backed by Jeff Bezos – GeekWire

geekwire.com
Nike acquires TraceMe, a Seattle startup founded by Russell Wilson and backed by Jeff Bezos – GeekWire

Nike has acquired TraceMe, the Seattle startup co-founded by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and backed by investors including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos,

Sketchy | The Unforgettable Learning Platform For Future Clinicians

sketchy.com
Sketchy | The Unforgettable Learning Platform For Future Clinicians

We help students master challenging medical topics, score higher on exams and turn knowledge to life with proven visual techniques and interactive cases.

Experience

Jan 2025 — Present
MentraTrack

MentraTrack

Co-Founder

Your All-in-One ABA Supervision Toolkit Simplify your certification journey with smart tools for fieldwork, goals, and compliance, made for modern BCBAs and trainees

  • MentraTrack is the ultimate all-in-one platform for ABA fieldwork tracking, built to eliminate the stress of logging hours and streamline BCBA supervision.
  • Designed by a BCBA, MentraTrack goes far beyond hour tracking — it enhances the entire supervision experience with real-time compliance checks, competency progress monitoring, and structured feedback.
  • Our newest AI-powered features include an Assessment Tool on the trainee dashboard to help identify strengths and growth areas, and a SMART Goal Generator on the supervisor dashboard to streamline individualized, BACB-aligned goal writing.
  • With additional tools like a secure messaging center, supervisor feedback templates, instant verification forms, and objective goal-setting workflows, MentraTrack simplifies fieldwork from start to certification.
  • No more spreadsheets — just efficient, accurate, and meaningful supervision.
Dec 2024 — Present
MentraTrack

MentraTrack

CTO / CoFounder

As CTO and co-founder of MentraTrack, I lead all technology strategy and product development for our AI-powered platform that helps BCBA trainees and supervisors track fieldwork hours, assess competencies, and provide feedback in real time. I oversee system architecture, AI integration, and compliance (FERPA/HIPAA), while collaborating closely with product and clinical teams to ensure a secure, scalable, and user-centric experience.

Jun 2023 — Present
Sketchy

Sketchy

Head of Engineering

We help students master challenging medical topics, score higher on exams and turn knowledge to life with proven visual techniques and interactive cases.

  • Led entire engineering org across consumer (D2C) and enterprise (B2B) products, directly managing engineering managers and ICs.
  • Tripled team size in one year by implementing structured hiring and career development practices.
  • Owned a $2M engineering budget and reduced infrastructure costs through cloud optimization.
  • Launched a greenfield AI-driven simulation product, expanding institutional adoption.
  • Partnered with academic institutions (Harvard, Mayo Clinics) to validate learning outcomes and prepare platform for enterprise adoption.
May 2023 — Present
Sketchy

Sketchy

Head of Engineering

Sketchy is a research-proven visual learning platform that aims to transform the way students and professionals learn. With programs in the medical, MCAT, pharmacy, PA, and nursing fields, Sketchy utilizes art, story, and the method of loci.

  • Scaled Sketchy's engineering organization 3→15, maintaining velocity, cutting onboarding ramp time by 50%, and improving delivery efficiency
  • Executed a multi-million dollar engineering budget and launched a greenfield AI-driven simulation product, expanding institutional adoption
  • Partnered with elite academic institutions such as Harvard and the Mayo Clinic to validate learning outcomes and prepare the platform for enterprise and compliance-heavy adoption
  • Represented technology vision in board meetings, aligning on a multi-year product strategy with growth objectives
Jun 2022 — Present
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Mentor and Big Brother

Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children realize their potential and build their futures. We nurture children and strengthen communities. And we couldn't do any of it without you.

  • Serve as a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor, supporting and empowering a young person.
  • Advocate for technology-enabled accessibility and personalized learning.
Feb 2022 — Jun 2023
Sketchy

Sketchy

Engineering Manager

  • Managed a team of 5 engineers, focusing on ownership, growth, and wellbeing
  • Implemented engineering productivity frameworks, improving delivery speed and code quality
  • Designed scalable multi-cloud infrastructure in AWS/Google, ensuring reliability for global learners
  • Delivered critical features improving search, reporting, and enterprise integrations
Oct 2021 — Feb 2022
Sketchy

Sketchy

Staff Software Engineer

  • Directed backend systems for Nike Athlete Studio, deployed in 50+ countries, supporting global brand marketing and athlete engagement
  • Managed a team of 6, overseeing hiring, growth, and delivery processes across Nike's Seattle engineering team
  • Defined backend technical vision, consolidating legacy systems into a unified platform for optimized athlete-fan engagement
  • Spearheaded the approach in managing and coaching engineering team members, developing their career growth and goals
Oct 2019 — Oct 2021
Nike

Nike

Senior Software Engineer

NIKE, Inc. is a purpose-driven organization energized by a shared commitment to move the world forward through the power of sport.

  • Primarily responsible for building out the backend for Nike Athlete Studio, the platform used by Nike global brand marketing and professional contract athletes.
  • Stepped into managing and coaching team members, developing career growth and goals, and strategizing business ideas across our Global Technology pillar.
  • Nike Athlete Studio has been deployed and used in 50 countries.
  • Implemented and architected the backend systems powering Nike Athlete Studio using AWS, TypeScript, Terraform, and Postgres.
Sep 2019 — Oct 2021
Nike

Nike

Engineering Manager

Nike, recognized for its athletic footwear and apparel, has become synonymous with sports excellence, innovation, and inspiring athlete stories around the globe.

  • Led engineering initiatives, including backend systems architecture and deployment of Nike Athlete Studio across 50+ countries
  • Managed engineering team operations, focusing on global brand marketing integration and elite athlete engagement
May 2018 — Oct 2019

TraceMe

Senior Software Development Engineer

TraceMe, co-founded by Russell Wilson, focused on connecting celebrities with fans via social platforms, later pivoting to Tally for interactive sports predictions.

  • Developed backend systems for TraceMe's celebrity engagement and Tally's prediction platforms, contributing to significant product pivots and partnerships
  • Crafted backend architecture, ensuring scalability and security for a seamless fan engagement experience
Dec 2016 — May 2018
Microsoft

Microsoft

Software Development Engineer II

Microsoft, leading in software, services, devices, and solutions, enhances cloud computing, AI, gaming, and quantum computing to shape the future of technology.

  • Led technology initiatives for Yammer's provisioning and platform domains, significantly reducing platform bugs and improving SLA compliance
  • Spearheaded sustainable engineering initiatives, optimizing testing frameworks and mentoring engineers
  • Technical lead for re-architecting Yammer's files infrastructure to align with Microsoft standards, enhancing platform integration
Jul 2013 — Dec 2016
Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA)

Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA)

Software Engineer

Barracuda Networks, a global leader in security, application delivery, and data protection solutions, helps businesses safeguard against complex threats.

  • Developed manufacturing specification tests, enhancing QA/test processes for Barracuda's product line
  • Wrote scripts in Perl and Bash for stress testing hardware products, contributing to product reliability and performance
Nov 2012 — Jul 2013
Barracuda Networks

Barracuda Networks

Engineering Intern

Barracuda Networks is the worldwide leader in Email Protection, Application Protection, Network Security, and Data Protection Solutions

  • Created manufacturing specification tests for a variety of Barracuda products.
  • When adding new hardware, performed stress tests to ensure products achieved desired runtimes.
  • Built a series of executable tests for QA/Test engineers to run during stress testing of Barracuda product line.
  • Wrote most scripts in Perl and Bash to automate manufacturing and stress testing workflows.
Nov 2012 — Jul 2013
Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA)

Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA)

Engineering Intern

  • Developed and implemented manufacturing specification tests for Barracuda products, enhancing QA/test processes
  • Wrote executable tests in Perl and Bash for stress testing, improving product reliability and performance