Keith Smith

Keith Smith

Senior Engineering Leader  |  Platform & Applications  |  AI-Enablement

San Francisco Bay Area  ·  keith@kssoftware.net  ·  LinkedIn


Engineering leader with 20+ years of experience leading product-aligned technical teams across enterprise and growth-stage environments. Brings a rare blend of Fortune 500 scale and startup urgency, including rebuilding fractured organizations, scaling intelligent platforms, and shipping systems that restore trust and accelerate execution. Known for driving high-stakes transformation through architectural rigor, operational clarity, and deep product fluency.

Architected and led enterprise-scale initiatives at LinkedIn powering $15B+ in revenue, including global GTM data systems and a low-code enablement strategy adopted across the org. Trusted by product, analytics, and engineering leaders alike to unify priorities and drive sustainable velocity in ambiguous environments.

Key Results

$500M+

Revenue-critical systems stabilized at LinkedIn through scalable engineering frameworks that restored operational trust.

90%

Reduction in forecasting errors through cross-functional resolution of high-priority data failures across LinkedIn's $15B global sales organization.

$10M

Annual operational savings unlocked by introducing low-code Azure automation tools and self-service apps that streamlined workflows.


Experience

LinkedIn

Head of Engineering, Enterprise Platforms

Mar 2023 – May 2025  |  Sunnyvale, CA
  • Led engineering and cross-functional teams delivering enterprise platforms powering LinkedIn's $15B go-to-market ecosystem.
  • Oversaw five concurrent application and platform workstreams across Sales Pipeline, Compensation, and Analytics.
  • Served as technical escalation point, program architect, and operational lead across strategic roadmap, systems modernization, and AI-enhanced analytics and applications.

LinkedIn

Engineering Manager, Enterprise Applications

Apr 2018 – Mar 2023  |  Sunnyvale, CA
  • Directed global platform and systems engineering initiatives supporting LinkedIn's GTM revenue growth from $4B to $15B.
  • Led cross-functional roadmap development, platform modernization, and stakeholder alignment across data, forecasting, and infrastructure domains.
  • Managed distributed teams delivering scalable applications and services for operations, marketing, and customer success.

Boost Media

Head of Engineering

Mar 2015 – Apr 2018  |  San Francisco, CA
  • Led engineering for Boost's C2B marketplace platform during a high-stakes pivot to AI-enabled ad creation.
  • Directed a 50+ person global org across engineering, product, UX, and data science.
  • Partnered with Google to reposition the platform for intelligent, scalable content generation and future-proof growth.

Boost Media

Principal Software Engineer

Mar 2015 – Jan 2016  |  San Francisco, CA
  • Acted as lead architect during the system overhaul, partnering with cross-functional teams to reshape product delivery.

TIBCO

Lead Solution Architect

Mar 2014 – Mar 2015  |  Palo Alto, CA
  • Delivered modernization projects for TIBCO's enterprise clients in retail and loyalty programs.
  • Responsible for architecture, implementation, and client alignment.

JustAnswer

Development Manager

Mar 2012 – Mar 2014  |  San Francisco, CA
  • Rebuilt engineering culture and funnel performance after team turnover.
  • Led SEO-focused engineering initiatives to drive user growth and conversion.

Expertise

Platform Strategy Application Development & Modernization Enterprise Applications Platform Engineering Cross-Functional Roadmap Execution Data Integrity & Reliability Low-Code & No-Code Enablement ML-Driven Applications & AI Integration Stakeholder Alignment & Executive Reporting Engineering Org Design & Leadership Coaching

Education

University of California, Davis

Bachelor of Science — Computer Science & Engineering


Testimonials

I've had the privilege of working closely with Keith, together building technologies for transforming how LinkedIn does business. Keith consistently brings a positive energy to his team, partner teams, and stakeholders. His attention to detail spans everything from development and testing to operations. Keith's curiosity drives him to explore new ideas hands-on, making him a seasoned engineering leader who adds immense value to any organization.

— Bo Xing, Senior Engineering Manager, LinkedIn

As a leader, Keith turns chaos into order, and effort into outcomes. He took over the engineering department after the workforce was downsized, and managed to increase both output and morale — halting all attrition. With his deep technical background, he commands the respect of his colleagues. Despite these achievements, he's a modest down-to-earth person who is a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Keith for a leadership position in a software development organization.

— Alan Freedman, Director of Data Engineering, Boost Media

Keith is the kind of manager that every developer wants leading his team. He is laser-focused on maintaining tight scope, clearly defining deliverables and requirements, and giving the team exactly what it needs to continuously produce high quality code. He has a unique ability to simultaneously keep the team's productivity engine in high gear while finding time to reach for the next frontier.

— Nathan Piazza, Director of Customer Experience, Sigma Ratings

Q & A

Why did you choose your profession?
I received my first computer at the age of 13 and have been hooked ever since. I am passionate about using technology to solve business problems, and the field of Software Engineering has enabled me to turn this passion into a fulfilling career.
Who are your main influences?
I find Kenneth Chenault, Charles Phillips, and Colin Powell to be influential role models in my career. Their exceptional accomplishments in their respective fields, dedication to leadership and innovation, and commitment to promoting diversity, economic opportunity, and responsible public service have significantly shaped my perspective.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Lead architect of next generation network management system leveraged by the DoD to manage their global telephony network.
What tools do you use?
JIRA, Azure, AWS, Visual Studio Code, Viva Goals, AHA, Figma, GitHub Copilot
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your profession?
To be intentional with your engineering career, define your goals, continuously learn and improve, develop strong problem-solving skills, build a professional network, and pursue opportunities that align with your passions and long-term vision. This includes both technical and soft skills, and prioritizing a growth mindset.

Interests

Golf
Golf
Cooking
Cooking
Travel
Travel

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