Curtis Nielsen
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VP Engineering
Queen Creek, Arizona, United States
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Senior Vice President Software EngineeringGHXApr 2026 - Current (6 months)Upskilling and re-tooling the broader engineering organization on AI-native development practices, from individual contributors through directors.
Focused on turning AI adoption from a pilot into a durable operating advantage across the organization.- Vice President of Software EngineeringGHXMar 2022 - Current (4 years 7 months)Lead 200-person engineering organization (Mix of US and offshore FTEs and contractors) responsible for product portfolio representing $300M+ of company revenue. Oversee 7+ products across healthcare supply chain and credentialing domains.
Organizational Transformation & Growth:
• Expanded scope from single product area to multi-product portfolio through 4+ acquisition integrations (Vendormate, Value Analysis, Explorer Surgical, Marketplace and additional product lines)
• Led flagship product organizational transformation: secured financial alignment, drove cross-functional stakeholder alignment, and executed restructuring plan now delivering results
• Built and developed leadership bench through strategic hiring an - Senior ConsultantAKF PartnersAug 2021 - Mar 2022 (8 months)Technology consulting firm specializing in due diligence, scalability assessments, and executive advisory services for PE firms, VC funds, and high-growth companies.
Due Diligence & Assessment:
- Performed 40+ technical due diligences for PE and VC firms evaluating acquisition targets across FinTech, HealthTech, eCommerce, and telecommunications
- Assessed technology risk, scalability, technical debt, team capabilities, and architecture fitness for investment decisions ranging from growth equity to buyout transactions
Interim Executive Roles:
- Interim CTO at Riviera Partners: Led technology strategy and execution for executive search firm
- Interim VP of Engineering at GHX - Vendormate: Stabilized - ConsultantAKF PartnersFeb 2020 - Aug 2021 (1 year 7 months)Promoted to Senior Consultant in August 2021.
- EFounder & Fractional CTOEntrepreneurial Ventures Multiple StartupsSep 2014 - Feb 2022 (7 years 6 months)Founded and provided technical leadership for multiple early-stage ventures spanning B2B SaaS, healthcare, agriculture, and consumer products. Built products from concept through launch, managed cloud migrations (AWS), and led technical integrations. Developed hands-on fluency across full-stack development, infrastructure, and product strategy.
- DActing VP of Operations (Brief Role)D Robotics IncJan 2014 - May 2014 (5 months)Expanded scope to operational leadership during transition period, partnering with CEO on business development, commercial market analysis, and strategic planning for technology commercialization beyond defense applications.
- DDirector of Software Engineering (Primary role)D Robotics IncAug 2011 - Jan 2014 (2 years 6 months)Led all software development for autonomous robotics company, scaling engineering team from founding stage to 20 engineers.
- Identified and integrated high-precision positioning technology leveraging sensor fusion and real-time perception systems — this capability became core IP that drove the company's acquisition
- Architected intelligent navigation system for autonomous wheeled robotics platform, combining localization, path planning, and obstacle avoidance
- Built embedded and application software stack from prototype through production-ready systems deployed in defense and commercial applications - DCo-founder and Senior ScientistD Robotics IncAug 2009 - Aug 2011 (2 years 1 month)Co-founded robotics startup; developed core system integration, manipulation software, and demonstration systems that secured initial funding and defense contracts.
- Research and Development ScientistIdaho National LaboratoryDec 2005 - Jul 2009 (3 years 8 months)R&D scientist focused on autonomous mobile robotics systems. Developed software for robot control, sensor integration, and human-robot interface design. Contributed to federally-funded research programs in robotics and automation.
- Research AssistantBrigham Young UniversityJan 1999 - Jan 2005 (6 years 1 month)Graduate research in human-robot interaction (HRI). Designed and conducted experimental studies on user interface paradigms to optimize task performance in robotic systems. Published research in academic venues.
Education
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- PhD, Computer ScienceBrigham Young UniversityJan 1997 - Jan 2006 (9 years 1 month)
Awards
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- J2006 R&D 100 AwardJan