Software architect Mark Holton working on distributed systems and data pipeline architecture

I’m a hands-on Software Architect with over two decades of experience building resilient, scalable systems.

I spent over a decade at Salesforce building distributed systems and large-scale data platforms. In 2025, I was a Lead Architect at ShiftUpAI.com, where I architected data pipelines for Go-To-Market Sales Intelligence.

As of August 31, 2026, I’ve joined Improving as a Principal Consultant. If you need consulting help, contact Improving.

In my spare time, I’m constantly experimenting with software, such as KEEP Terminal — a sovereign, desktop portfolio management system focused on structure, memory, and judgment in long-term investing — as a way to explore and learn the latest tools and techniques.

Here I share what I’m learning about modern architectures, AI integration patterns, and navigating the next phase of a software engineering career.


What I Do

I spend my days designing and building:

  • Data Pipelines & Platforms - Scalable systems that turn raw data into actionable insights
  • Distributed Systems - Backend architectures that handle complexity gracefully
  • Agent-Driven Solutions - AI-integrated systems that enhance human capabilities
  • Resilient Architectures - Systems that fail gracefully and recover quickly
  • Local-First Desktop Applications - Sovereign software designed for durability

Publications

I’ve written about data platform engineering and fault-tolerant system design:

Patents

Connect With Me

I share insights about software architecture, career transitions, and lessons learned from the trenches of engineering.


This blog is where I document my journey through the evolving landscape of software engineering, data platforms, and the art of building systems that matter.