Will Gifford

Background

About Will Gifford

Senior Software Engineer and Engineering Manager with 22+ years of experience driving innovation in software development, including 8+ years leading high-performing teams and 3 years at a startup that was successfully acquired. Proven ability to lead diverse engineering teams, mentor talent, and deliver impactful, scalable solutions in high-stakes environments. Currently building the next generation of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, leveraging modern web technologies, microservices, parallel computing, and machine learning to dramatically accelerate chip design workflows. Delivered the industry’s first production Design Space Optimizer (DSO), improving EDA design with a 10x improvement in turnaround time via machine learning and black-box tuning. Spearheaded a 3x runtime improvement through advanced benchmarking and intelligent job scheduling. Recognized for driving impactful internal tools, intuitive training resources, and cross-functional collaboration that put the customer first. Deep expertise across C++, C#, Python, and a broad suite of development frameworks, SDKs, and toolchains. End-to-end contributor: from system architecture and core algorithm design to GUI development, testing, deployment, and user training. Co-author of peer-reviewed work on SystemC modeling and a featured speaker at ML CAD 2019 in Canmore, Canada. I’m passionate about cultivating technical excellence, solving complex problems, and helping engineers grow. Whether guiding a 10+ person team or developing game-changing tools, I’m focused on building software that lasts and teams that thrive. Let’s connect, especially if you’re looking for someone who can lead from the front, ship with confidence, and make teams stronger through mentorship and innovation.