Peak performance,
perfect systems.

I engineer what must not fail. Through cross-functional leadership and high-assurance architecture, I connect technical vision with operational reality to deliver unconventional reliability.

See my approach in action → How I'm different → Validated Outcomes →

Who I am

Keith Vance I am a Principal Consultant with over 20 years of experience transforming engineering operations and teams at firms like Cisco and The Knot Worldwide.

My practice is built on a dual foundation: Strategic Leadership to navigate organizational ambiguity, and Technical Mastery in Node.js, Typescript, Rust, Go, and Distributed Systems to solve complex architectural challenges.

Core Competencies

  • — Engineering Leadership & Coaching
  • — High-Assurance Distributed Systems
  • — Agile Transformation & Operational Excellence
  • — AI-Driven Automation Solutions
  • — Tech debt Reduction & System Modernization

How I'm different

01.

Assumption of Failure

Most consultants build for the happy path. I architect systems—and teams—with the fundamental assumption that everything will fail. This philosophy drove the creation of integrity services at Cisco and The Knot that verified delivery of contracted services to tens of thousands of customers. Customers such as Verizon, Comcast, The Marriot and many thousands of small contracts that are equally as important as the big dollars contracts.

02.

Ambiguity Management

Ambiguity is inevitable; chaos is optional. I don't just write code and design amazing distributed systems; I coach engineers in active listening and conflict resolution. This "soft skill" focus resulted in a 40 percent year-over-year increase in team efficiency under my leadership.

03.

Modern Rigor

I combine the stability of enterprise experience with the performance of modern tooling. By leveraging the latest technology, I replace antiquated legacy systems with memory-safe, high-concurrency solutions that scale. If I build a system, in 10 years, I want someone to look at it and say, "This is still relevant."

Validated Outcomes

Real results delivered for enterprise clients.

100%

Operational Perfection

Transformed failing fulfillment systems to achieve 100 percent accuracy for contracted services. Not only accurate, but provably accurate through integrity verification.

+40%

Efficiency Increase

Boosted team velocity YOY through agile maturity and conflict resolution coaching. Engineers reported higher job satisfaction and engagement.

Millions in Revenue

Customer Contracts Fulfilled and Verified

In business, it's all about the customers. It's easy to get bogged down in the nitty gritty details, but I never lose sight of what is truly important - happy customers. I focus on my clients, and my clients customers.