Salvatore Poliandro III / Popsikle

Builder, first.

I build systems, teams, and organizations from their earliest stages through global scale. The same instinct shows up here in smaller tools, experiments, writing, games, and Pokémon projects.

The work

From undefined problem to durable capability.

Start at zero

I’m most useful when the problem is real but the path is not yet obvious: first infrastructure, first platform, first operating model, or the first working version of an idea.

Stay close to the work

Leadership has never replaced building. I use architecture, implementation, and experimentation to learn what works before turning it into a standard or an organization.

Build beyond yourself

The goal is not permanent heroics. I create systems, paved roads, teams, and leaders that can carry important work without depending on one person forever.

Career arc

A career spent building the next thing needed.

2015 — now

Braze

First infrastructure hire to Vice President

Helped evolve a single-digit-server startup footprint into a worldwide platform and operating model. Built and led Infrastructure, Platform Engineering, SRE, Security, Compliance, IT, Developer Experience, and AI-enabled engineering capabilities as the company grew.

2013 — 2015

Keep

Operations Lead

Served as the one-person infrastructure function while also building backend, browser, networking, and iOS capabilities wherever the business needed leverage.

2007 — 2013

FortressITX

Unix Administrator to CTO

Progressed from supporting more than 3,000 Linux servers to designing hosted platforms and leading technology, production architecture, networking, and datacenter operations.

1998 — 2007

Early systems and ventures

Founder, IT leader, consultant, administrator

Built gaming networks and hosted services, managed multi-site IT, supported statewide deployments, and learned the physical and human layers beneath reliable systems.

Elsewhere on Popsikle

Small builds count, too.

This site is where the scope gets deliberately smaller: local-first tools, practical experiments, Pokémon utilities, and notes about engineering and work. It is the same builder mindset with fewer meetings.

Browse the projects