About me

A little bit about me, my approach to software engineering, and my journey in technology.

Hey there! I'm Glenn J. Mason, and I'm based in Sydney, Australia.

I'm a passionate technologist and engineering leader with over 20 years of experience finding pragmatic and adaptive solutions to the most complex and difficult problems in technology.

I'm currently Head of Engineering at a data-based pay-compliance business where I lead a small, agile team that is transforming raw data into actionable insights and building a scalable SaaS platform. The core of this platform is the Pay Model Engine, a sophisticated processor that empowers customers to apply and adjust their own legal interpretations of complex industrial instruments such as modern awards and enterprise agreements, ensuring accurate and compliant payroll outcomes.

Engineering Leadership

As an engineering leader, I focus on building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. I believe in empowering engineers to do their best work by providing clear context, guiding them to navigate complex challenges, and creating an environment where creativity and technical excellence thrive.

My leadership approach centers on servant leadership: supporting my team's growth through mentorship, advocating for their needs, and ensuring they have the tools and autonomy to deliver exceptional results. I've successfully scaled engineering organizations, implemented agile practices, and built inclusive cultures that attract and retain top talent.

Technical Capability

Beyond management, I maintain strong technical roots across the full (or new) stack, including:

  • Architecture & Design: Microservices, event-driven systems, and scalable distributed architectures.
  • Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS, GCP, Terraform, Kubernetes, containerization, serverless architecture, and global-scale networking.
  • Data Engineering: Big data pipelines, Spark, Warehousing, Snowflake, streaming, DBT, Dagster, and real-time analytics.
  • Backend Development: Python, Java, Elixir/Phoenix, RESTful and GraphQL APIs.
  • AI & Machine Learning: LLM integration, prompt engineering, ML model deployment, and building AI-powered applications.
  • DevOps & Platform Engineering: CI/CD, observability, infrastructure as code, and developer experience.

This allows me to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, making informed architectural decisions and providing hands-on guidance when teams face complex technical challenges.

Delivery

Throughout my career, I've consistently delivered high-impact projects that drive business value. From building consumer fintech platforms with API-first architectures to implementing data infrastructure that processes millions of events daily, I'm exhilarated by the act of turning vision into reality.

My approach combines strategic thinking with tactical execution. I break down ambitious goals into achievable milestones, establish clear metrics for success, and ensure teams maintain momentum through iterative delivery. Whether it's migrating legacy systems, launching new products, or optimizing performance at scale, I focus on delivering measurable outcomes.

Notable achievements in my career include:

  • Banking-as-a-Service Platform: Built an API-first BaaS platform with accounts, cards, share trading, crypto, payment gateways, rewards programs, fraud controls, and KYC—maintaining high availability and regulatory compliance.
  • Programmable Telecommunications: Developed a billing engine for a first-of-its-kind programmable telecommunications system.
  • Law Enforcement Intelligence: Delivered a graph-based intelligence platform for state law enforcement agencies.
  • Stock Exchange Modernization: Added a real-time, streaming user interface to a blockchain-powered market system for Australia's largest stock exchange.
  • Privacy-Protecting Data Matching: Designed and implemented a cryptographically secure, privacy-protecting data-matching service.

Let's Connect

I'm always interested in discussing technology, leadership, and solving hard problems. Whether you're looking to collaborate, explore opportunities, or just want to chat about engineering, feel free to reach out through the contact page.