I build systems that don't go down—because the people using them don't care about your maintenance window.
With 25+ years of engineering experience, I've led teams, scaled platforms, and mentored developers across startups, enterprises, and mission-driven orgs. I specialize in building infrastructure that supports velocity without sacrificing reliability—and I still write code every week.
What makes me different? I didn't come up through computer science—I trained as a performer. That background taught me how to read a room, tell a story, and translate complexity without dumbing it down. It's made me a better engineer, a better leader, and a trusted bridge between technical and non-technical teams.
I believe platform engineering is about service: helping other teams go faster, safer. I thrive in "player-coach" roles where I can unblock others, ship meaningful tools, and keep the platform boring—in the best way.
Recent work includes building real-time Lambda exploration tools, resilient API platforms, and AI-adjacent workflows that don't require a venture capital burn rate to run.More...
Ben Woods
Owner@Covalent Studio LLC
Verified
D. Ben Woods is an internationally recognized expert on design and its value to business. He has presented and conducted training and workshops for organizations throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has collaborated with international companies and talent; he helped to form, train, and manage a digital design team in India, worked with an electronics startup that developed an electrical engineering capability in central Europe, partnered with data scientists from Australia, and provided consulting and training in Eastern Europe.
Ben works with organizations to understand customer wants and needs and turn those insights into results. Representative outcomes from projects he has led include: double digit improvements in customer satisfaction; doubling of conversion rates; and identifying new opportunities for monetization.
Ben’s experience spans web, mobile, custom software, and eCommerce; his industry experience ranges from manufacturing, to retail, life sciences, and financial services. His career in User Experience began in the late 1990s. Ben has held diverse roles, including UX management at a global B2B firm, full-time and part-time academia, and executive roles. He enjoys solving complex business problems and growing talent.More...