Juan Pinzón - Software Builder

WORK EXPERIENCE

Humane, Senior Software Engineering Manager — 2022 - 2024

I was drawn to Humane because of its vision: to create a new form factor for AI that makes computer interactions seamless and "invisible," allowing us to stay present in the moment. I remain optimistic about the future of computing and how we can correct the missteps of the past.

My team's mission was to build Humane.center, a platform designed to help users effortlessly navigate their photos and data by breaking down the information silos created by apps. The goal was to enable computers to connect the dots across our digital lives. Imagine asking, "When was the last time I met my friend?" or "Find the file we edited in my last meeting"—and getting an instant, contextual answer.

We built the entire frontend and part of the backend for Humane.center and Humane.com, as well as the core infrastructure for authentication, subscriptions, emails, and reporting.

Here's a quicklook at Humane.center of the first version we released:

One of the most exciting projects I worked on was developing a voice cloner for the device on the web. We created one of the fastest and most streamlined voice cloning experiences available, making it incredibly easy for users to replicate their voice with high fidelity.

Below is a video showcasing the voice cloning experience leveraging web technologies:

Apple, Senior Software Engineering Manager — 2016 - 2022

During these years, I built two of the products I'm most proud of—not just because of their technical impact, but because I helped define their features and user experience from the very beginning.

Managing Apple devices in schools and small businesses had become a costly and complex process. Our mission was to lower the barrier for IT admins, teachers, and small business owners, making deployment and management seamless. Today, most Apple devices in schools, iPads in museums, and kiosks are managed with the help of these products.

Building these tools wasn't just about engineering—it was about making technology more accessible and useful for the people who rely on it every day.

Here are some links to the products I worked on:

And the marketing video for Apple Business Essentials, I chose this video because it highlights my work with the leadership team to define the product and user experience.

Otto LLC, Cloud Infrastructure Architect — 2013 - 2016

At Otto, I worked on the cloud infrastructure for an IoT-powered deadbolt, a key component of the smart home revolution, as it served as a trigger for countless home automations. One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the device could function without an internet connection, as IoT connectivity is often unreliable.

Since Matter and Thread were not yet available, we made Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) our primary communication method, seamlessly integrating Wi-Fi when possible. Both BLE and Wi-Fi used the same command mechanisms, just with different transports, ensuring low latency and reliability.

This project was a fascinating mix of hardware, cloud infrastructure, and connectivity engineering, shaping the way I think about resilient, user-friendly IoT systems. Unfortunately, the company ran out of funding just before the product was ready to launch.

Here's a demo showcasing the device latency over Wi-Fi: [Embed video]

Apple, iCloud Frameworks Manager — 2010 - 2013

I was part of the team that built SproutCore and later became the lead and manager inside Apple, where it became the foundation for all applications on iCloud.com. This work shaped the early web experiences of millions of Apple users, ensuring they had a seamless and performant experience across devices.

Other key projects I worked on included:

iCloud.com Flat Design Transition – Aligning the platform's UI with Apple's evolving design language.
iCloud Drive on iCloud.com – Bringing cloud file storage to the web.
iCloud emails - Most the emails that iCloud users receive today.
The first version of Apple Maps for the web, Yelp needed to be integrated with apple maps on the web.
MacOS iCloud sign-up (MacBuddy) – Streamlining iCloud onboarding for new Mac users.

Being at the intersection of web frameworks, design, and infrastructure made this an incredibly rewarding experience. It was about more than just building products—it was about shaping Apple's web ecosystem for years to come.

The video below is a video I found on youtube that someone on the internet made about the beta version of the iCloud.com Flat Design Transition.

Apple, Software Engineer — 2008-2010

I was part of MobileMe's transformation into iCloud, one of the most pivotal shifts in Apple's cloud strategy. This was an intense and challenging period—we were fixing MobileMe's architecture after a failed launch, while simultaneously supporting the rapid evolution of the iPhone, which was introducing new features at a relentless pace.

One of the defining moments of my career was being in the infamous MobileMe meeting that later appeared in Steve Jobs' biography. It was a tough but invaluable experience that shaped how I approach product resilience and large-scale cloud systems. A few years later, I was fortunate to witness Steve's last product announcement: iCloud, marking the completion of the transition.