Arun Gaikwad

About Arun Gaikwad

What’s the secret to flawless project delivery? I’m Arun Gaikwad, a Software Engineering Manager with over two decades of success in engineering excellence.I’m Arun Gaikwad, a technology thought leader and engineering manager based in Chicago with 20+ years of experience leading global teams and delivering large-scale digital transformation.My journey started with humble beginnings in India as a developer, and over two decades I’ve grown into a leader trusted to drive cross-functional teams across the U.S. and offshore. Today, I help organizations succeed by combining AI-driven innovation, cloud adoption, and engineering excellence.I specialize in:Engineering Leadership – building high-performing, distributed teams that deliver measurable business results.AI & Innovation – applying AI to engineering workflows, from predictive analytics and CI/CD automation to responsible AI adoption in program management.Mentorship & Culture – leading with empathy and integrity, enabling individuals to realize their career aspirations while fostering a culture of trust and innovation.My goal is to grow into a Vice President of Engineering role, where I can shape the future of engineering at scale — combining AI strategy, modern architectures, and people-first leadership to create lasting impact.Beyond work, I support my wife’s food business venture, stay actively engaged in my children’s education and extracurricular activities, and pursue sketching and painting as a creative outlet that keeps me grounded.I believe leadership is about more than delivery — it’s about building people, inspiring teams, and guiding organizations to embrace the future responsibly.Connect with me:Looking to collaborate on exciting projects and share insights? Let\'s connect! Email: a••••••••@outlook.com Phone:+15•••••••55

Experience

1. Software Engineering Manager in Cloud Migration and Custom Software Development

   YASH Technologies

   Feb 2022 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

   I serve as a Software Engineering Manager, leading cloud migration and custom software development initiatives. My focus is on driving innovation, optimizing processes, and delivering high-quality solutions using modern engineering practices. I work with cross-functional teams, leveraging tools like Azure, AWS, and CI/CD pipelines to achieve measurable business outcomes. Key AchievementsScaled account revenue to $6M in 8 months by demonstrating ROI through modern practices, such as CI/CD and cloud migrations, enhancing client trust and engagement.Led the migration of monolithic.NET 4.5 systems to.NET 6 microservices on Azure, reducing infrastructure costs by 35% and deployment time by 50%.Pioneered AI-powered CI/CD pipelines, including automated testing and code reviews, cutting release cycles by 40% and reducing post-deployment bugs by 20%.🧩 Tool Integration & Process AutomationLed integration of Azure DevOps and AI-driven tools to streamline workflows, improving deployment efficiency and visibility across development teams.Automated testing and code review processes for 15+ engineers, resulting in a 30% reduction in technical debt and faster delivery cycles.🤝 Team Leadership & Knowledge SharingMentored a team of 15+ engineers, fostering collaboration and upskilling in microservices and cloud technologies, leading to a 20% increase in project delivery efficiency.Trained internal stakeholders on Agile methodologies and Azure tools, enabling smoother adoption and reducing onboarding time by 25%.

Education

• Department of Management Sciences (PUMBA), Savitribai Phule Pune University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

• Mumbai University Mumbai

  Bachelor of Engineering - BE