Brandon Pennington

About Brandon Pennington

As a Senior Manager of Platform Engineering at Papa John’s, I bring over 20 years of experience in IT leadership and project management, driving innovation, developer experience, and operational excellence. I lead global teams in managing DevSecOps, cloud operations, and traditional IT infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance of Google and AWS cloud platforms. Our team has streamlined processes for cloud governance and cost management while maintaining the critical infrastructure supporting the company\'s industry-leading point-of-sale systems worldwide. With a mission to deliver scalable, secure, and customer-focused solutions, I have consistently enabled cross-functional teams to execute complex implementations and manage enterprise-level software and hardware systems. My expertise in cybersecurity, agile methodologies, and strategic planning has been instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. My approach is rooted in fostering collaboration, building resilient systems, and driving impactful transformation.

Experience

1. Senior Manager - Platform Engineering

   Papa Johns

   Nov 2022 — Present · Louisville, KY, US

   As a Senior Platform Engineering Manager, I lead a global team of DevSecOps and Platform Engineers dedicated to supporting Google and AWS Cloud Platforms. My primary focus is on enhancing the Developer Experience by providing standardized tools, processes, and AI-driven automation. By automating repetitive tasks, I promote consistency and increase productivity throughout the software development lifecycle.Strategic Infrastructure LeadershipI provide strategic leadership for point-of-sale infrastructure, ensuring that customer-first experiences are prioritized across all store locations. My approach centers on delivering reliable and efficient solutions that support seamless interactions for both customers and staff.Project ManagementAs a driven project manager, I ensure that all platform and infrastructure projects are completed on schedule and within the established budget. My commitment to project delivery is matched by a focus on quality and operational excellence.Security and Vulnerability RemediationI lead vulnerability remediation efforts, ensuring that all critical and high-priority vulnerabilities are addressed within the required deadlines. This proactive approach safeguards our systems and maintains compliance with security standards.Developer Experience EnhancementI oversee the migration of Jenkins jobs to Harness, aiming to improve the developer experience and streamline workflows. This transition supports greater efficiency and ease of use for engineering teams. I am dedicated to advancing Papa Johns\' platform engineering initiatives, resulting in significant operational improvements.FinOps Optimization and Cost SavingsI enhanced and optimized the FinOps program by creating a Tableau dashboard that delivers daily and monthly variance metrics, as well as ramp commitments for leadership. Through rightsizing and cleanup of cloud infrastructure, I realized in annual savings.

Education

• Silicon Valley College

  Network Systems Administrator Diplomoa

• University of Louisville

  Master's Program, Cybersecurity

• Golden Gate University

  BS, Information Technology

Skills

• Team Management
• Disaster Recovery
• Data Center
• Software Development
• Management
• Integration
• IT Management
• Documentation
• Unix
• Business Requirements
• Visio
• Databases
• Release Management
• IT Audit
• Business Analysis
• Software Documentation
• Sdlc
• Troubleshooting
• Process Improvement
• Vendor Management
• Enterprise Architecture
• Oracle
• Requirements Analysis
• Team Leadership
• Change Management
• Servers
• Itil
• Strategy
• Sharepoint