Billy Olsen
About Billy Olsen
Billy Olsen serves as the OpenStack Engineering Director at Canonical, a position he has held since 2021. He has extensive experience in engineering management, having previously worked at Microsoft, IBM, and Canonical in various roles.
Work at Canonical
Billy Olsen has held multiple positions at Canonical since joining the company. He currently serves as the OpenStack Engineering Director, a role he has occupied since 2021. Prior to this, he worked as the Engineering Manager for OpenStack from 2020 to 2021 and as the Sustaining Engineering Manager from 2018 to 2020. His tenure at Canonical showcases his progression through various engineering management roles, where he has contributed to the development and support of OpenStack technologies.
Previous Experience at Microsoft
Billy Olsen interned at Microsoft twice, first in 2002 and then again in 2003, each for a duration of three months. These internships provided him with foundational experience in software engineering and development, contributing to his career trajectory in the tech industry.
Career at IBM
Olsen worked at IBM as a Senior Software Engineer from 2004 to 2014, a period of ten years. During his time at IBM, he gained extensive experience in software development and engineering, which laid the groundwork for his future roles in engineering management.
Education and Expertise
Billy Olsen studied at Northern Arizona University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Engineering from 2000 to 2003. His educational background provides him with a strong technical foundation that supports his roles in engineering management and team leadership.
Mentorship and Leadership Skills
Olsen possesses strong interpersonal skills that enhance his effectiveness as a team leader. He has been involved in mentoring within the engineering team at Canonical, demonstrating his commitment to fostering talent and collaboration among his colleagues.