Senior Director, Global Engineering & Technology
Marvin J. Stigter, MBA, MS
Called when standard solutions have already failed — and the engineer who builds what the market can't provide.
I turn technology complexity into measurable business results across AI transformation, global engineering leadership, Quality Engineering, and digital modernization — for the world's most demanding organizations.
I build what others can't — and fix what others won't touch.
Over 25+ years as a global technology executive, I've led AI transformation, digital modernization, Quality Engineering, and DevOps programs for the world's most demanding organizations — from Eli Lilly, Amazon, and Johnson & Johnson to the TSA, Marriott, Home Depot, and state government agencies.
The pattern across my career is consistent: I get called when standard solutions have already failed. At Kronos, I built custom integration solutions and middleware that made $400M in enterprise sales possible — deals that couldn't close without engineering that didn't exist yet. At Eli Lilly, I succeeded where 4 previous attempts had failed in retiring a 30-year legacy clinical system. At iLAB, I architected the first AI deployment on Azure GovCloud for state government under FedRAMP — a capability that had never been done before.
I don't just manage technology. I set the direction, build the culture, make it stick — and develop the people who carry it forward.
A naturally global perspective
Born and raised in the Netherlands and having lived in the UK before establishing my career in the US, my perspective is naturally global. My closest friends represent dozens of countries — that's not a résumé line, it's my reality. This cultural immersion shapes how I lead global teams, resolve cross-cultural friction, and build trust across disparate ways of working. When your personal life is a mosaic of cultures, leading teams across the US, Brazil, Mexico, UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Malaysia, China, India, and South Africa — among others — isn't a challenge, it's familiar territory.
What I do best
- AI-First Operating Model — Not just AI in engineering. I implement AI as the first layer of every significant workflow across the entire organization: engineering, HR, recruiting, finance, accounting, sales, and operations. AI reviews before humans do — requirements, code, test plans, defect analysis, document review, financial reporting, and more.
- Digital & Cloud Transformation — AI-first and API-first architecture from day one. AWS, Azure Commercial + GovCloud, FedRAMP, DevSecOps, CI/CD, microservices. Systems designed for integration, testability, and scale before a single line of code is written.
- Quality Engineering — Not QA. Quality Engineering integrates quality throughout the entire SDLC through shift-left and shift-right testing, continuous testing in CI/CD pipelines, testability as an architectural feature, performance engineering, and observability from day one. Prevention over detection. Applied across software, hardware, and digital transformation — since ACS/Xerox in 2006.
- Talent Transformation — Growing people others gave up on. At Eli Lilly: 8 promotions, including one employee passed around for 8 years — I addressed the performance issue directly and fairly, and she was promoted. At iLAB: 3 employees on performance plans turned around, 4 promoted. At Kronos: entire leadership bench built from within — individual contributors became managers, managers became managers of managers. Zero external leadership hires.
- Structure & Maturity — Built engineering maturity frameworks, career paths, role profiles, measurement systems, and operating standards from scratch at iLAB, Eli Lilly, Kronos, and Xerox/ACS. The infrastructure that makes performance repeatable, not accidental.
- Business Impact — P&L ownership up to $30M; participated in $10B+ in pursuit work; $400M+ in revenue enabled; 2× CIO Award winner. I operate at the intersection of technology and business outcomes.
How I implement AI-first — across the entire organization
Most AI transformation programs fail because they start with policy before proof. My approach starts with myself and earns every subsequent step through demonstrated results — which is why it crosses engineering boundaries into HR, finance, recruiting, and operations.
Where standard solutions failed — results that followed
Company-wide AI transformation & first-of-kind AI on Azure GovCloud
As Senior Director of Global Engineering and head of engineering at an 800-person technology services firm, architected the company's entire AI strategy and implemented an AI-first operating model across every function — engineering, HR, recruiting, finance, accounting, sales, and marketing. Built the first AI deployment on Azure GovCloud for state government under FedRAMP — a capability that had never been done before. Deployed AI Agents across 5 business functions. Developed formal AI transformation strategy, company-wide policies, and responsible AI governance for regulated industries. Rebuilt automation framework: throughput +233%, regression cycle 2 weeks → 5 hours unsupervised. Reversed 70% voluntary turnover to zero for 4 consecutive years through the Great Resignation. 4 promotions; 3 employees on performance plans turned around.
Global Managed Testing Services framework for regulated Life Sciences clients
As Engagement Manager for Life Sciences, built a Global Managed Testing Services framework from scratch — defining delivery standards, staffing models, SLAs, and pricing structures for Fortune 500 enterprise clients. Served as trusted C-suite advisor for solution identification, SOW/RFP authoring, and pricing strategy. Introduced test automation frameworks that eliminated Severity 1 and 2 production defects for regulated Life Sciences clients — directly improving release quality and customer satisfaction scores across global engagements spanning 3+ time zones.
DevSecOps & Quality Engineering transformation for a top-5 global pharma company
Reporting to the CIO with a $20M budget, spearheaded a full DevSecOps and Quality Engineering transformation. Succeeded where 4 previous attempts had failed — retired a 30-year legacy clinical system, cut study onboarding from 4+ weeks to 3 days. Implemented shift-left Quality Engineering throughout the SDLC — continuous testing in CI/CD pipelines, AI/ML proactive monitoring, testability built into architecture. Cut production issues 78%, handled 10× volume with 35% fewer contractors. Accelerated releases from twice a year to twice a month under FDA GxP and HIPAA compliance. Built Test Automation CoE across 60+ enterprise projects. $25M+ total financial impact. Developed 8 team members to promotion — including one employee passed around for 8 years; I addressed the performance issue directly and fairly — she was promoted.
$400M revenue rescue — transforming integration into a revenue engine
Transformed the integration function from a post-sale delivery team into a revenue-generating engineering capability. Built custom integration solutions and middleware where standard solutions didn't exist — enabling deals that couldn't otherwise close, rescuing $400M in stalled Fortune 500 deployments, and creating upsell opportunities through solutions the market couldn't provide. Three revenue mechanisms: sales enablement, revenue rescue, and revenue expansion. Drove 1,002% revenue growth ($2M → $20M+) in 3 years. Inherited 9-month backlog and 12% team satisfaction — cut backlog to 2 weeks, team satisfaction reached 94% ranked #1 across all services groups. Built entire leadership bench from within — zero external leadership hires. Presented at KronosWorks — Best Session Award selected by attendees (2014). Named clients: Amazon, Home Depot, Starbucks, Marriott, J&J, TSA, Costco, Coca-Cola, Tyson, AdventHealth, Kohl's, Hyatt.
$1.6B government contract & global Quality Engineering leadership
Hired as "Testing Czar" at the world's largest BPO firm — diagnosed complete absence of formal SDLC process, built the business case, and secured SVP approval to fund new Quality Engineering organizations. Established QE as an engineering discipline — shift-left testing, IEEE/ISO/CMMI methodologies, Six Sigma quality framework, CMMI Level 3 maturity across 70 countries. Led QE strategy for the pursuit that won the $1.6B California Medi-Cal MMIS contract — largest MMIS in the US, 10-year program, 800K+ claims/day, 7.5M beneficiaries. Rescued California Highway Patrol's mission-critical 911 and CAD infrastructure. Led UAT for Motorola's global SAP ECC6 upgrade across 70 countries and 400 people — enabling the corporate split into Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility (January 4, 2011). Reduced development and acceptance cycle time 75%.
Awards & what colleagues say
Awards
30 LinkedIn recommendations · selected
"In more than four decades in IT, Marvin stands out as the most effective and collaborative colleague I have ever worked with. Any organization would be fortunate to have him."
"Great broad-minded thought leader. Particularly impressed by Marvin's ability to span the strategic vision to practical aspects that ultimately made these initiatives successful."
"Knows how to drive a business, build strong teams, challenge the status quo, and make a strong partner with leadership."
"His ability to drive innovation while making the complex simple speaks to his technical ability as well as his ability to lead an organization."
View all 30 recommendations on LinkedIn →"He is known in the CIO/CTO speaker circuit as an inspirational leader and innovator. He is one of those people who will act without being told."
Degrees
Certifications & Training
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Let's connect
Open to conversations about senior technology leadership opportunities — CTO, SVP Engineering, VP Technology, Head of Engineering, and Chief Transformation Officer roles — particularly in healthcare tech, life sciences, PE-backed technology services, and enterprise AI.