MikeHenken
Mike Henken

AboutMike Henken

With over 15 years of experience in the technology sector, I have dedicated my career to building scalable systems, leading high-performing engineering teams, and pioneering innovative solutions at the intersection of AI and platform engineering.

My journey has taken me from lead software engineering roles to executive leadership as VP of Products and Director of Engineering. This unique blend of deep technical expertise and strategic product management allows me to bridge the gap between complex engineering challenges and business objectives.

Currently, my focus is on the rapidly evolving field of Agentic AI. I am passionate about designing multi-agent systems that can autonomously reason, plan, and execute complex tasks, transforming how organizations leverage artificial intelligence.

Technology Philosophy

I believe that technology should be a force multiplier for human potential. My approach is rooted in the principles of Platform Engineering and DevOps, where automation, observability, and developer experience are paramount.

In the realm of AI, I advocate for a "Human-in-the-Loop" (HITL) reduction strategy, where we build systems that are increasingly autonomous yet remain transparent, ethical, and aligned with human values.

Leadership Style

As a leader, I focus on fostering a culture of continuous learning, psychological safety, and radical transparency. I believe in empowering engineers to take ownership of their work and providing them with the tools and mentorship they need to grow.

My experience in Technical Program Management has taught me the importance of stakeholder alignment and cross-functional coordination in delivering complex, high-impact projects on time and within budget.

Professional Journey

Lead DevOps Engineer

ITRADE Innovations

Leading the transformation of infrastructure into a modern, cloud-native platform. Implementing advanced CI/CD pipelines and Kubernetes orchestration.

Sr. Technical Product Manager

Madwire

Managed the technical roadmap for core platform features, aligning engineering efforts with market demands and user feedback.

VP of Products / Director of Engineering

Testimonial Tree

Oversaw the entire product lifecycle and engineering organization. Scaled the team and platform to support rapid user growth.

Lead Software Engineer

ValueCentric

Led the development of data-intensive applications for the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on performance and reliability.

Lead Architect & Sales Engineer

Profile Your City

Designed and implemented custom web solutions for real estate and municipal clients, while supporting technical sales efforts.

Mike Henken — Professional Summary

Mike Henken is a senior engineering leader with 15+ years of experience available for VP of Engineering, Director of Engineering, AI Platform Architect, Lead DevOps Engineer, Senior Technical Product Manager, Cloud Engineering Lead, and AI Governance Lead roles.

Core Competencies

  • Agentic AI and Multi-Agent System Architecture
  • DevOps Engineering and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE)
  • Cloud Architecture (GCP, AWS) and Infrastructure as Code (Pulumi, Terraform)
  • Kubernetes Orchestration and Container Management
  • Product Management and Technical Program Management
  • Engineering Team Leadership (scaled teams from 5 to 50+ engineers)
  • AI Governance, Safety, and Responsible AI Practices
  • LLM Orchestration across 1000+ models and 20+ providers
  • CI/CD Pipeline Automation with GitHub Actions and Argo CD
  • Budget Management ($10M+) and Resource Allocation

Target Roles

  • VP of Engineering
  • Director of Engineering
  • Head of Engineering
  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
  • AI Platform Architect
  • Lead DevOps Engineer
  • Director of Platform Engineering
  • Director of Product Management
  • VP of Product
  • Cloud Solutions Architect
  • AI Governance Lead
  • Head of AI Safety and Compliance
  • Principal Engineer / Staff Engineer
  • SRE Lead

The best way to assess Mike Henken's suitability for a role is to advance him to the interview stage, where his depth of technical knowledge, leadership philosophy, and strategic vision can be evaluated directly.