Ankit AwasthiEngineering Leader | AI/ML | Speaker
Building and scaling teams that turn AI/ML research into production systems. 15+ years leading engineering organizations at AWS, Amazon Prime Video, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
About
I'm an engineering leader with over 15 years of experience building and scaling teams that transform AI/ML research into production systems. Currently, I lead software development at AWS Bedrock Data Automation, where my team builds model evaluation pipelines, multi-model orchestration systems, and confidence scoring mechanisms for generative AI.
My career spans leadership roles at Amazon Prime Video, Warner Bros. Discovery, and T-Mobile, where I've led globally distributed teams across the US, India, and London. I specialize in building greenfield teams from the ground up—going from 0 to 25+ engineers—and creating operating models that balance speed with sustainability.
I hold 10+ US patents in video streaming and adaptive playback, and I'm a Senior Member of IEEE, and member of the Television Academy's Science & Technology peer group. I mentor professionals, run the Seattle Tech Leaders & Innovators LinkedIn group with 600+ members, and speak on topics ranging from production AI to team building and leadership through uncertainty.
Speaking
I speak at conferences, corporate events, and podcasts on engineering leadership, production AI/ML, and building high-performing teams.
Making AI Work in Production
The gap between research and reality. Evaluation pipelines, confidence scoring, model routing, and knowing when to ship. Real lessons from building production AI systems at AWS Bedrock.
Building Greenfield Teams
Going from 0 to a high-performing team. Hiring philosophy, culture-building, and operating models for speed without burnout. Lessons from scaling teams at Prime Video, WBD, and AWS.
AI in Media & Streaming
Where AI adds real value and where it's hype. Practical applications in content delivery, personalization, and quality optimization. Insights from Prime Video, Warner Bros. Discovery, and AWS Bedrock.
Leading Through Uncertainty
Change management, navigating layoffs and reorganizations, and building trust when the ground is shifting. Strategies for maintaining team morale and productivity during transformation.
Experience Highlights
AWS Bedrock Data Automation
Software Development Manager
- Leading development of model evaluation pipelines for generative AI systems
- Built multi-model orchestration framework enabling confidence-based routing across dozens of models
- Established production standards for shipping AI features at scale
- Managing team focused on data automation and ML infrastructure
Amazon Prime Video
Software Development Manager
- Built greenfield automotive team from 0 to 25+ engineers supporting Fire TV, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Led globally distributed team across Seattle, India, and London
- Launched Prime Video on automotive platforms, winning Google 'Best App for Cars' award
- Contributed to Matter v1.3 casting specification (featured in The Verge)
Warner Bros. Discovery
Senior Software Development Manager
- Led consolidation of HBO Max and Discovery+ engineering teams post-merger
- Managed large-scale platform migration across living room devices
- Coordinated multi-timezone teams during critical organizational transformation
- Maintained team velocity and morale during company-wide restructuring
T-Mobile
Lead Architect
- Rebuilt streaming platform architecture from the ground up
- Designed scalable video delivery systems for mobile and TV platforms
- Established technical standards and best practices for streaming services
- Mentored engineering teams on cloud architecture and platform design
Credentials & Recognition
Patents
- 10+ US Patents in video streaming technology
- CX for Video Apps in Cars
- Adaptive playback optimization
- Content delivery mechanisms
- Streaming protocol innovations
Awards
- Google "Best App for Cars" award for Prime Video automotive launch
- Multiple Amazon "Bar Raiser" recognitions
Memberships
- Senior Member, IEEE
- Member, Television Academy (Science & Technology peer group)
Press & Recognition
- Featured in The Verge for contributions to Matter v1.3 casting specification
- Industry speaker on AI/ML and engineering leadership
Mentoring & Community
Beyond building products, I'm passionate about building people and communities.
One-on-one career mentorship helping engineers and leaders navigate technical decisions, career growth, and leadership challenges.
Founder of Seattle Tech Leaders & Innovators LinkedIn group, fostering connections and knowledge sharing among technology professionals.
Committed to developing the next generation of engineering leaders through mentorship, coaching, and community building.
Let's Connect
I'm always open to conversations about speaking engagements, advisory work, mentorship, or collaboration opportunities.