This February, we are excited to feature Lance Bowley, Senior Software Engineer on Cognitiv’s Machine Learning Operations team, as our Brains Behind Our Brand employee spotlight. Considered an “OG Coggy,” since joining in 2018, Lance has helped shape the systems behind our Deep Learning Advertising Platform, evolving our ML stack to improve performance and scalability across billions of predictions. Known for his curiosity and persistence, he approaches complex optimization problems with a thoughtful, methodical mindset that continues to push both our technology and our team forward.

• Pronouns: He/Him
• Role: Senior Software Engineer
• Team: Machine Learning Operations
• How long have you been at Cognitiv: Since Jan 2018

Inside The Office

‍What’s the part of your job you love most (that might surprise people)?

I get to dig into really interesting optimization problems. You think you know where they're going, and then they surprise you. It keeps things engaging.

‍What’s one thing you think will change in adtech in the next 5 years?

I think you'll see advertising expand more into AI conversations as people spend less time on the traditional web. It's an exciting space — there's a lot of room for innovation in how brands connect with people in that format.

Can you share a moment when your work really made an impact?

This past year, I've had the amazing opportunity to help take our ML stack to the next level. The changes I've deployed have helped us deliver even more accurate predictions at massive scale, and it's had a real impact on performance.

‍If your career had a tagline, what would it be?

Leave no stone unturned.

Outside The Office

What’s one unusual thing about you that might surprise coworkers?

I used to ride longboard.

If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be?

Time travel.

What’s your go-to comfort food or guilty pleasure snack?

Dark chocolate and peanut butter.

‍What hobby or skill would you love to pick up if time weren’t an issue?

I’d like to get my pilot’s license.

Everyone Answers (Rapid-Fire Fun)

• Sweet or savory? Savory
• Early bird or night owl? Early bird
• Favorite childhood TV show or movie? Spongebob
• Last song you listened to? The Order of Death – Public Image Ltd.
• Beach, mountains, or city for a vacation? City

Team Shoutouts

“Lance is one of those engineers who genuinely thrives on tackling unfamiliar problems — he'll dive into a new domain, take full ownership, and drive it through to delivery with real impact. He brings that same energy to our daily standups, where his enthusiasm for keeping the team aligned and unblocked makes everyone around him more productive.” —Alex Podschwit, Sr. Staff Engineer

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