Jessica McKellar is the CTO and Co-Founder of Pilot, a leading bookkeeping firm powered by software. With a background in computer science from MIT, she has been instrumental in the success of three startups, including Ksplice and Zulip, both of which were acquired by major tech companies. At Pilot, she continues to drive innovation and excellence, making significant strides in the tech industry.
Who is the CTO of Pilot?
Jessica McKellar has a rich background in the tech industry, marked by her role as the CTO and Co-Founder of Pilot, a software-powered bookkeeping firm. Before Pilot, she co-founded Zulip, a real-time collaboration startup acquired by Dropbox, where she later served as Director of Engineering. Her earlier venture, Ksplice, focused on rebootless kernel updates for Linux and was acquired by Oracle.
Jessica has also been a significant figure in the Python community, contributing to diversity and inclusion efforts. Her leadership at Pilot has been pivotal in its growth and success.
Work History
Jessica McKellar's work history is a testament to her extensive experience and leadership in the tech industry. Here is a detailed list of her previous roles:
- Pilot.com, Inc. - Founder and CTO (2017 to Present)
- Dropbox - Director of Engineering (2014 to 2017)
- Zulip, Inc. - Founder and VP of Engineering (2012 to 2014)
- Oracle - Engineering Manager (2011 to 2012)
- Ksplice, Inc. - Software Engineer (2010 to 2011)
Education History
Jessica McKellar's educational background is rooted in her time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science. She completed her Bachelor of Science (SB) in Computer Science from 2005 to 2009, followed by a Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science from 2009 to 2010. This strong academic foundation has undoubtedly contributed to her successful career in the tech industry.
When did Jessica McKellar join Pilot?
Jessica McKellar co-founded Pilot in January 2017, taking on the role of CTO from the company's inception. As of now, she has been with Pilot for approximately six years and nine months. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and success, leveraging her extensive experience from previous ventures like Zulip and Ksplice. At Pilot, she continues to innovate and lead, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the tech industry.