Shawn Planko
Shawn Planko

Director of Engineering

Cisco (Duo Security)

Security & Identity

Mobile Products

AI-Enabled Engineering

Shawn Planko
Shawn Planko
Shawn Planko

Director of Engineering

Cisco (Duo Security)

Security & Identity

Mobile Products

AI-Enabled Engineering

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About
Shawn Planko

ENGINEERING BETTER SYSTEMSPEOPLE / SECURITY / TECHNOLOGY


01/A CLEARER WAY FORWARD

Building safer,
simpler ways
for people to work.

I’m Shawn Planko, Director of Engineering at Cisco (Duo Security). I lead engineering teams across Duo SSO and mobile app surfaces, focused on identity, security, reliability, delivery, and team health.

Get to know my work
inView my LinkedIn
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Shawn Planko
02/SIGNAL TOPICS

IDEAS FOR A SAFER, SIMPLER, MORE HUMAN WORKPLACE

◇SecurityPractical approaches to stronger, simpler security.->
◉IdentityPeople-centric identity for a more open world.->
□MobileSecure, seamless work on any device, anywhere.->
✦AIReal-world AI that helps teams do their best work.->
○Healthy TeamsSustainable systems and cultures that unlock potential.->
03/LATEST

THOUGHTS, EXPERIENCE, AND IDEAS FROM THE FRONT LINES

People, systems,
and what’s next.

I’m a builder, leader, and lifelong learner, with a focus on security, identity, mobile, AI, and healthy engineering systems. I believe great technology is built by great people – and that thoughtful systems can make work safer, simpler, and more human.

Read more about me ->

RECENTEngineering at scale EXPERIENCE->The human side of security AI IN PRACTICE->View all writing ->

04/ABOUT

Calm, practical, product-minded.

Turning ambiguous goals into clear decisions, durable plans, and healthier day-to-day engineering habits.

CURRENT ROLEDirector of Engineering at Cisco (Duo Security)

Leading engineering teams across Duo SSO and mobile app surfaces, focused on identity, security, reliability, delivery, and team health.

LEADERSHIP FOCUSHealthy teams and reliable delivery

Building pragmatic engineering systems that improve product quality, execution, and cross-functional clarity.

WORKING STYLEClear decisions and durable plans

Making complex work easier to understand, discuss, and move forward.

05/EXPERIENCE

Experience that compounds.

Engineering leadership across identity, security, mobile, reliability, and delivery.

APRIL 2020 – PRESENT

Director of Engineering

Cisco (Duo Security)

Leading engineering teams across Duo SSO and mobile app surfaces, focused on identity, security, reliability, delivery, and team health.

MAY 2011 – FEBRUARY 2020

Engineering Manager

Expedia Group

Led mobile app engagement and Ann Arbor engineering teams across Expedia’s mobile portfolio, partnering across product, design, and platform teams to improve quality, delivery, and customer experience.

MARCH 2006 – MAY 2011

Sr. Network Engineer

Consolidated Smart Broadband

Monitored and supported data and RF networks in MDU sites with internet and VoIP.

FEBRUARY 2000 – MARCH 2006

Team Manager

Verizon Business

Responsible for coaching, mentoring, and leading three rotating shifts.

EDUCATION

Eastern Michigan University
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management

Schoolcraft College
Associate of Arts (AA) / Graphic Design

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Michigan Works! SouthEast
Board member, May 2018 – Present

High School Golf Coach
Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy (CSPA), 2026

Youth Soccer Coach
Hartland United Football Club (HUFC), 2021 – 2024

06/AI IN PRACTICE

AI as an engineering tool.

Practical use that improves judgment rather than replacing it.

CODE

Prototype and explore

Use Codex, Copilot, and Claude Code to prototype, debug, refactor, and understand unfamiliar code.

PLANNING

Clarify fuzzy ideas

Turn vague goals into options, risks, tasks, design choices, and next-step plans.

REVIEW

Prepare better reviews

Surface edge cases, test ideas, and clear diff summaries before decisions get rushed.

DOCS

Reduce explanation toil

Draft and improve technical docs, onboarding notes, and explanations for teams.

07/SELECTED WORK

Public-safe themes from the work.

Full case studies can come later when the scope is shareable.

IDENTITY AND SECURITY

Identity & Security Engineering Leadership

Engineering leadership across Duo SSO and mobile app surfaces at Cisco (Duo Security).

MOBILE PRODUCT LEADERSHIP

Expedia Mobile Product Leadership

Managed mobile app engagement and Ann Arbor engineering teams across Expedia’s mobile portfolio.

PRACTICAL AI ADOPTION

AI Adoption for Engineering Teams

Helping teams use AI for planning, prototyping, code exploration, review prep, documentation, and reducing toil.

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Engineering Operating Practices

Lightweight systems for onboarding, planning, technical communication, and healthier execution.

08/MEDIA & MENTIONS

Work in public, selectively.

Articles, interviews, and public mentions connected to identity, mobile, travel, and Ann Arbor tech work.

ARTICLEThe Best Two-Factor Authentication AppWirecutter / The New York Times->FEATURERegional Focus: Working in Ann Arbor, Living in Livingston CountyAnn Arbor SPARK->INTERVIEWTech Trek 2019 InterviewMichigan Insider->TALKTech Talk 2018: Shawn Planko, ExpediaYouTube->PODCASTExpedia on the CEO PodcastAnn Arbor SPARK->
09/CONTACT

Let’s make the next thing clearer.

For recruiting, collaboration, technical leadership, or a thoughtful conversation.

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    AI in Practice

    AI is used as a practical engineering tool for planning, prototyping, code exploration, review prep, documentation, and reducing toil. The goal is better engineering judgment, not replacing engineering judgment.

    Code

    Prototype and explore

    Use Codex, Copilot, and Claude Code to prototype, debug, refactor, and understand unfamiliar code.

    Planning

    Clarify fuzzy ideas

    Turn vague goals into options, risks, tasks, design choices, and next-step plans.

    Review

    Prepare better reviews

    Surface edge cases, test ideas, and clear diff summaries before decisions get rushed.

    Docs

    Reduce explanation toil

    Draft and improve technical docs, onboarding notes, and explanations for teams.

    Selected Work

    Public-safe themes from work that can be discussed responsibly. Full case studies can come later when the scope is shareable.

    Identity and security

    Identity & Security Engineering Leadership

    Engineering leadership across Duo SSO and mobile app surfaces at Cisco (Duo Security), with focus on reliable identity experiences, delivery, product quality, and healthy teams.

    Mobile product leadership

    Expedia Mobile Product Leadership

    Managed mobile app engagement and Ann Arbor engineering teams across Expedia’s mobile portfolio, partnering across product, design, and platform teams to improve quality, delivery, and customer experience.

    Practical AI adoption

    AI Adoption for Engineering Teams

    Helping teams use AI for planning, prototyping, code exploration, review prep, documentation, and reducing toil while keeping engineering judgment central.

    Operating systems

    Engineering Operating Practices

    Lightweight systems for onboarding, planning, technical communication, and healthier execution in growing teams.

    Media & Mentions

    Articles, interviews, and public mentions connected to identity, mobile, travel, and Ann Arbor tech work.

    Experience
    Experience
    April 2020 - Present
    Director of Engineering
    Cisco (Duo Security)

    Leading engineering teams across Duo SSO and mobile app surfaces at Cisco (Duo Security), focused on identity, security, reliability, delivery, and team health.

    May 2011 - February 2020
    Engineering Manager
    Expedia Group

    Led mobile app engagement and Ann Arbor engineering teams across Expedia’s mobile portfolio, partnering across product, design, and platform teams to improve quality, delivery, and customer experience.

    March 2006 - May 2011
    Sr. Network Engineer
    Consolidated Smart Broadband

    Monitored and supported data and RF Networks in MDU sites with internet and VoIP.

    February 2000 - March 2006
    Team Manager
    Verizon Business

    Responsible for coaching, mentoring, and leading three rotating shifts.

    EDUCATION
    2001 - 2004
    Eastern Michigan University
    Ypsilanti, MI

    Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management

    1994 - 2001
    Schoolcraft College
    Livonia, MI

    Associate of Arts (AA)/Graphic Design

    Volunteer Experience
    May 2018 - Present
    Michigan Works! SouthEast
    Board member
    2015-2019
    President
    HOA - Hartland Estates
    2026 - Present
    High School Golf Coach
    Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy (CSPA)
    2021 - 2024
    Youth Soccer Coach
    Hartland United Football Club (HUFC)

    Contact

      Messages sent through this form go to Shawn by email and may be stored in WordPress for follow-up. Please do not include secrets or confidential information.

      This form uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your data is processed.