# Keenan Johnson (@keenanjohnson.com)

Profile: https://sifa.id/p/keenanjohnson.com
Headline: Founder @ Bread Board Foundry | Building software for hardware and research teams | Climate Founder @ Ribbit Network

## About

I work with hardware companies to solve technical and operational challenges across manufacturing, climate tech, robotics, and emerging technologies.

At Bread Board Foundry, we build specialized software tools for small-to-mid-sized hardware companies. Our focus is creating solutions that speak the language of hardware engineering, from project planning to manufacturing execution, without the complexity of enterprise systems designed for massive corporations.

I also founded Ribbit Network, a nonprofit building the world's largest crowdsourced CO2 monitoring network through open-source sensors called "Frogs" that citizen scientists deploy globally. This work provides deep insights into hardware development challenges that inform approaches across both ventures.

Through my consulting practice, I advise companies on technical strategy and engineering execution, specializing in electrical and software systems for hardware products. This diverse experience from aerospace to climate tech to manufacturing gives me unique insight into patterns that work across industries.

Whether you're dealing with manufacturing coordination challenges, need engineering leadership guidance, or want to discuss climate monitoring solutions, I'm always interested in tackling complex problems with great teams.

## Career

- **Co-Founder & CEO at Bread Board Foundry** (Feb 2025 - Present)
  Building specialized software for small-to-mid-sized hardware manufacturers. Our products address production coordination and project planning challenges that existing enterprise solutions overcomplicate.
  
  Current focus: Soufflé (right-to-left project planning tool) and Pretzel (production optimization platform). We're bootstrapped and customer-focused.
- **Founder at Ribbit Network** (Jun 2021 - Present)
  Founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit building the world's largest crowdsourced CO2 monitoring network. Our open-source "Frog" sensors enable citizen scientists, educators, and researchers to contribute to global climate observation.
- **Engineering & Leadership Consultant at Keenan Johnson Consulting** (Oct 2019 - Present)
  Technical strategy and engineering execution consulting for hardware companies across aerospace, climate tech, robotics, and manufacturing. Specializing in electrical and software systems for complex physical products. Focus areas include technical architecture, engineering team leadership, and organizational challenges at the intersection of hardware and software development.
- **Startup Advisor at Third Derivative** (Nov 2020 - Jul 2021)
  Advised climate technology startups in RMI's (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute) Third Derivative accelerator program focused on industrial decarbonization and energy transformation. Provided technical strategy, engineering leadership guidance, and business development support to portfolio companies. Coached nearly 50 climate tech startups across sectors including manufacturing, energy systems, and industrial automation. Focus on helping technical founders scale engineering teams and navigate complex hardware development challenges.
- **Head of Robotics Software Engineering at Bedrock Ocean Exploration** (May 2020 - Oct 2020)
  Led software engineering for autonomous underwater vehicle systems. Developed control systems and navigation software for deep-sea exploration robotics platforms.
- **Head Of Engineering at Impossible Aerospace** (Aug 2017 - Oct 2019)
  Led engineering for electric aircraft development. Managed technical teams building battery-powered aircraft for commercial and government applications, from concept through production readiness.
- **Launch Software Engineer at SpaceX** (Jan 2013 - Aug 2017)
  Hawthorne, CA
  • Worked as a launch control operator in the world’s highest pressure environment: SpaceX Launch Control Center
  • Developed Mission Control software used to control all SpaceX vehicles
  • Designed and operated the SpaceX Hyperloop test track

## Skills

### Technical
- C++
- Data Analysis
- Integration
- Linux
- Matlab
- Object Oriented Design
- Programming
- Python
- System Architecture
- Systems Design
### Business
- Agile Project Management
- Engineering Management
- Project Management
- Recruiting
- Strategic Planning
### Creative
- Technical Writing
### Interpersonal
- Communication
- Leadership
- Mentoring
- People Management
- Problem Solving
- Team Leadership
### Other
- Birthdays
- Bobcat
- Chaos Reduction
- Company Operations
- Decision-Making
- Design Review
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering
- Freestyle
- Herding Cats
- Hyperloop pilot
- Idea Person
- Labview
- Lemon Law
- Mounting
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design
- Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing
- Program Management
- Requirements Management
- Roadmap Development
- Science
- Showers
- Snakes
- Team Building
- Technical Publication
- Trombone
- Youth Leadership Training

## Publications

- From SpaceX to Robotics For Good: Keenan Johnson, former Head of Engineering @ Impossible Aerospace — Robin.ly (Nov 2019) https://www.robinly.info/post/from-spacex-to-robotics-for-good-keenan-johnson-former-founding-engineer-impossible-aerospace
- Best Practices for Safety Critical Software — Interdrone 2018; AUVSI 2019 https://medium.com/@keenanjohnson/how-to-write-safety-critical-software-864cf418d810

## Credentials

- Speaker: Open Source Summit North America 2024 — The Linux Foundation (Apr 2024) https://www.credly.com/badges/f84ec710-f32b-4a2f-bf7d-ecf8aa226b2f/linked_in_profile

## Education

- **Missouri University of Science and Technology** — Computer Engineering (Aug 2010 - Dec 2013)

## Awards

- Arm Innovator
  The Arm Innovator Program supports our global ecosystem of developers—talented individuals building innovative solutions to transform the way we live and work. The program highlights the amazing projects and knowledge from top technical experts building on Arm-based technology.
  
  https://community.arm.com/members/keenan-johnson

## Involvement

### Volunteering
- Electric Potential (Jun 2020 - Jan 2026)
  Chair, Treasurer - Board of Directors; Impact Advisor
- Seattle Aquarium (Apr 2025 - Present)
  Special Projects Volunteer
  Developing autonomous underwater robotics and AI / Machine Learning systems for kelp forest monitoring.
- Techstars (Aug 2019 - Nov 2021)
  Company Mentor
  I am a mentor and advisor for several companies in the Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator.
  
  The Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator, a new Los Angeles-based program, focuses on the next generation of space technology companies and related frontier technologies. Startup companies in commercial space or that are developing related technologies are encouraged to apply. The program consortium includes NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Maxar Technologies, SAIC, and Israel Aerospace Industries North America.
- Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) (May 2020 - May 2021)
  Business Mentor
  Cleantech Open is an annual business accelerator focused on funding and fostering the most promising cleantech companies on the planet.
- Crisis Text Line (Apr 2020 - Present)
  Crisis Counselor
  Crisis Text Line is the free, 24/7 text line for people in crisis in the United States. The service is powered by volunteer Crisis Counselors who work remotely—anywhere with a computer and secure internet connection works.
  
  Crisis Counselors answer texts from people in crisis, bringing them from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning.
- Mars Rover Design Team (Aug 2013 - Dec 2014)
  Electronics Team Lead
  • Recruited and led the technical development and field operation teams
  • Designed and manufactured custom PCB that contains a main ARM architecture processor, an AVR data processor, GPS sensor, Bluetooth radio, and other communication hardware
  • Developed real-time software in C for both ARM and AVR processors to control the operation of the rover
- Miners in Space Design Team (Jul 2011 - Aug 2012)
  President
  • Led team of 20 in proposing, designing, constructing, conducting, and evaluating micro-gravity research in partnership with NASA
  • Authored winning technical proposals for NASA
  • Developed a new method for single rescuer C.P.R. in micro-gravity in which the rescuer positions themselves behind the victim and performs Active Decompression C.P.R. using a suction cup device
  • Tested propellant management device in R-134a cold gas propulsion system for a micro-satellite in micro-gravity

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/keenanjohnson
- Website: https://www.keenanjohnson.com/
- Substack: https://substack.com/@keenthoughts