Melvin Hillsman

Biography

Melvin Hillsman is a Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat who believes the most powerful technology is the kind people can not only use but build. He works at the intersection of AI, cloud-native infrastructure, and systems architecture — building bridges between what's possible and what's practical. Considering the power of storytelling — problems, constraints, and people — his talks are about the journey, showing how emerging and future tools collapse the distance between idea and working software. He is particularly driven to ensure that people aren't just invited to technological revolutions but equipped to build in them.

Sessions

1. AI Productivity in your Day to Day Workflow

   Tue, Nov 3, 10:50 AM – 11:40 AM CT

   Track AI Edge Training

   Better outputs start with better inputs. This session introduces context engineering, the discipline of designing, optimizing, and managing the information you send to an AI model. Context engineering shapes up to 99% of an AI's effective data footprint. Attendees leave with a framework for mapping their own workflows and techniques for building reliable, scalable AI integrations.