Neil Hastings has joined Liftify as Principal Software Engineer, bringing deep technical expertise from his time at the Department of Veterans Affairs and Dropbox. A Purdue graduate with a passion for understanding systems at their core, Neil thrives on solving complex problems and building technology that makes a real difference—not just writing code for the sake of it.
"Neil's ability to see the architecture behind the architecture is exactly what we need as we scale. He doesn't just solve problems; he understands why they exist and builds solutions that last." - Zach Garrett | Liftify CEO
Neil's childhood was an adventure across multiple states. Before he even started kindergarten, he had already called Arkansas, Florida, and Bloomington, Indiana home. That early exposure to different places and perspectives shaped his adaptable, curious approach to life. Today, Neil has put down roots in Greenwood, Indiana, where he lives with his wife and their three children, and a pet rabbit that keeps the household lively.
Outside of work, Neil is unapologetically a "huge nerd," and he wears that badge with pride. You'll find him exploring the cosmos through his space flight simulator, building an 8-bit computer from scratch on breadboards, or diving deep into his latest gaming session. Neil is passionate about the maker spirit—the belief that we can understand, build, and improve the tools we use every day. Whether it's software or physical hardware, he loves the hands-on process of creation and the continuous learning that comes with it.
Neil graduated from Purdue University, where his time as a Boilermaker gave him the rigorous technical foundation that has anchored his career. His professional journey spans high-impact roles at major organizations, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and Dropbox. At each stop, Neil tackled complex engineering challenges, built scalable solutions, and led initiatives that pushed technical boundaries.
What sets Neil apart is his unique ability to see patterns within complex systems that others might overlook. He doesn't just work at the surface level; he develops what he calls an "under-the-hood" understanding of technology, whether he's designing high-level architecture or literally building computers from basic components. Neil loves deconstructing these patterns to understand a system's core, then rebuilding it to be more efficient and robust.
After years at large organizations, Neil was ready for a change. He wanted to move away from being just another engineer in a massive machine and find a place where he could see the direct impact of his work. Liftify offered exactly that: a small, close-knit team where culture matters as much as code, and where every technical decision has visible consequences.
"I chose Liftify for the chance to make a tangible impact. Being part of a small, talented team means that every decision matters, and seeing our work directly help businesses grow is incredibly rewarding." - Neil Hastings | Liftify Principal Software Engineer
As Principal Software Engineer, Neil focuses on the technical architecture and development that powers Liftify's platform. His goal is to ensure the technology is not only robust and efficient but also built to scale as the company grows. For Neil, the opportunity to apply his pattern-recognition skills and deep technical knowledge to help businesses succeed is what makes this role fulfilling. He's excited to build systems that work, last, and deliver real value to the clients Liftify serves.