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From the bridges we cross to the payments we depend on, engineered systems听form听the invisible infrastructure of everyday life.听We’re听here to recognize听engineers鈥攖he people who听build听what鈥檚听next鈥攁nd to inspire future problem鈥憇olvers to join them. As we kick off听Engineers Week听2026, the theme听鈥淭ransform Your Future鈥�听is听a timely听reminder that engineering听doesn鈥檛听just shape听technology;听it shapes possibilities.听听
At ACI, we see that transformation happens听every day. Our engineers are the catalysts behind faster innovation, stronger security, and experiences customers can trust. They are vital to how we听鈥淧ower the听world鈥檚听payments听ecosystem,鈥�听and they do it with rigor, curiosity, and a relentless commitment to outcomes.听听听
It鈥檚听a theme reflected clearly in听software architect听Jeff Hill鈥檚 journey鈥攁 story of reinvention, modern practices, and the belief that better systems are听built听one decision at a time.听
A builder鈥檚 story: How one engineer helped accelerate听ACI鈥檚听future
When Principal Software Architect Jeff Hill joined ACI via acquisition in 2013, he didn鈥檛 just integrate into a larger organization; he helped 谤别鈥慳谤肠丑颈迟别肠迟 it. Upon arrival, he wasn鈥檛 sure what he鈥檇 find.
鈥淚 was thinking, we鈥檒l give it a go,鈥� he recalled.
What he discovered wasn鈥檛 a dramatic overhaul, but something steadier and more meaningful. The company improved year after year.
鈥淓ach year I saw something getting better,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the opposite of what you normally see.鈥�
This kind of progress signaled real internal change: processes tightening, decisions clarifying, leaders listening. By 2018, Hill had stepped into a principal architect role and made a decision.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 going to be a product architect,鈥� he said, 鈥淚鈥檓 going to make changes.鈥�
Building听something that would hold听
At the time, ACI faced familiar challenges seen in large organizations:听slow delivery cycles, heavy manual testing, and security activities performed only at set intervals.听
Hill proposed a reset:
- Security checks running continuously听
- Automated testing woven into everyday development听
- Rebuilt delivery pipelines that improved speed without sacrificing reliability听
It was an ambitious shift that required investment, patience, and leadership trust鈥攖rust that is a cornerstone of ACI鈥檚 strategy. Leadership believed in the direction.
From that support emerged Speedpay One鈩�. Hill鈥檚 team became the internal test case, adopting new engineering practices before they were adopted more widely.
鈥淲e were kind of the guinea pigs,鈥� he said.
But what mattered wasn鈥檛 being first鈥攊t was building something that would last. Engineers leaned in. Delivery improved. And over time, the approach expanded across teams.
鈥淭hey could see that what they were building mattered,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淭hat it was going to last.鈥�
Years later, Hill found himself working alongside experts he had once learned from. His credibility didn鈥檛 come from chasing trends鈥攊t came from systems that worked.
Payments is a global sport, and our engineers collaborate across time zones, supported by flexible ways of working and the tools to match.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a difference between knowing you can do something and knowing whether you should,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou learn that over time.鈥�
An听environment where engineers thrive听
ACI鈥檚 steady evolution鈥攆rom its technology to its culture鈥攈as been recognized on a national stage. The company was honored by celebrated for fostering growth, flexibility, collaboration, and impactful work.
With its investment in engineering excellence and momentum in the industry, ACI remains a place where engineers can build meaningful careers and solve real problems.
Jeff鈥檚 story shows how thoughtful engineering and consistent improvement can accelerate an organization鈥檚 future and that lasting change is built one smart decision at a time.
This is听one of three ACI听2026听Engineers Week spotlights.听Discover the journeys of听Martina Power and Santhosh听Pederedla听to round out the series. And if听you鈥檙e听looking to build your next chapter with us, explore听.听
ACI Connetic – v1 (old, Backup) 
