# Jay Linsell

> Engineering leader, designer, maker. Melbourne-based. Engineering Manager at Culture Amp; founder of Contraband.

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## Site

- Home: https://www.jaylinsell.com/
- Plain-text summary: https://www.jaylinsell.com/llms.txt

## About

Jay Linsell is an engineering leader and product builder, and a dad of two. He runs teams that build software, apps, and AI: unblocking them, setting direction, growing an inclusive culture, and making sure what ships is useful. Melbourne based. On the side he still designs and ships his own products.

## Now

- Day job: Engineering Manager at Culture Amp, leading the AI Coach team (9 engineers). Started as Tech Lead in October 2022, Engineering Manager since March 2023. Previously led Home & Nav and Employee Profile, then moved to AI Coach at the start of 2025. Has temporarily filled in as Director of Engineering.
- Side: Founder of Contraband (April 2026 — present), building AI Shopify apps with merchants. Products include Proclaim (AI warranty automation) and Accomplice (AI catalogue enrichment for UCP).
- Freelance: Engineering and design since 2012.

## Earlier

- Alyve (formerly W3.Digital), 2010 — 2022. Lead front end and senior consultant, embedded in client teams as tech lead, design lead, and senior engineer.
- Notable client work includes the Office of Public Prosecutions (WCAG AA design system and portal redesign), Australian College of Emergency Medicine, Telstra Liberate, Tennis Australia’s Tennis Lab, CRX, and Australian Catholic University.

## Awards

- Victorian Premier’s Design Awards, Best in Category — OPP, Design Strategy.
- Good Design Awards, Best in Category — OPP, Design Thinking.
- Good Design Awards, runner-up — Australian Catholic University portal.

## Topics he can talk about

- Building resilient teams and culture
- Applied AI in product engineering
- Supporting Director of Engineering responsibilities
- Growing and promoting engineers
- Design-minded product delivery

## Contact

- Email: holla@jaylinsell.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-linsell
- GitHub: https://github.com/jaylinsell
- Contraband: https://contraband.sh
- Culture Amp: https://www.cultureamp.com