Background

Twenty-five years building,
researching, leading.

Researcher, software engineer, manager, entrepreneur — a career built at the intersection of academic rigor and ground-level reality. Specializing in the R&D → production transition for software, data, and AI systems.

François Fournier

What I've construit

2022 →

Fractional CTO Current

France & International

Technical arbitration, team unblocking, post-PMF scaling. One-off or ongoing engagements depending on needs.

2021 →

Lecturer — University Clermont Auvergne (UCA) Current

Clermont-Ferrand

MMI courses (Digital Media & Internet) — interfaces, interactive digital, software engineering.

2021 →

Founder & Director — MayetLab

France

Open rural fablab — a multi-purpose workshop for makers, local businesses and the general public.

2020 →

Founder & Host — Debrouille.co

France
2020 →

Founder & Host — Citoyen.science

France
2018 →

Founder & Developer — MayetSoft

France
2014 – 2025

Founder — Simitless

France

No-code platform for building custom information systems. V2 currently in development.

2014 – 2015

Business Development Consultant — Web Innovation & Technologies

Blagnac, France
2013 – 2014

Project Manager, Management Consultant — PLM

Toulouse, France
2011 – 2013

Software Engineering Team Leader — ODS-Petrodata Ltd. (IHS Inc.)

Aberdeen, Scotland
2009 – 2013

Business & IT Consultant — Freelance Parallel

Aberdeen, Scotland

Independent activity running alongside the position at ODS-Petrodata.

2008 – 2011

R&D Project Manager, Knowledge Transfer Associate — ODS-Petrodata Ltd / The Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen, Scotland

Application of Bayesian networks and evolutionary algorithms to predicting oil drilling performance. A bridge between academic research and industry.

2006 – 2008

Project Lead, Software Engineer — ODS-Petrodata Ltd

Aberdeen, Scotland
2005 – 2006

Team Leader, Software Engineer — Smart Light Devices Ltd.

Aberdeen, Scotland
2004 – 2005

IT Consultant — Freelance

Aberdeen, Scotland
2004

Developer Intern — Simitel S. de R.L. de C.V.

Mexico City, Mexico
1999 – 2004

IT Support Consultant

Le Mayet de Montagne / Vichy / Clermont-Ferrand, France

What twenty-five years of continuous learning have built

Architecture & Engineering

Enterprise architecture TOGAF 9 Software architecture DevOps Distributed systems Post-PMF scalability Code reviews Technology choices Resilient infrastructure Uptime & SLA

Artificial Intelligence & Data

Generative AI Industrial data science Bayesian networks Evolutionary algorithms Recommendation systems Transition R&D → prod Robust ETL pipelines PoC → production Hallucinations & AI reliability AI system security NoSQL

Management & Leadership

Engineering team leadership Ownership culture Blameless post-mortems Change management Project management (PRINCE2) OKRs Tech hiring Distributed teams Subsystem accountability Turnover reduction

Strategy & Product

Startups early-stage Post-PMF → Scale Technical arbitration Technical debt governance Intentional vs. incurred debt Technical truce Backlog prioritisation "No" as a budget skill ARPU / churn filters Constrained roadmap Business development

Development & Security

Full-stack development Open source Object-oriented programming Embedded systems No-code / low-code Application security OWASP Top 10 AI code vulnerabilities Data protection Green IT

Transversal & Teaching

Academic research Science outreach Public speaking Digital ethics Entrepreneurship & accountability Systems vs. vibes Cross-cultural management Emotional intelligence MMI pedagogy (Digital Media & Internet)

Degrees & certifications

2013

PhD Computer Science — Probabilistic Models for Business Intelligence

The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

2012

TOGAF 9 — Enterprise Architecture

The Open Group, United Kingdom

2011

Level 5 Diploma — Management & Leadership

Chartered Management Institute (CMI), United Kingdom

2007

MSc Computer Science — Information Engineering

The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

2006

BSc (Hons) — Computing & Information

The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

2004

DUT Computer Science — Industrial Systems

IUT de Clermont-Ferrand, France

2002

French Scientific Baccalaureate — Electronics, Physics, Chemistry, Maths

Lycée de Presles (secondary school), Cusset, France

2015

Competent Communicator & Competent Leader

Toastmasters International

Publications publications

Conferences & presentations

Management & Entrepreneurship (2014)
2014
Votre monde — inspirational talk
2014
Simitless : Simple, Limitless
2014
Chef d'orchestre en entreprise
2014
Les outils du Manager
2014
The Parallels of my Life — Introduction motivationnelle
2014
Simplicity
2014
Being a Maker
2014
The lifecycle of knowledge
Technology & Science (2014)
2014
Bio-mimicry : Nature-inspired algorithms
2014
Password Protected — what makes a good password?
Project Management & Research (2009 – 2012)
2012
Making things happen : Project Management Basics — Corporate conference
2012
PhD Defence — Probabilistic Modelling of Oil Rig Drilling Operations
2011
Making things happen : Project Management for Academics — IDEAS Research Centre, RGU
2011
Talking Science : Introduction to the art of academic presentations — CIG Research Group
2010
On the building of a model — KTP Project, Corporate conference
2010
Recommender Systems — RGU CIG Research Group
2010
Evolved Bayesian Network Models — IEEE UKCI / IEEE CEC (WCCI)
2009
Searching on the Internet : Using Google and its tools — Corporate conference
2009
Knowledge Transfer Partnership — Corporate conference

A tech decision
stuck in limbo?

Book a slot directly or drop me a few lines about your situation.