10/05/2026
Meet RJ Forbes, Senior Director of Software Engineering at DPL (a division of OptConnect)!
As our Senior Director of Software Engineering, RJ leads with a simple rule: solve real problems for real people using hard data. You see that play out directly in products like Hercules AI, which spots and fixes customer issues before they even turn into actual problems. His team also built the security tools in Hercules Shield, which actively stop theft and jackpotting in the field—a massive win for protecting our customers' assets.
Outside of software, RJ’s background is just as dynamic:
- He spent years as an international powerlifter before getting pulled into Highland Games throwing. Fast forward 10 years and 60+ competitions later, he’s thrown all over the world (including cabers in France!).
- He used to do technical cold-water scuba diving in the Atlantic as a way to unwind.
- He spent years painting and almost moved to NYC to pursue art full-time.
His best advice for anyone in tech? "Software engineering isn't a trade where you learn a single method and perfect it over time. Everything is in constant motion, so you need to learn how to teach yourself rather than waiting to be taught."
We’re super lucky to have RJ in our corner!
