10 Royal Caribbean engineering leaders
Senior director of product and platform engineering, technical director for maritime technology and director of software engineering are among the current titles held by these ten Royal Caribbean engineering leaders. A reader can learn how engineering leaders work at Royal Caribbean from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Alain Gonzalez
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director, Product & Platform Engineering - Global E-Commerce · Royal Caribbean Group
Alain Gonzalez has been Sr. Director, Product & Platform Engineering - Global E-Commerce at Royal Caribbean Group since February 2026 and was Director, Product & Platform Engineering there from 2023 to 2026. Alain Gonzalez was Sr Manager, Software Engineering - eCommerce at Carnival Cruise Line from 2020 to 2022.
Fernando Pendola
LinkedInExperience: Director Electrical · Royal Caribbean Group
Fernando Pendola has been Director Electrical at Royal Caribbean Group since February 2026, and the profile headline reads Director Electrical Systems at Royal Caribbean Group. Fernando Pendola was Senior Manager Electrical Systems at Royal Caribbean Group from 2023 to 2026, Manager Electrical Systems there from 2019 to 2023 and Marine Electrical Supeintendent there from 2011 to 2017.
Harri Salama
LinkedInExperience: Technical Director · Royal Caribbean Group
Harri Salama has been Technical Director at Royal Caribbean Group since February 2024, based in Turku, Finland, and was Senior Technical Manager there from 2019 to 2024. Harri Salama was Technical Manager at Royal Caribbean Group from 2016 to 2019 and Senior Technical Superintendent there from 2011 to 2016.
James DeFendis
LinkedInExperience: Director of Product Engineering · Royal Caribbean Group
James DeFendis has been Director of Product Engineering at Royal Caribbean Group since August 2022 and was Senior Software Engineering Manager there from 2018 to 2022. James DeFendis was Software Engineering - IT Manager at Royal Caribbean Group from 2011 to 2018 and Software Engineering Manager there from 2008 to 2011.
Joseph Scheirich
LinkedInExperience: Director of Software Engineering · Royal Caribbean Group
Joseph Scheirich has been Director of Software Engineering at Royal Caribbean Group since February 2024 and was a Senior Manager there from 2022 to 2024. Joseph Scheirich was Software Architect at Royal Caribbean Group from 2019 to 2022, and the profile headline reads Director of Product Engineering @ Royal Caribbean Group.
Kiana Almira
LinkedInExperience: Director, Data Engineering · Royal Caribbean Group
Kiana Almira has been Director, Data Engineering at Royal Caribbean Group since January 2026 and was Senior Manager, Data Engineering there from 2022 to 2026. Kiana Almira was Manager, Data Engineering at Royal Caribbean Group from 2020 to 2022 and Manager, Data Product, CSPO there from 2018 to 2020.
Lasantha RuwanPathirana
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Royal Caribbean Group
Lasantha RuwanPathirana has been Director of Engineering at Royal Caribbean Group since March 2026 and has held the Portfolio Leader - Royal Xperience role there since August 2023, based in Weybridge, England. Lasantha RuwanPathirana was Senior Product Owner at Royal Caribbean Group from 2020 to 2023 and VP Engineering at CodeGen International from 2013 to 2017.
Laura Mao
LinkedInExperience: Director of Software Engineering · Royal Caribbean Group
Laura Mao has been Director of Software Engineering at Royal Caribbean Group since January 2022 and was Senior Software Engineering Manager there from 2018 to 2022. The profile describes designing, delivering and maintaining large-scale web systems, APIs, and content management and content delivery systems.
Laurent Tessier
LinkedInExperience: Technical Director Maritime Technology · Royal Caribbean Group
Laurent Tessier has been Technical Director Maritime Technology at Royal Caribbean Group since February 2024, based in the Nantes area, and was Technical Manager there from 2018 to 2024. Laurent Tessier was Senior Superintendent Technical & Machinery at Royal Caribbean Group from 2016 to 2018 and Senior Manager Engineering at MAN Diesel & Turbo from 2010 to 2016.
Nagaraju Mandava
LinkedInExperience: Director, Enterprise Architecture & Engineering · Royal Caribbean Group
Nagaraju Mandava has been Director, Enterprise Architecture & Engineering at Royal Caribbean Group since January 2024, and the profile headline reads Director, Product Engineering & Architecture Governance. Nagaraju Mandava has held Senior Engineering Manager and Engineering Manager roles at Royal Caribbean Group since 2022 and 2015.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose engineering area is closest to your question, since maritime technology, newbuild technical, electrical systems, ecommerce, software, architecture and data engineering leaders each work on different problems. Check when each person started the current role to judge how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current engineering leadership role?
- 02How do you plan engineering work so it fits around ship schedules?
- 03What has your own work taught you about building guest-facing digital products for a cruise line?
Reaching Royal Caribbean engineering leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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