Neal Peacock
Software engineer. Builder of things.
I’m a Software Engineering Manager for Data Center Networking at Meta in Bellevue, Washington, where my team delivers software for the Meta Host Network Interface — a high-performance NIC used inside Meta’s data centers.
I spent the previous decade at Amazon as a Senior Software Development Manager, including the founding Fire TV Edition engineering team (taking first-party smart-TV UI from early concept through domestic and international launch), Project Kuiper, and earlier work leading a BSP software team on Android products: bootloaders, kernels, platform support, and new product bring-ups.
Before Amazon, I founded PengPod (2011–2013), which crowdfunded some of the first tablets and mini PCs to run true Linux alongside Android. The Indiegogo campaign beat its $49,000 goal with more than $72,000 raised, and the project was covered by Slashdot, PCWorld, Liliputing, and Phys.org.
Earlier, as VP of Product Development at Coin Free (2005–2012), I designed standalone credit-card acceptors for vending machines: schematic and PCB layout, embedded Linux drivers, Android apps, and the Tomcat-and-database backend for processing and reporting.
PengPod
True Linux Tablets and Mini PCs
PengPod set out to build powerful tablets free of Google and Android’s restrictions — real Linux on affordable ARM hardware. The Indiegogo campaign raised over $72,000 against a $49,000 goal, and the first devices shipped in January 2013.
The lineup — the 7" PengPod700, 10" PengPod1000, and the PengStick mini PC — ran on the Allwinner A10 SoC with dual-boot Android 4.0 and Ubuntu-based Linaro Linux, with support for Plasma Active, LXDE, XFCE, XBMC, and VLC.
Coin Free
Cashless payment systems for vending
Coin Free built standalone credit- and debit-card acceptors for vending machines and amusement games: schematic and PCB layout, embedded Linux drivers, Android apps, and a Tomcat-and-database backend for processing and reporting. Its later VUWI system let customers pay at vending machines with their cell phones over Bluetooth — years before phone payments went mainstream.
Fire TV Edition
Smart TVs with Fire TV built in
I founded the Fire TV Edition apps team and drove the program from early concept through domestic and international launch — putting the full Fire TV experience, apps and Alexa and live TV, directly into the television. Launched at CES 2017, scaled through an exclusive Best Buy partnership (Toshiba and Insignia, 2018), and expanded to the UK, Germany, Austria, and India. By CES 2020: 40M+ Fire TV users, 50+ Fire TV Edition models in 10+ countries.
The full story
Project Kuiper (now Amazon Leo)
I led software teams on Amazon’s satellite-internet constellation during its early development — the period covering FCC approval, the sub-$400 terminal antenna breakthrough, and maturation of the custom-silicon program.
Kuiper → Leo →
Meta Host Network Interface (FBNIC)
Since 2024 I’ve led the software team behind Meta’s high-performance NIC — unveiled with Marvell at the 2024 OCP Global Summit as a custom 5nm ASIC, with the board design contributed to the Open Compute Project.
FBNIC →Community
Scouts & CERT
Since 2023 I’ve served as treasurer for my son’s scout troop — keeping the books while getting out on horseback rides and sailing trips with the scouts.
I’m also a member of Issaquah CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), trained to support our community when disaster strikes.