Employee Spotlight: Larry Thul
Tell us about yourself and how long you’ve been with Optimal Dynamics.
I’ve been with Optimal Dynamics for a little over four years and have served as Director of AI for about three of those. Before joining Optimal Dynamics, I earned my PhD in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University, where I studied under Professor Warren Powell, one of the company’s co-founders. It has been a privilege to continue that collaboration in a more applied and customer-focused setting.
Can you briefly summarize your job?
As Sr. Director of Artificial Intelligence, I lead the Statistics and Machine Learning team at Optimal Dynamics. Our main focus is automating all facets of the platform using Agentic AI and other analytical tools. Beyond these areas, our team also manages more traditional AI/ML tools like our demand forecasting package and statistical libraries that generate the metrics and KPIs our customers depend on every day.
What inspired you the most to join Optimal Dynamics?
When I joined, Optimal Dynamics was still a young company with a powerful foundation of technology from CASTLE lab at Princeton. I didn’t have experience in logistics, but I was excited by the opportunity to learn a new industry and help build something from the ground up. Additionally, it was a privilege to be able to continue working alongside my PhD advisor and former colleagues again.
What do you like best about our company culture?
What I enjoy most about our culture is how open and creative it is. We are a team that embraces innovation and takes on tough problems without hesitation. I appreciate how freely ideas flow here and how everyone is encouraged to brainstorm and experiment. That spirit of curiosity and collaboration gives us an incredible amount of horsepower.
What is unique about what we do at Optimal Dynamics?
Optimal Dynamics is primarily a decision intelligence company. This focus gives us the flexibility and technical foundation to handle complex and highly specific customer problems. Our ability to adapt and tailor our solutions provides customers with an edge that truly sets them apart.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is working closely with our analytics, engineering and product teams to turn new ideas into real products. Seeing something go from an early concept to a working feature that directly helps our customers is incredibly rewarding.
How does your work impact our product, and, therefore, the industry?
Our team plays a central role in automating data, optimization, and product experiences. We build frameworks that bring customer data into our optimization engine and deliver intelligent decisions back into our products. This leads to faster deployments for new customers, more reliable decision-making for existing ones, and new capabilities such as demand forecasting and explainable decisions in our Atlas product. The result is a smarter, more transparent system that helps logistics professionals make confident, informed choices.
What have been your biggest accomplishments on our team, and what was the impact on the company?
My biggest accomplishment has been building the Statistics and Machine Learning group from the ground up. To name a couple major achievements of the team over the past few years, we rebuilt the company’s data processing engine, enabling our engine to be configured in hours instead of weeks and more recently, we led the initiative to enhance our technical stack with Agentic AI, paving the way for a more scalable and intelligent platform.
How have you grown professionally while on our team?
Working in a fast-paced startup environment has challenged me to grow in every direction. I came to Optimal Dynamics with deep technical expertise from my academic background, but over time I’ve learned how to manage teams, think strategically about products, and navigate the process of bringing advanced technology to market. This experience has helped me bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside of work, I enjoy golfing, watching football, and spending time with my family, friends, and rescue dog.
Can you share a hidden talent no one knows about you?
It’s not really a secret talent, but I like to think I’m a little better than average at putting.
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who wants to work at Optimal Dynamics?
My best advice is to come ready to jump in and make an impact from day one. We value new ideas and fresh perspectives, and there’s always room for creative thinkers who want to solve challenging problems. If you’re passionate about innovation and want to help customers succeed, Optimal Dynamics is the place to do it.
