our story
Built for the Critical Path
The world doesn’t need more IT vendors—it needs mission partners. Critical Tilt was founded to serve exactly that role for federal agencies, national labs, and forward-leaning enterprises.
Our name reflects our dual focus:
“Critical”
Because our work supports national missions, life sciences, and operational security.
“Tilt”
Because we help our clients break inertia, overcome complexity, and accelerate forward—like the tilt shot that flips the game in pinball.
Our founders spent their early careers in cybersecurity and IT operations
Delivering solutions for some of the most secure environments in the world. Over the years, they noticed a gap—between the flashy promises of big integrators and the actual boots-on-ground delivery.
That’s where CriticalTilt thrives. We keep it sharp, fast, and human. We deliver what we say, with zero fluff and all focus.
Today, we bring that same mindset to every project—whether we’re validating an HPC cluster at a national lab, operationalizing AI pipelines for a civilian agency, or stepping in as a fractional CTO for a healthcare startup.
Christopher Tilley
CEO, President
Christopher Tilley, the founder, CEO, and President of CriticalTilt, brings to the helm more than 25 years of experience in software development, project management, data engineering, information technology, and cybersecurity.
Jeffrey Neely
Director of Operations
Jeffrey Neely, Director of Operations at CriticalTilt, brings more than 35 years of experience in IT infrastructure operations, cybersecurity, and program management.
His distinguished career includes pivotal roles across various US Departments, including Defense, Energy, and Agriculture.
Our Team
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Josh Schultz
Operations
What Drives Us
Our Mission and Values
Mission Over Market
We work where the stakes are real. Whether you’re supporting a national lab or securing infrastructure in healthcare, our work is about impact.
Integrity in Every Layer
From architecture to attitude, we bring transparency, accountability, and clarity to every step of the engagement.
Boutique Is a Feature
Our size is our strength. Clients work directly with our most experienced talent. No handoffs. No bureaucracy.
Outcome focused
We believe systems should run fast, scale smart, and stay secure. If they don’t, we
fix them.
People Power Everything
Our clients are people. Our tech is made by people. And behind every line of code
is a real human who gives a damn. That’s our edge.
Our Team
Built by Experts, Run by Engineers
We’re a small, senior-led crew of cleared professionals who’ve spent their careers making complex systems run right.
Most of us cut our teeth in the federal space, many still carry active TS or Q clearances, and all of us thrive under pressure.
No salespeople, no fluff—just a direct line to smart, committed technologists who know how to deliver.
Let’s Get to Work
If you’re navigating complex infrastructure, compliance, or emerging AI challenges—CriticalTilt is your catalyst. We’ll help you define the strategy, deliver the tech, and defend the mission. Let’s do something bold.