Who
Russell Pier, founder.
Texas A&M University, 2018. Senior software engineer with seven years of professional experience.
I'm Russell Pier, founder of Rouge Tech. I've spent the last seven years as a professional software engineer, and I started Rouge Tech to bring that same engineering care to everyday technology — WiFi that actually works, security cameras you own outright, smart-home equipment without a subscription, and the business-IT work a small office needs without hiring a department: workstation setup, cloud migrations, HR and CRM platform moves, automations, backups.
I'm a software engineer by trade. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2018 and have spent the seven years since shipping professional software — beginning at a consulting firm in College Station, then leading the web application at a music-streaming company, and most recently running my own software studio building real-time systems for research clients.
Throughout all of that, I've been the person friends and neighbors call when their WiFi drops during an important video call, when their mesh router can't reach the back bedroom, or when they want a doorbell camera that doesn't require a monthly fee. I've also been the person a handful of small businesses have called when their HR platform needed replacing, when fifty employees had to move from one system to another without losing a record, or when the repetitive parts of their workflow needed automating. After enough of those weekend favors and side projects, I realized two things: the work is genuinely rewarding, and the people asking had tried the larger service companies and come away disappointed.
Rouge Tech is my answer. It's new, it's small on purpose, and it is run the way I have always wanted a service company to be run: clear pricing, thoughtful diagnostics, no hidden markups, and the same person from the first phone call to the last cable tie.
I'll also be direct about what Rouge Tech is not. I am not a general contractor. Drywall repair, electrical work, and structural carpentry are handled by licensed trades I trust and coordinate on your behalf. I am also not a managed-service provider for larger enterprises — my small-business IT practice is scaled to offices of roughly one to fifteen people, the size range one engineer can actually serve well. What I do, from a home WiFi tune-up to a fixed-fee HR migration, is the part where wiring, radios, software, and business systems have to work together reliably. That is the part I do well.
These are the rules I run the business by. They are written down here so you can hold me to them. If I break one, please tell me — and the job is free.
No dispatchers, no handoffs, and no junior technician sent to learn on your project. You talk with me on the phone, I do the work in your home, and I am the one you call afterward if you have a question.
You will know the final number before I open a toolbag. If the scope of the work needs to change mid-project, I stop and we discuss it before I continue. There are no surprises on the invoice.
I do not earn more by recommending one brand of router over another. I will suggest the equipment that fits the job, explain why, and you are welcome to purchase it yourself if you prefer.
Drywall repair, electrical work, structural cable runs, and carpentry are handled by licensed local trades I have vetted. You pay them directly at their standard rate. I coordinate scheduling so you only need to speak with one point of contact: me.
During business hours, my main line rings directly to my mobile phone. After hours, an automated assistant takes your message and sends it to me so I can return your call first thing the next morning. You will always hear back.
This business is small by design. If demand grows beyond what one person can handle well, I will raise my rates or maintain a waiting list rather than hire technicians and send them in my place.
Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. Core coursework in digital systems, embedded systems, operating systems, and software engineering.
Early career in professional consulting — client-facing software development, system integrations, and project delivery across multiple industries and technology stacks.
Led frontend and web application development for a music-streaming platform — owning the user-facing product from architecture through delivery, with a focus on performance and reliability.
Founded and operate a custom software studio building real-time systems, data pipelines, and bespoke applications for research and operations clients. New Ark Digital continues in parallel with Rouge Tech.
Launching Rouge Tech to bring professional engineering discipline to home technology and small-business IT in Greater Baton Rouge. The same habits of careful planning, clear documentation, and thorough testing — applied to your home and your office.
A small business only works if the person running it does not drop the ball. Here is how I keep Rouge Tech focused, available, and dependable.
During business hours, the main number rings directly to my mobile phone. If I am on a job and cannot answer immediately, an automated assistant takes a clear message and sends it to me so I can return your call as soon as I am free. You will always hear back the same day.
When a project requires drywall repair, electrical work, or structural carpentry, I coordinate with licensed local trades I have personally vetted. You pay them directly at their standard rate, with no markup or commission from me. You remain in control of the project, and I remain your single point of contact.
In parallel with Rouge Tech, I also operate a software studio called New Ark Digital, building custom applications for research and operations clients. The same engineering discipline — careful planning, clear documentation, thorough testing — is what you receive when Rouge Tech works on your home.
A few of the most common questions. If you have one that isn't here, please call or send a note — I am happy to answer.
That is a fair and important question. Rouge Tech is a new business, and I will never pretend otherwise. What is not new is my professional experience: seven years as a software engineer building systems that businesses and real users rely on every day. The same habits of careful planning, clear communication, and thorough testing are what I bring to every home I work in.
If it would be helpful, I am glad to provide professional references or offer a discounted first visit. I would rather earn your trust through the work than overstate my experience.
Yes. I personally handle every quote, every installation, every support call, and every follow-up. When a project requires construction work — drywall, electrical, or carpentry — I coordinate with licensed local trades, and you pay them directly. On your project, I am the person you speak with and the person in your home.
I focus on low-voltage and technology work. I do not perform high-voltage electrical work, structural construction, or drywall finishing — those tasks are handled by licensed trades I coordinate on your behalf. I also do not work on dealer-only proprietary platforms such as Crestron. If a job is not a good fit for Rouge Tech, I will say so during the first phone call and recommend a qualified professional.
Yes, for small offices up to about fifteen desks — typically a standalone suite or a small professional practice. I am happy to handle networking, meeting-room equipment, and day-to-day technology needs. Larger commercial buildings, multi-tenant spaces, or projects requiring specialty commercial licensing are referred to partners better suited for that work.
My primary service area is East Baton Rouge Parish and Ascension Parish. I am glad to travel to Livingston or West Baton Rouge Parish for larger projects. For locations farther than that, I will typically refer you to a qualified professional closer to home.
Yes. A Remote Rescue session ($40, approximately twenty minutes by video) is the simplest option. For longer consultations — such as a gear-selection plan, new-construction wiring specifications, or a second opinion on another contractor's quote — I am happy to schedule an hourly consultation. There are no drive-out fees for consultations.
If you have a specific project in mind, please call or send a note. My main line forwards directly to me during business hours, and I reply to written inquiries the same day. There is no fee for an initial conversation.