What does your typical day look like at Instrumental?
On a typical day, I start by meeting with my team to discuss any open issues or blockers. Next, I review any pending pull requests or design docs. After unblocking my teammates, I like to get in a solid, uninterrupted block of technical focus work. The technical work ranges from sketching out designs and writing code to prototyping with new hardware.
Beyond that, it really depends on the day. My other regular activities include: getting feedback from stakeholders, working with peers from other teams within R&D (ML, Platform, SRE, etc.), mentoring more junior engineers, and staying on top of project planning in Jira.
Why did you choose Instrumental?
Prior to joining Instrumental in 2016, I was at a big company with the usual bureaucracy and limited individual impact. Instrumental offered me the exciting opportunity to join an early-stage company with an incredible team and a mission I believe in.
Tell us one thing that people may not know about you.
A while back, I was a member of the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) Citizens Advisory Committee. I still care deeply about public transit, walkability, and bikeability.
Since joining Instrumental, what has been your favorite memory working here?
I got to visit a factory in China. As a software engineer, it was eye opening to see how some of the consumer electronics products I use in my daily life are made. It was also incredibly gratifying to see the system we built helping to bring those products to fruition.
What is your favorite Instrumental Slack channel and why?
We have a lot of great Slack channels, but #we-play-to-win might be my favorite. It’s where we give shoutouts when our teammates step up, and do things worth celebrating!
What do you like most about your job?
I get to work with an amazing team. Everyone is smart, talented, and incredibly supportive. It’s a great feeling to work on challenging, impactful projects with people you admire and trust.
