Hi Surya – thank you for sharing your career path as a senior software engineer with us! Can you share a little bit about your educational background?
I’m a non-immigrant on a work visa and I did my Bachelor’s in Computer Science Engineering in India. My Masters Degree was in Business Analytics and Project Management from University of Connecticut. My Bachelor’s and my first SDE job in US helped me gain fundamental skills and I’ve managed to bridge the gap with self learning.
Which, if any, educational opportunities, have made the biggest impact on your tech career?
Honestly my current role, the one I interviewed for with Hired, was searching for good engineers without specific technical requirements. Although the tech stack is completely different from my previous experience, my awareness of good engineering practices made the biggest impact in me getting this role with Happy Returns / PayPal. Leetcode was a big help in prepping for the technical interview by solving coding problems.
What would you like to learn more about (can be tech or non-tech related)?
Negotiations.
Have you pivoted in your role or had a career transition of any kind?
I’ve always been in tech. I’ve moved from testing to data analytics to software development now. And would like to stick to software development engineering (SDE) because the work is great and the earning potential is even better.
If you chose to specialize in one area, what was it and why?
I’d like to become a well rounded full stack software engineer. It’s challenging and rewarding. The work is interesting and there is always room to learn.
Is your new role different from previous ones?
It’s the same role but with widely different development processes and tech stack.
What are some of the things you’re most excited about in your new role/career?
The tech stack, moving from app development to web development, the use of proper engineering practices, great teammates to learn from, and again, the earning potential.
What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?
Pretty good since I’m a SDE and companies constantly reached out on LinkedIn. I barely had to apply. I signed up for Hired and my current company reached out to me pretty quickly.
What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?
It’s a time-saver! I’d definitely recommend giving Hired a shot because setting up your profile barely takes any time. Probably less time than an online job portal application.
Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?
Again, Leetcode was a big help in practicing coding problems, but also prepare for behavioral.
About Happy Returns, LLC
Acquired by PayPal in May 2021, Happy Returns LLC is a software and reverse logistics company transforming e-commerce by solving the #1 pain point of online shopping: returns. Founded in 2015, Happy Returns has between 51-200 employees and is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA.
Tech Stack
Go, React, React Native, AWS, PostgreSQL, JavaScript
Benefits
401k matching, health/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, child or elder care stipends, tuition reimbursement, mentorship opportunities, and more.
Source: Talent Acquisition - hired.com
