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Alex, Product Engineer at Graphistry: Advize Career Interview
This interview with a Graphistry Product Engineer reveals a fascinating and unconventional career journey.
A path that began with dropping out of college and working in food service, ultimately led to a fulfilling role at a cutting-edge technology company.
The interviewee's experience highlights the importance of pursuing intrinsic interests, even if seemingly unrelated to a chosen field, and the value of continuous learning and self-compassion.
A senior product engineer, the interviewee works on a new LLM application, balancing technical expertise with leadership responsibilities, managing a diverse workload that spans UI design, coding in Python and TypeScript, and team onboarding.
The work involves tackling interesting problems, especially in the emerging field of LLMs for data analysis, while navigating the challenges of balancing perfectionism with deadlines and mastering advanced architectural concepts.
The interview provides valuable insights into the industry, including the importance of analytical skills, the evolving role of AI, and the broad range of roles available, offering exciting prospects for students interested in a career in product engineering.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Alex Warren
Product Engineer
Graphistry
University of Arizona 2015
None
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Computer Science
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
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Career Path of a Product Engineer at Graphistry
Alex's career path is unconventional, starting with dropping out of college, working in food service, then returning to university to study computer engineering, undertaking research projects in distributed computing and autonomous vehicles. After roles at YouTube and various startups, including one focused on yoga and another attempting Y Combinator entry, Alex found a fulfilling position at Graphistry, where "interests are understood" and the work aligns with their values, working with clients in diverse sectors like cybersecurity and supply chain.
Main Responsibilities of a Product Engineer at Graphistry
Alex, a senior product engineer at Graphistry, works closely with a small team, collaborating on a new LLM application called Louie; Alex's responsibilities span the entire product lifecycle, from "Figma Designs" and prototyping to coding in Python and TypeScript and onboarding new team members, showcasing a blend of technical expertise and leadership within a fast-paced startup environment.
A Day In The Life Of A Product Engineer At Graphistry
Alex, a Product Engineer at Graphistry, describes their workday as a balance between "maker" and "manager" roles, prioritizing focused work ("three hours of focus") on challenging problems and building front-ends to deliver tangible results. The remote work setup requires careful self-management, utilizing strategies like coworking spaces and limiting video calls to maintain this balance and achieve a good workflow.
Most Important Skills for a Product Engineer at Graphistry
Alex, a Product Engineer at Graphistry, highlights the evolving role of AI in software engineering, noting their skepticism towards AI fully replacing human roles; "actual engineering is still about systems design and...real experience with real systems," while acknowledging AI's potential to "increase human capacity" and create new opportunities.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Product Engineer At Graphistry
Alex enjoys the positive work relationships, feeling competent, and tackling interesting problems, particularly the "new field" of using LLMs to solve data problems, calling it "pretty exciting." A key aspect of their role that Alex finds fulfilling is UI design, where they strive to create "a smooth experience" for users.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Product Engineer At Graphistry
Alex's biggest challenge as a Product Engineer is balancing the pursuit of perfection with the realities of business deadlines, specifically while learning advanced architectural concepts like "distributed systems design" and "functional programming" on the job. This involves overcoming a personal tendency towards perfectionism and effectively managing time to meet goals while simultaneously upskilling in a crucial area of their role.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Software Industry as a Product Engineer
Alex's favorite aspect of the industry is the "life I'm building with people that I'm close to," finding purpose in work that connects to their broader interests in neuroscience, psychology, and network science, aligning with Graphistry's focus on network analysis. The work's relevance to their personal passions, rather than solely the product itself, is what drives Alex's enjoyment.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Tech Industry, According To A Product Engineer At Graphistry
Success in the product engineering industry hinges on "finding coherence in oneself," a genuine interest in the technology, and a strong sense of "what do I care about?" Further, demonstrated analytical abilities, a commitment to continuous learning through resources like YouTube and conferences, and keen observation of successful colleagues' priorities are key indicators of potential for thriving in this field.
What a Product Engineer at Graphistry Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Tech Industry
Alex, a Product Engineer at Graphistry, wishes they had known the breadth of roles within the industry—from product management to UI/UX design and various engineering specializations—before starting their career, as "it took a while and I was really frustrated for a long time" navigating this landscape. The interview also highlights the importance of strong statistical math skills in certain high-paying roles, but cautions that these roles may not always be "user facing".
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Product Engineers
Alex, a Product Engineer at Graphistry with over five years of experience, was unable to provide specific entry-level positions, stating, "I'm not super helpful 'cause I'm actually not...connected to the hiring process right now," and noting their company primarily hires senior-level employees. The lack of insight highlights the limited perspective a senior-level employee may have on entry-level job markets.
Significant Career Lesson From A Product Engineer At Graphistry
Alex's most significant career lesson centers on self-compassion and its impact on professional success; the realization that emotional well-being ("what is self-compassion?") directly influences intellectual capacity, highlighting a journey of self-discovery where "emotional learning is easier than intellectual learning if in a good place emotionally".
College Experiences That Helped A Product Engineer At Graphistry Succeed
Alex's undergraduate experience prioritized following intrinsic interests, including neuroscience, classics, and computer science, though they regret not taking more statistics classes; this foundational knowledge in math and physics, along with the importance of seeking out good professors and engaging with their insights, proved invaluable for a career in product engineering, even if some courses seem less directly applicable at first glance.
How Identity Has Influenced A Product Engineer At Graphistry's Career
Alex, a product engineer, acknowledges the complexity of identity's impact on career navigation, noting that "it's a culturally fraught question" and expressing a desire for increased skill in relating to diverse experiences. The Google program highlighted the wide range of individual experiences, revealing a need for more nuanced understanding beyond typical tropes, leading Alex to recognize a personal goal of "more facility with that" to foster better workplace relationships.
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