If you had told me in college that I’d end up building cloud dashboards that interface with edge devices and AI models, I probably would’ve smiled politely and asked what half of those words meant. My career path hasn’t been linear - more like a zigzag across industries, disciplines, and places - but I’ve landed somewhere that not only excites me every day but also challenges me.
Chemical Engineering Was Plan A, But Curiosity Had Other Plans
I didn’t start my career in software. After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering, I immediately took a left turn into a role as a systems engineer in the aviation industry. The job was a mix of project management, QA work, and some technical tasks including managing Linux servers. It was that last piece that unexpectedly captured my interest.
The turning point came thanks to some brilliant and incredibly generous coworkers, those classic "graybeard wizards" who seemed to know the entire history of computing. I remember thinking, “How could you not be interested in this stuff?” Eventually that spark led me down the rabbit hole of programming and web development. I started with a few YouTube videos, graduated to a $20 Udemy course, and dove headfirst into personal projects, including a few CRUD (create, read, update, delete) apps and a blackjack game in Python.
Eventually, I made the leap into software full-time, working for a hybrid graphic design and development shop. It was my first real developer job and a crash course in adaptability. But after a couple of years, I found myself wanting two things: the ability to work remotely (so I could travel and spend time with far-flung friends and family) and a role where I could continue to grow as an engineer.
That’s when I found Leverege.
Slack Channels and the Magic of Just Helping Each Other
The remote-first flexibility was a huge selling point. I’ve since moved to Japan to be with my (no longer long-distance) girlfriend, and the ability to shift my hours a bit while staying fully engaged in my work has been a massive plus. But what really makes Leverege special wasn’t even something I knew to look for – it was the culture.
The engineering culture here is the best I’ve ever experienced. There are dedicated Slack channels where developers from totally different projects hop in to help solve each other’s problems. It’s common to see someone from another team offering guidance, sharing recent experiences, or even jumping into a huddle just to talk things through. It’s such an open sharing engineering culture. That spirit of helpfulness and collaboration stands out every day.
From Overwhelmed to Owning It
I started out working on an asset tracking product targeted at hospitals and, like most new hires, spent the first few months feeling like I was drinking from a fire hose. But once I moved to another project focused on asset tracking in the marine industry and took on a major authentication migration, things clicked. I began to take real ownership, becoming the go-to person for certain pieces of our backend infrastructure.
That’s another thing I love about Leverege: responsibility isn’t something you wait years for. If you show initiative and competence, people trust you with big things. Regardless of title, you’re in the room for architectural decisions and platform planning. It’s empowering.
Between Edge Devices and AI: Where I Fit In
Currently, I’m working on a project that ties together AI inference models and edge server video devices with a cloud dashboard. I collaborate closely with data science and edge engineering teams to bridge the gap, literally, between physical devices and digital interfaces. It’s very much at the heart of what Leverege does: taking data from the physical world via sensors and making it useful via the virtual world.
The day-to-day is a blend of problem-solving, coordination, and heads-down coding. And while we work hard, the schedule flexibility allows for life to happen, too. At a company where every person’s work matters, being trusted to manage your own time makes a world of difference.
Adaptability Isn’t Just a Buzzword Here
The people here are kind, curious, and incredibly competent. We’re not bound by rigid roles. If something needs doing, whether it’s QA, project management, or diving deep into code, someone steps up. One of my favorite people to work with is Corey Redd. He’s technically a product manager, but he’s also my QA advisor, customer liaison, and sometimes fellow debugger. He’ll even read source code and huddle up on complex problems. That kind of commitment is the norm here.
I’ve worked at companies where your role was narrowly defined and your team was your entire world. Leverege is the opposite. It’s a place where people reach across teams, where initiative is welcomed, and where curiosity is encouraged.
If you’re someone who thrives on adaptability, loves learning, and isn’t afraid to jump into the deep end, you’ll do well here. And bring a party trick to the annual meetup – trust me on that one.
~ Quick Facts ~
- My Leverege Shoutout: Corey Redd. He’s the Swiss Army knife of product managers, jumping into QA, reading source code, and always focused on solving the right problems. Working with him has been a masterclass in adaptability and dedication.
- Life Outside of Work: I recently moved to Japan to be with my partner, which has been amazing. Remote work is great, but remote dating? Not so much. I’ve been diving into the language, exploring the food scene, and taking in the cherry blossoms.
- Content Recommendation: Check out the song Thrive by The Contortionist. It’s part of their album Language and blends progressive rock with ambient vibes. It’s a good song.
- Could Give a TED Talk About: Rocket League. I haven’t played in a couple years, but I could easily go on about how the game’s meta has evolved, how skill ceilings have skyrocketed, and how it’s built an international esports community with a vibe that’s surprisingly like a soccer pub.
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