Discover what it means to truly build tech that matters with Emily Middleton, Principal Software Engineer at Viator, as she shares her remarkable 20-year journey through the technology landscape.
Emily breaks down how her early influences – including tech-savvy parents who shattered the stereotypical image of solitary programmers – shaped her understanding of what a fulfilling career in software engineering could be.
This conversation dives deep into the career crossroads many engineers face: follow the traditional path into management or pursue technical excellence? Emily’s candid reflections on experimenting with different roles – from engineering to product management and leadership – reveal how she ultimately found her sweet spot building high-impact systems that serve millions of users daily. Her discovery of the “Engineering Management Pendulum” concept transformed her approach to career progression, offering valuable perspective for anyone questioning whether management is truly their calling.
Emily takes us behind the scenes of leading Viator‘s rewards program implementation, sharing the delicate balance between shipping quickly and building sustainable systems. Her insights into managing high-traffic platforms, navigating technical debt, and implementing effective monitoring strategies provide a masterclass in engineering leadership. Plus, her refreshing take on emerging AI tools—seeing them as productivity enhancers rather than job threats—offers an optimistic yet practical view of technology’s future.
