Current Role: Embedded Software Engineer, Prototyping
Location: Santa Barbara
Years at Sonos: 2.5
What got you interested in this field?
Emily: When I started college, a career in software seemed out of reach. I was surrounded by people who had somehow figured out how to code as kids, who had gone to magnet high schools with software programs, or who had parents that had been working at Microsoft for 30 years. I felt as though I would be behind before I even tried to start, so I didn’t consider it an option. Even as I took my first basic programming class, I was facing internal conflict between my interest in learning more and my fear of never being able to catch up to my peers. Would I ever find success when I knew there were middle schoolers with more expertise than me? That all changed for me when I met some women a few years older than me in the computer science program who shared that they’d been in exactly the same position a few years prior. They, too, had worried they would never catch up and had wondered if it was even worth trying. But they had made it to the other side and found success! I took a leap of faith and chose to pursue a computer engineering degree, and never looked back. That imposter syndrome I felt as a freshman in college is difficult to shake, even now, but I remain incredibly grateful to have met people who encouraged me to pursue the field that I was interested in, even though it was scary.
What attracted you to Sonos?
E: When I was first job hunting, I got to chat with a few Sonos people at my college career fair. They were all so clearly passionate about both the technical work they were doing and about all things audio, and I couldn’t help but want to be a part of Sonos. For me, Sonos was the perfect intersection of interesting work and really cool people.
What keeps you at Sonos?
E: I work on a technology research team, and specifically do work to rapidly prototype in areas of interest. I love getting to help explore up and coming technologies, which is made more personally fulfilling by the culture of excitement for these projects cultivated on my team. I’d also be remiss not to mention how stellar my coworkers are! The people I’ve become friends with and the communities I am a part of have really helped make Sonos feel like home.
What is the most interesting technical challenge you’ve gotten to work on? And/or what have you accomplished at Sonos that you are particularly proud of?
E: Working on a research team has offered lots of exciting technical challenges and projects, and I recently found out that one of the topics I’ve been most involved with is now in the patent pipeline! I never would have thought that I’d have a patent with my name on it so early in my career. It makes me feel like an old timey inventor.
What are you most excited about in the future of this field?
E: I think I’m most interested to see what new sensors can bring to consumer tech. There’s so much cool new hardware floating around out there and it seems like the surface has barely been scratched with the applications and experiences they can enable!
At Sonos, we have many creative passions beyond our day job: musicians, audiophiles, tinkerers, creators, chefs, artists... What do you love to do when you are not working?
E: I love to climb, and I can be found at the climbing gym a few nights a week after work. The last two years I’ve also spent a lot of time cooking, something I have come to enjoy a lot!
What are you listening to these days?
E: Anything I can sing along to! In particular, I’ve been loving music from Sarah Kinsley, Lou Roy, and Carly Rae Jepsen. I tend to gravitate towards upbeat pop music during the spring; it fits perfectly with the excitement of the days getting longer and the anticipation of the summer months ahead!
