Current Role: Director of Product Integrity Engineering
Location: Maine
Years at Sonos: 12 years
What got you interested in this field?
Joanne: In college, I specialized in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) and Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) design. However, as a foreigner, it was not easy to find a job in the United States after college. I managed to get into a startup company that was co-founded by my professor in college and basically did whatever needed to be done. I took on the role of product testing because that was what we needed at the time. Very quickly I learned that I really enjoyed finding product issues and working with designers to fix them. I think one of the best ways to learn how a product works is through breaking and fixing it.
What attracted you to Sonos?
J: The first thing that attracted me to Sonos was the office location in Boston. I joined Sonos back in 2012 when it was still a relatively small company and I had never heard of them prior to that. Over the years I have enjoyed working on all the cool products, new technology and getting to know the amazing group of people in Sonos.
What keeps you at Sonos?
J: 12 years later and I am still here! I've enjoyed working on many products that Sonos has made and I take pride when my friends and family tell me how much they love our products. I also enjoy working at a company that has a culture of transparency.
Most interesting technical challenge you’ve gotten to work on? And/or What have you accomplished at Sonos that you are particularly proud of?
J: I am proud of all the products I have worked on at Sonos, but if I have to pick one, the Sonos One Gen 2 would be it. This was the first product I delivered as a Product Creation Leader and I was supported by a great team to accomplish the product goals on a tight schedule while still maintaining Sonos’ high quality standards.
What are you most excited about in the future of this field?
J: I am excited (and also nervous) about the new products we’re working on, especially those that take us into new categories.
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?
J: Before I had kids, I really loved rock climbing. My husband and I climbed almost every weekend and our vacations always centered around deciding which rock face we would scale next. Since I've become a parent, this has taken a little bit of a back seat. My kids are growing older and I can’t wait to introduce this hobby to them and we can all go climbing together some day. Recently I have also found a new passion in pickleball and get to meet more people in the community.
What are you listening to these days?
J: My playlist is usually whatever my kids want to listen to, recently we have been listening to kids stories. When they are not around, I listen to Sonos Radio on my Sonos system. My favorite stations are Break the ceiling and Hit List.
