An engineer with a philosopher’s mind

Mike Rudling（Software Engineer）
Originally from London, I worked for 10 years at startup companies and digital agencies in the United States, primarily in San Francisco. In March 2023, I moved to Japan and joined amptalk. I am a full-stack engineer proficient in TypeScript, Node, PostgreSQL, AWS, GCP, React, and Vue.

A career starting from a Flash website leading to international startups

--How did you get into programming and how has your career progressed?

Looking back on my journey into programming, I can trace it back to my roots in the UK over 15 years ago. It began amidst my musical pursuits when I got into website creation, which gained traction among my peers. Faced with the challenges of a tough job market at the time, I dedicated myself to self-teaching Flash while juggling a part-time admin role. This dedication eventually led me to secure a junior position at an online advertising startup, where I honed my skills crafting flash banner ads, marking the beginning of my programming career. Over the following 13 years, I navigated through various startups in both the UK and the US, driven by my passion for company growth. Unlike large corporations, I find startups appealing due to their potential for personal influence and development, aligning with my desire to avoid being a small fish in a vast corporate pond. About a year ago, I relocated to Japan, my wife's homeland, marking a new chapter in my journey.

--How did you start working for amptalk and why did you choose the company as your next stop?

I learned about amptalk from a friend of my wife's who recommended it to me. Three main things made me sure it was the right choice for me. Firstly, a captivating dialogue with the CTO left a lasting impression, complemented by a challenging yet enjoyable home exercise that stretched my skills. It took me two weeks to complete it, making it the longest and biggest take home assignment I’ve ever done. Secondly, I was impressed by the CEO, Inose-san, who has an insightful understanding of the market and product origins in the US. Lastly, Shunji, one of the founding engineers of amptalk, gave me a dynamic presentation that showed the lively atmosphere at amptalk, which made me believe in the team even more. Throughout my career, I've valued the importance of team dynamics and cultural alignment, and amptalk fits that perfectly.

Leveraging my experience to grow the company smoothly

--What are your role and responsibilities at amptalk?

As a full-stack engineer, my role encompasses both frontend and backend development. However, my focus lies in enhancing our infrastructure to streamline processes and elevate the Developer Experience (DX) for our team, consequently expediting our release cycles through automation. I firmly believe that optimizing team efficiency is paramount for a startup's growth, given the continuous need for resources. Drawing from my past experiences in scaling companies, I actively contribute to this endeavor. We foster an environment of idea-sharing and mutual support, where I get to have a lot of input into how we do things here and am able to have a positive influence on how we can grow for the future. One significant initiative I introduced is the implementation of Requests for Comments (RFC), a practice that emphasizes documentation and feedback before code implementation, thereby enhancing efficiency. Having navigated the journey from small startup to medium-sized company twice before, it’s great I can leverage my insights to facilitate amptalk's transition in a smoother and more organized manner than I've witnessed in the past.

A team following ordinary practices to deliver extraordinary results

--What are the qualities that distinguish amptalk from other companies?

In our company, I collaborate with a talented group adept at solving challenges efficiently. Our codebase and framework are well-organized for such an early-stage startup in my experience. As full-stack engineers, we adopt a pragmatic approach to daily operations; rotating responsibilities for monitoring alerts and executing releases mitigate individual burdens. Our meetings are minimal yet effective; brief stand-ups on Mondays and Wednesdays to set the tone for the week, complemented by bi-weekly retrospectives to reflect and refine our processes. While backlog refinement is a common practice, the responsibility is managed by our CTO and CEO, and ad-hoc meetings are convened as needed, thus maintaining our focus on issue resolution. These practices with a long-term vision of growing the product support scalability, which is crucial for company success. Unlike my previous experience where scalability required code rewrites, amptalk's foresight and engineering practices ensure smooth product growth.

--Is there anything else that makes the company different from your previous experiences?

At amptalk, we have a unique blend of Japanese and international cultures. Our engineering team comes from different parts of the world including the UK, US, France, Tunisia, Singapore, and Japan, offering diverse perspectives. While the Sales/Business side has more Japanese representation, many team members, including the CEO, are fluent in English or have lived abroad. What sets amptalk apart is its embrace of an international/American culture and management style, characterized by bilingual communication, a balanced approach to work hours, hands-off management, and an inclusive environment that celebrates cultural diversity. My transition from the US to Japan has been smooth thanks to these. Coding follows a universal approach, transcending cultural differences. Nevertheless, I appreciate the enriching diversity within our team, as it adds depth and intrigue to our daily interactions and fosters a stimulating work environment.

Trust and open communication deliver results

--It sounds like amptalk has not only talented engineers but also a well-structured team! How do you contribute to its further evolution?

For me, encouraging open communication in a team is vital. It's crucial that every member feels free to share their ideas without worrying about criticism. I make an effort to listen actively, ensuring my colleagues feel heard and valued in our discussions. This approach not only fosters a culture of trust and collaboration but also leads to constructive conversations that yield positive outcomes and innovative solutions. Moreover, a shared vision and mutual trust among team members are equally crucial. Trust is a cornerstone of effective teamwork; I deeply respect a former supervisor who exemplified this value. When I once made a mistake and approached him with transparency, he responded with understanding and trust, refraining from micromanagement and allowing me to rectify the situation autonomously. This experience taught me the importance of trusting individuals and giving them space to excel in their roles.

Question assumptions for constructive discussions

--What kind of people would be a great addition to amptalk?

In my experience, I enjoy working with people who are driven and enthusiastic. Collaborating with those who are passionate about their work and take a proactive approach to problem-solving is inspiring. I appreciate team players who can work independently with little supervision, finding a balance between teamwork and autonomy. Moreover, I believe a strong team is made up of members who are willing to question assumptions and have constructive discussions. Open dialogue, based on cooperation and mutual respect, is crucial for fostering innovation and growth within a team. My background in philosophy has helped to shape my perspective on work. It has taught me to think critically and question established norms. Philosophy allows one to understand different viewpoints and provides alternative ways to interpret the world. When faced with different opinions, I like to delve deeper, challenging assumptions to uncover insights and promote meaningful discussions.

We’re Hiring!

Today, we spoke with Mike, our software engineer. How did you find it? If you’re even slightly interested in amptalk, please apply for a casual interview. We look forward to meeting you!

APPLY HERE:
Open Position: https://herp.careers/v1/amptalk/PVDmOTCQ8NNf