Ask A Software Engineer about Engineering Leadership

In this insightful interview, we sit down with Harshith Hanthur Manjunath, a Senior Engineering Manager at PS Flow, to delve into his impressive career journey and his approach to leadership in the tech industry. Harshith shares his experiences from his early days as a software engineer to his current role, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and cross-functional collaboration. He also discusses critical topics such as ethics in AI, ensuring software inclusivity, and what makes PS Flow stand out in the realm of software engineering intelligence.

Join us as we explore his daily routine, innovative ideas, and the unique perspectives that drive his passion for technology and team success.

Harshith Hanthur Manjunath, I am a senior engineering manager for the Pluralsight Flow team. I manage a team from India called Team Matrix, we are responsible for building out settings including User Merge, Messages, and Repos, as well as Post-Sales Support Tooling. I focus on leading them and providing technical direction for complex engineering problems. I collaborate cross-functionally and refine engineering processes and accomplish project results.

I obtained a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication. I started my career as a software engineer at a small startup and developed web applications. I worked at Robert Bosch for close to 6.5 years working on various customer facing projects as a senior software engineering, a technical specialist and an assistant project manager. It was a good opportunity to work closely with team members from Bosch Germany and understand the culture and decision making.

I like to keep upgrading myself, I have a masters in business administration and am also a certified project manager professional from PMI. Before joining PS Flow, I worked at Kantar Analytics for 4.5 years as senior engineering manager on surveys and market research. I joined PS Flow as a senior engineer manager. I am an enthusiastic and empathetic engineering leader who loves to help team members succeed.

As an engineering manager, I believe that the ethics of AI and machine learning are critical considerations in our development process. Ensuring fairness and minimizing bias in AI & ML models are critical for building trustworthy and inclusive technology. We actively work on implementing robust testing and validation procedures to identify and mitigate any biases in our algorithms. It's essential to maintain transparency, regularly audit our systems, and involve diverse perspectives.

AI users should be aware of how their data is used and have control over it. Machine learning algorithms need continuous monitoring and evaluation for fairness and bias, requiring robust metrics and regular audits to ensure ethical standards.

While developing the application, we consider various factors and adhere to organizational standards based on best practices. Below are few of them.

• Diverse Development Teams: Encourage diversity within development teams to bring different perspectives and experiences, which helps in identifying and addressing potential biases and accessibility issues.

• Adhere to Standards: Implement accessibility standards such as the Web Content

• Color Contrast and Font Size: Ensure sufficient color contrast and provide options for adjustable font sizes to aid users with visual impairments.

• Keyboard Navigation: Design for full keyboard navigation to support users who cannot use a mouse.

• Responsive Design: Ensure that the software is responsive and works well on various devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

• Consistent and Intuitive Layouts: Create consistent and intuitive layouts that make it easier for all users to navigate and understand the software.

As an engineering manager, I am able to understand various aspects of my team like culture, blockers predictability of the deliverables, areas where team is invested on, and foresee the trends and patterns based on which I would be able to take informed decisions. Flow stands out due to its unique approach to software engineering intelligence. It integrates comprehensive analytics with actionable insights, helping teams optimize their workflow and productivity effectively.

I would create a program for Shaktiman to identify negativity, fight evil, especially against Tamraj Kilvish, and transform Dr. Jaikal from an evil scientist into a good scientist for solving environmental issues.

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