Where Curiosity Meets Collaboration: A Senior Engineer’s Perspective

For Taohao, being a Senior Software Engineer means never standing still. Whether it’s picking up a new skill, diving deeper into a complex system, or exchanging ideas with teammates, he thrives in an environment where curiosity, innovation, and collaboration come together.

Let’s find out what makes Confluent the place where engineers like Taohao aren’t just solving problems but are constantly learning, challenging each other, and building what’s next.

How have you grown or changed since joining Confluent? 

Since becoming a part of Confluent, my knowledge and understanding of Confluent Cloud authentication have significantly deepened—providing me with a solid foundation in cloud product security. This role has offered me the opportunity to extensively specialize in Confluent API keys; I've developed critical features to enhance our system's security and operational efficiency.

What's unique about Confluent's company culture? What’s one question you would tell people to ask about the culture during their interviews?

Confluent's company culture is unique in its emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. The environment is highly supportive, encouraging employees to take risks and think creatively to solve complex problems. Every engineer here is smart, continuously learning new things, and striving to improve services and systems. Additionally, there’s a strong focus on employee development, with many opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement. 

One question I recommend people ask during their interview is: "How does Confluent foster an environment of collaboration and continuous learning among its employees?"

What skills or technologies have you learned since joining? What are you looking forward to learning next?

Since joining Confluent, I’ve gained knowledge about the events pipeline used for API key sync workflows, which heavily relies on Apache Kafka® to capture database changes and transmit messages through the pipeline. Additionally, I've learned about role-based access control through API keys as well as Kafka OAuth, enhancing my knowledge of secure authentication mechanisms. Going forward, I’m eager to explore other domains within the authentication world and gain more experience with system design.

What motivates you to excel in your role, and how does Confluent support your ambitions?

It’s the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology that has a significant impact on the industry—as well as the collaborative and innovative culture of the company. The challenging projects and the chance to continuously learn and grow keeps me driven and engaged. Confluent supports my ambitions by providing a supportive environment, ample opportunities for professional development, and access to a wealth of resources and knowledgeable colleagues.

Rapid-fire questions

1. What job did you want to have when you were a child? 

   1. A surgeon.

2. What’s the best decision you made in your career? 

   1. Joining Confluent.

3. What’s your work-from-home must-have?

   1.  Music. J-pop is my current favorite.

4. If you could have your team off-site anywhere in the world, where would it be?

   1. Japan.

5. What’s your favorite way to unwind after work/on the weekends?

   1. Play video games—recently Death Stranding.