Introduction
I interviewed Scott Wilson, a CSUMB alum and software engineer at Infisical. I found Scott on LinkedIn and was impressed by his resume, so I reached out to see if he would be willing to do an interview, which he was happy to do. During our conversation, he shared some details about his background and career path, as well as some valuable insights about the industry and what it takes to succeed.
Summary
Scott provided some helpful advice for people looking to break into the industry. Before finding his place in the tech industry, he considered a career in exercise science, but then decided tech was the right path for him. He interned and worked at a few tech startups in the area, eventually landing at his current role as a software engineer at Infisical.
Scott described the most significant challenge he faces in his work to be encapsulating complex technical tooling into an intuitive user experience, which also happens to be very fun. As a software engineer at Infisical, he finds it extremely rewarding to develop tools that help other developers build, in a more accessible way.
Scott mentioned that AI is clearly a significant trend in the industry, but he doesn’t think that it’s going to take away jobs. He sees AI as a tool to enhance the capabilities of software engineers, and it is also changing how people make software.
For people looking to get into the industry, he recommends having a genuine curiosity and a passion for learning, while also being able to operate effectively in the rapidly changing software development landscape. He also stressed the importance of challenging yourself and not being afraid to make mistakes. The most impactful thing you can do, he mentioned, is to work with people you aspire to learn from and grow with, in order to create something meaningful.
Reflection
After reflecting on the interview, I have a better understanding of my career options and the direction that the industry is headed. I’m glad to see that CSUMB alumni are doing well in their careers, working on useful products that have a real impact. I agree with Scott that AI is changing how people make software, and it’s important to challenge yourself to keep growing.
Having a passion for learning is essential for building a successful career in technology, since the field is constantly changing. New technologies like AI and machine learning are reshaping the industry, so it’s important to keep up with the latest developments. It’s also helpful to be comfortable with not knowing everything, since there is so much to learn.
Future Steps
I definitely want to learn more about AI and the new tools that are developing. There’s so much to learn with AI and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible. Agentic AI is something I’ve been experimenting with lately, so I’ll make sure to spend more time learning how to use it effectively.
I think my biggest takeaway from the interview is to just keep on experimenting, trying things out, and not being afraid to fail. Growth is achieved by challenging yourself and by working with people who inspire you to keep on growing, so I’ll work on doing that.