It's a Stytchiversary! Meet Nikhil Dilip, software engineer

What do you love most about working at Stytch?

We're working on a problem that affects both developers and end users in every aspect of their daily lives. Struggles with passwords, login experiences, and breaches are frustrating and ubiquitous -- solving a problem space that large is very motivating. Our new SF office is pretty sweet too.

What does a typical day at Stytch look like for you?

It depends! Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to be more meeting-heavy, meaning that I'll spend time syncing with my teammates about their projects, pairing on more complicated tasks, interviewing candidates, or meeting new coworkers. The other days I'll have more deep focus time; depending on what phase of a project I'm in, that'll either be working on a design doc, writing code, or reviewing my teammates' docs/code.

What’s been the most surprising thing about Stytch?

Stytch is the first early-stage startup I've worked at, and I expected it to be chaotic. I learned that wasn't the case on the very first day. From a streamlined onboarding experience to a very intentional and methodical quarterly planning process, I've found Stytch to be the perfect blend of fast-moving excitement and focused execution.

Stytch has gone from 0-1 in the last year, what have been some of your biggest learnings about joining an early stage company?

Communication is really important! The decisions we make now set the foundation for our future -- this is true for building both a product and a culture. Clear communication, especially at our remote-friendly company, is paramount at the early stages.

What’s your favorite part of the Stytch culture?

My coworkers! Working with a group that is both intelligent and empathetic is rare and enjoyable. I learn something new from my teammates every day and have a great time building new products with them. At such an early stage, I'm able to interact with every employee, which has taught me so much about building a business and a brand beyond just the technical aspects of our product.

Which Stytch value resonates most with you and why?

“Constytchuents make each other and Stytch better.”

It's amazing to work at a company where everyone is focused on improving themselves and those around them. Everyone is motivated by solving the same set of problems and is willing to jump in to help when you need it. This also means that we're all entrusted to do what we can to improve the company. Our culture gives every employee the freedom and responsibility to construct a positive work environment.

What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on at Stytch?

I really enjoyed building our TOTP Authenticator App product for two reasons. First, security and flexibility are very important to us at Stytch, so it was fun to work on a product that allows developers to easily integrate a secure mode of authentication. Second, it demonstrates the value of our API-first approach. TOTPs are a perfect example of a just-in-time authentication use case that gives end users a secure yet simple user experience.

How did you end up working in software engineering?

I grew up in the Bay Area, where it's hard to not hear about tech! I was able to learn enough computer science in high school to know that I wanted to major in it in college, and I've been a software engineer ever since.

When’s the last time you did something for the first time and what was it?

I went snorkeling with manta rays last week when I was in Hawaii! Highly recommend it, they're much larger than I thought but still very gentle.

What song, hobby, or recipe got you through COVID?

I picked up both running and cycling during the pandemic, which really helped me stay sane. SF has so many trails and roads I'm still exploring.

What’s your ideal weekend?

Usually meeting up with friends at fun restaurants, bars, or parks around the city. I watch too much sports, particularly Bay Area teams: Warriors, 49ers, Cal. I like to to squeeze in a long run through Golden Gate Park and/or a bike ride in Marin as well.

What’s something you’re passionate about that’s not on your resume?

I love doing most kinds of puzzles. Crossword puzzles, trivia nights around the city, watching Jeopardy, all of that.