Shyam Gala

Engineering Manager

Sunnyvale, California, United States20 yrs 4 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Expert in building high-performance engineering teams.
Proven track record in large-scale distributed systems.
Passionate about fostering inclusive and productive work cultures.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS expert with a focus on streaming and IoT solutions.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Cloud ComputingTeam ManagementArchitectural DesignJavaDistributed SystemsIot SolutionsFull Stack Development

Other Skills

Apache KafkaNoSQLJavaScriptReactAngularJSBig DataRESTful WebServicesBack-End Web Development

About

I am an engineering leader who cultivates high-performance teams and builds high-performance systems. My career trajectory has equipped me with a blend of deep technical insight and capable leadership abilities. I am passionate about nurturing cohesive, aligned teams composed of members with a growth mindset who are excited to solve complex problems and driven to make a substantial impact. I measure my success through the success of my team members and the value they add to the organization and business. In system design, I prioritize simplicity and well-defined boundaries, focusing on the sustainable evolution and operation of systems throughout their lifecycle. My experience spans various domains, including large-scale distributed systems, video streaming, IoT solutions, and communication technologies. My professional journey has been diverse, ranging from large-scale and medium-sized companies to agile startup settings, allowing me to adapt, grow, and thrive in different organizational cultures.

Experience

20 yrs 4 mos

Total Experience

4 yrs

Average Tenure

8 yrs 8 mos

Current Experience

Netflix

2 roles

Engineering Manager

Sep 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 8 mos · Los Gatos, California, United States

I lead the Playback Lifecycle team at Netflix. Our team builds and operates the device-facing APIs that drive Netflix's core streaming/playback functionality. The services and distributed systems developed by our team orchestrate mission-critical functionality and are characterized by massive scale, low latency, and high availability.
Our team is uniquely positioned, serving as a pivotal link between client device teams and various mid-tier systems. We play a central role in all vital playback initiatives, including our recent ventures into Live streaming and Advertisement-supported streaming aspects of Playback.
As a leader, I focus on inspiring team members, developing an inclusive and productive work culture, and removing any impediments to our progress. I work closely with cross-functional partners to align our goals, explore new opportunities to amplify our team's impact and enhance the overall product experience at Netflix.

Cloud ComputingJavaArchitectural DesignTeam Management

Staff Software Engineer (L6)

Sep 2017 – Dec 2023 · 6 yrs 3 mos · Los Gatos, California, United States

Serving as the Technical Lead for Netflix's Playback Services team, I am responsible for the design, implementation and operation of critical, large-scale, low-latency edge-tier services that drive the key Playback aspect of the product. My role involves solving complex problems, spearheading innovative solutions, and optimizing existing solutions while collaborating with device and data teams to achieve cross-functional alignment on broader engineering projects. I am dedicated to mentoring and empowering team members, fostering an inclusive environment where diverse backgrounds and experiences are valued, and encouraging individuals to contribute their unique talents and perspectives.

JavaApache KafkaNoSQLDistributed Systems

Enlighted inc (acquired by siemens)

Technical Lead

Nov 2015 – Aug 2017 · 1 yr 9 mos · Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Architected and implemented a comprehensive, distributed software stack for a sensor-driven, multi-tenant, cloud-based IoT system. Responsibilities included designing and executing components of the system, such as the sensor event ingest pipeline, persistent state systems at various granularities, business application backend services, and frontend applications. Additionally, managed and coordinated development teams to achieve system objectives and business goals, ensuring seamless integration and functionality.

Cloud ComputingIoT Solutions

Cisco

Senior Software Engineer

Jul 2007 – Oct 2015 · 8 yrs 3 mos · San Francisco Bay Area

As a Full Stack Engineer, I contributed to the development of both on-premise and cloud-based products in the Collaboration, Customer Service, and VoIP domains. My work included key products such as Cisco Finesse, Cisco Cloud Desktop, and Cisco Spark. I effectively collaborated with remote teams across the US and globally, focusing on the design, development, and automation of testing for both backend and frontend code.

JavaScriptReactAngularJSFull Stack Development

Daimler chrysler

Internship. Data Warehousing and Analysis Project

May 2006 – Sep 2006 · 4 mos · Auburn Hills, Michigan USA

During this research-focused internship, I collected data from various plant floor systems to build predictive models for identifying costly maintenance events that could disrupt manufacturing lines. As the lead author, I published a paper detailing the findings, which was subsequently leveraged by other researchers in both the lab and the field, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in this area.

University of michigan

Research Assistant

Oct 2005 – Mar 2007 · 1 yr 5 mos · Ann Arbor, MI, USA

As a contributor to the Reconfigurable Factory Testbed project, I conducted extensive research and published papers on 'Software-Driven Control Systems' and 'Cross-System Data Analysis'. My research focused on analyzing patterns in discrete data sets to create predictive models applicable to the manufacturing domain, as well as developing modular and adaptable software-driven control systems tailored for the manufacturing space.

West texas a&m university

Internship. Web Development

May 2004 – Aug 2004 · 3 mos · Canyon, Texas, USA

Successfully led the complete redesign and implementation of the university's job application system, utilized by students and campus employers. This full-stack project encompassed client, backend, and underlying data systems. The newly developed system replaced the legacy platform as the primary on-campus job tracking and application solution, streamlining the management of the entire lifecycle of on-campus job opportunities.