An Interview with a Senior Software Engineer

Tell us about your current role.

In 2021, I started my current role as a Senior Software Engineer at Waterfall Asset Management, an industry leader in structured credit securities. Since last year, I have been overseeing the development team. We build and maintain cash flow models that are used to assess risk and bid on new opportunities. We are also responsible for the big data infrastructure (Delta Lake) that it’s at the center of our technology strategy.
 

Where and in what role did you start your career and how did you get to where you are today?

I earned my Software Engineer degree from FING - UDELAR (Uruguay) in 2011. After that I got my first job at the Social Security Bank of Uruguay as a junior developer. Although I was not aware of it at the time, that role shaped my career in many ways. First, it gave me exposure to the banking sector, and second, I gained insight into a number of problems in big data science. In 2015, I was hired by Point 72 Asset Management as a back-office developer and moved to the US.
 

What are some of the highlights of working in software engineering and what are the biggest challenges?

If you are interested in financial markets, like I am, you get to work with (and learn from) industry veterans. The challenge in software engineering is to have domain knowledge in order to have intelligent conversations with your users and build the models and tools they need to apply in order to succeed.
 

Could you describe what a typical working day looks like for you in your current role?

I have a daily stand up with the dev team where we go over questions, issues, or blockers. Then I have a few meetings with users to prioritize work and scope new requirements. I spend the rest of the day working on my own dev items. That would be a mix of SQL, Python, scripting, and so forth. I try to take on the project where we are testing a new technology or methodology. That will often require some research into the new technology, and I’ll work with our CTO to determine how it fits into our technology stack and best practices guidelines. 
 

What do you think are the most important skills for professionals in your field to have?

There are a few basics, like attention to detail and focus. You also need to have capacity for self-learning, since the industry moves quickly, and new tools and processes are released every year. AI is a good example. You also need soft skills, since you'll be building tools and models for other people, and you’ll need to establish a good working relationship with them. 
 

You earned the Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF). Why did you decide to enroll in the program and where has the CQF added value to your career?

It was clear to me that I wanted to pursue a career in the financial industry as a Software Engineer. Over time, my appreciation for financial markets only grew. It also became clear that I needed to build up my financial knowledge if I wanted to succeed. My background in computer science and math was not enough. I needed to understand the fundamentals of the problems my users were trying to solve. I decided to enroll in the CQF program to fill that knowledge gap and gain practical exposure to financial quantitative problems. The depth and breadth of the program is astonishing.

It's challenging (as it should be), but it gives you all the tools and materials to take you forward successfully. As an example, the pre-course material alone covers topics of Math, Finance, and Programing in-depth, and it's designed to set a level playing field for people with different backgrounds. The learning platform gave me access to the classes’ video recordings, so I could follow the program at my own pace. This was key since I was working full-time. Lecturers are available to answer any questions you might have. You'll learn the theory, but with a practical focus i.e., understanding the assumptions that go into each model and how they correlate to real life.  
 

Do you think the industry has changed since you started your career, and how do you see it changing in the next few years?

Yes, it has changed a lot with the exponential growth of data and AI. The growth of data means that the tools we used to have storage or modeling are no longer effective. A new set of tools are required, like Delta Lakes, for example.  
 

What would your advice be to someone starting a career in your field today?

I’d recommend focusing in one area and go deep into it. It’s takes time and dedication to learn the ins and out of a particular language or technology but learning how things really work will come in handy when you need to figure out why they don’t. 

Everyone can write code, but the question is what to write. You’ll need domain knowledge to answer that question. You’ll have to learn how to make decisions with incomplete information, stay organized, communicate effectively, and cultivate a positive mindset. Learn from more experienced colleagues and never be afraid to ask questions.