Shannon Feng

Majors: Computer Sciences & Mathematics

Certificate: Digital Studies

Graduation Date: May 2019

How did you end up working at Reddit?

I always knew I liked working with computers and I have a lot of patience for solving problems. I decided to major in Computer Science after taking my first programming class in high school.

While a student at UW, I applied for an internship at Amazon directly through Amazon’s website. To my surprise Amazon got back to me and gave me a chance to interview. Somehow I made it through the process and ended up interning at Amazon in the summer of 2018. There’s no doubt this internship helped launch my career in engineering which I’m so thankful for.

Amazon extended a return offer after my internship, and I worked there full-time starting in August 2019. During the pandemic when remote work became normalized, I applied for a remote Software Engineer position at HubSpot. I stuck around at HubSpot for 3.5 years and learned so much about being a better engineer and people leader.

At the start of 2024, I felt it was time for another change. I cold applied to Reddit through a job posting I saw on LinkedIn. As timing, luck, and circumstances would have it, I accepted a full-time offer at Reddit and started in June 2024.

What does a typical day in the office look like for you?

At Reddit, I am responsible for writing code to support the Developer Platform team. My team provides a code framework for 3rd-party developers to easily build apps in Reddit, such as custom posts and moderator tools. I am a backend engineer so my work focuses on developing APIs, processing data, and modifying business logic to support new features.

On a daily basis, you can find me writing code, reviewing code, asking a lot of clarifying questions, meeting with teammates to discuss project goals, and digging into documentation to understand how all the internal services at Reddit work together.

How has Digital Studies influenced your career path?

The Digital Studies program helped me develop a certain respect for the internet, its history, and its ever-evolving complications around social media, online privacy, and digital intellectual property. I think this knowledge is so relevant for me as I work at Reddit, which was formerly known as the “Front page of the internet”. In my work it’s important for me to remember the internet is social, and I want to provide a positive experience for those who participate in the online communities on Reddit.

Did you have a favorite Digital Studies class when you were a student?

I really enjoyed Communication Arts 346: Critical Internet Studies taught by Jeremy Morris. He seemed like such a down to earth professor who was genuinely passionate about the internet and its history. This made a positive impression on me and the course content has stuck with me to this day.

Do you have any advice for current students?

I would encourage students to enjoy all the spaces and amenities UW has to offer. Explore all the different libraries, soak in the terrace, find secret study spots at the student unions. And bring friends along with you to make positive memories.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career thus far?

I am most proud of the time I was a Technical Lead at HubSpot. Being a tech lead is like being a software engineer with additional people and project management responsibilities. I am proud to have used my position to help promote and coach my teammates. I learned so much about how to be a good leader and influence people positively.