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They Asked, We Answered: A Q&A on Joining MongoDB’s Remote Solutions Center

Our Remote Solutions Center (RSC) team offers those with technical backgrounds interested in working with customers an opportunity to jumpstart a career in pre-sales. We asked Soheyl Rafi, Solutions Architect and former Remote Solutions Center team member, some common questions candidates have about joining the team. What is the day-to-day like on the Remote Solutions Center team? Working in the Remote Solutions Center is a dynamic and ever-changing experience, with each day bringing unique challenges and opportunities. You can expect a blend of calls, hands-on activities, customer interactions, and problem-solving. The variety keeps the role super interesting. Part of the diverse work environment comes from the collaboration that this role inherently entails. Throughout the day, you’ll engage in various customer interactions such as discussing project requirements and challenges to proposing tailored solutions. Another aspect could be your involvement in Technical Feasibility Workshops with customers. This is where your deep technical knowledge comes into play. You’ll be addressing intricate technical questions, providing insights, and ensuring that our solutions align with the customer’s needs. Enablement also plays a pivotal part in the day-to-day. You will spend a lot of time learning new technologies and features released by our Product team, understanding the competition, and staying abreast of the market as a whole. All in all, the day-to-day work is extremely diverse, and you’ll need to both enjoy and be comfortable wearing multiple hats. What can I expect during the onboarding phase? When you join the RSC, you can expect a comprehensive onboarding experience that covers both technical and sales aspects. Our onboarding plan is designed to provide hands-on training, ensuring that you become familiar with MongoDB technology and business processes. From a technical standpoint, you’ll have access to detailed training sessions and resources. You’ll be guided through the intricacies of our products and services, allowing you to build a strong foundation in your technical knowledge. On the sales front, we have a tailored onboarding plan that focuses on honing the skills required for successful client engagement. This includes understanding our market positioning, customer needs, and effective sales strategies. You will be exposed to real-world scenarios and practical exercises to enhance your sales acumen. To complement your onboarding experience, each new team member is paired with a more senior peer within the RSC. This mentorship helps you begin to build relationships within the team and provides valuable insights and guidance on navigating the role effectively. In addition, RSC leadership recognizes the importance of learning from industry veterans. That’s why each new hire is also paired with a seasoned professional from outside the RSC who acts as a Solution Architecture buddy. This experienced mentor with tenure in the industry will offer a unique perspective and share valuable insights to accelerate your learning. To gain practical exposure, you will have the opportunity to shadow calls and workshops conducted by experienced team members. This hands-on approach allows you to observe firsthand how we conduct business, manage client interactions, and collaborate within the team. In summary, our onboarding program within the RSC is a holistic approach that combines technical training, sales development, mentorship, and practical experience. How often can I expect to collaborate with Solutions Architects (SAs) in the field? As an SA within the RSC, collaboration with SAs in the field is consistently high. We are strategically positioned around account activities and proactively engage with our counterparts in the field teams. Depending on the opportunity during an engagement, you might assist in the early stages of the sales cycle, such as discovery and demos, before passing the deal onto the field SA. Collaboration in these engagements is pivotal, requiring alignment to ensure a seamless handover to the field teams. What internal career development opportunities are there for me? Upon joining the RSC team, you’ll immerse yourself in a dynamic learning environment. Unlike traditional career structures, the RSC team fosters an environment where you are in the driver’s seat, dictating the pace of your internal career development. No artificial roadblocks hinder you from taking on more challenging and senior-level tasks. Your dedication, skills, and initiative are the primary determinants of how quickly you progress. While there are specific tasks you’ll work on in your day-to-day, you’ll also have a wide range of internal projects available to enhance your skill sets and advance your career within MongoDB. In a team with diverse interests and skills, you can choose projects that align with your passion and interests. You’ll find yourself in a situation with structured learning paths, mentorship programs, project leadership opportunities, and a career trajectory limited only by your aspirations. In my career journey, I’ve achieved my goal of growing from an Associate SA to being promoted to a Solutions Architect for our enterprise customers. I am now a dedicated Solutions Architect to one of our biggest financial customers, helping them in their digital transformation and expanding their MongoDB footprint. What new things will I learn if I join the team? The question should be, “What will you not learn?” Databases are at the center of every tech stack. You will be exposed to and gain an understanding of the entire tech stack, including the underlying infrastructure and the application that will be built on top of MongoDB. In your role, you’ll find yourself engaging with customers to discuss the various technologies used in application development, the infrastructure decisions made, and other database solutions that are either part of their tech stack or under consideration. Each customer employs different methodologies for developing software and utilizes various programming languages and solutions. It is pivotal as an SA in the RSC to comprehend these diverse solutions and effectively communicate them to our customers. Beyond the technical aspects, you will start to see things from a macro perspective. Understanding your customer’s business is crucial. You will need to learn how to align technical solutions with business objectives, considering factors such as budget, timelines, and return on investment. Learn more about applying your technical skills and engaging with customers as part of our Remote Solutions Center.

February 28, 2024
Culture

Should I Begin a Pre-Sales Career at MongoDB? Insights from Our Remote Solutions Center

Do you have a technical background and enjoy working with customers? Have you considered beginning a career in pre-sales? Aicha Sarr, Solutions Architect at MongoDB, shares insights into how our Remote Solutions Center offers a path to building a career in pre-sales. Read on to learn more about how our Remote Solutions Center team builds off of each other’s strengths, applies their technical expertise, and focuses on customer success. Diverse backgrounds, shared attributes Our Remote Solutions Center team values both diverse backgrounds and sharing common attributes. Team members possess a blend of technical expertise and a customer-focused mindset with a strong affinity for technology and an inherent curiosity to grasp knowledge related to MongoDB, databases, and complex technical concepts. We all come from a variety of backgrounds, such as data engineers, software developers, cloud architects, and sales engineers. While direct experience with MongoDB is beneficial, it's not mandatory. Similarly, a background as an engineer can be advantageous, but it's not strictly necessary. To succeed on the team, one needs a keen interest in the technology and architecture of systems, an appetite for learning, and a commitment to ensuring customer success. We are trusted advisors, collaborating closely with customers to design and implement reliable systems, making a strong technical alignment between the platform and customer needs that are pivotal for success. Hands-on application of technical skills I’m frequently engaged in projects that require me to apply my technical skills. Many of these projects have been focused on building reusable demos that are distributed to our global team, providing an opportunity for my work to be showcased during technical calls or workshops. For instance, a teammate and I developed a mobile application centered around MongoDB Atlas for the Edge , our edge computing solution. The project included demonstrating the synchronization of user data between intermittently internet-connected devices and a central database, MongoDB Atlas. This demo showcased the practical application of Atlas Edge computing, maintaining data consistency across various devices, reflecting the real-world implications of mobile application development and data synchronization challenges. Additionally, I’ve developed an application illustrating the implementation of a Client-Side Field Level Encryption (CSFLE)-enabled application using Amazon Web Services Key Management Service with Java Spring Boot as the programming language. This hands-on experience allowed me to showcase the robust security features of CSFLE, a feature that enables the encryption of data in an application before it is sent over the network to MongoDB - a tangible example of how to enhance application security within a cloud environment. In my customer calls, I’ve used both my demos and demos built by my colleagues. Hence, these hands-on experiences play a crucial role in enhancing our team's collective knowledge, capabilities, and resources. This collaboration between team members fosters a shared understanding and serves as a valuable learning opportunities, allowing us to disseminate the acquired knowledge internally and promote a culture of continuous learning and skill development. The customer engagement journey Our customer engagement journey begins with establishing strong relationships during initial contact and holding in-depth discussions to grasp the customer's business requirements. This phase serves as the foundation for crafting tailored proposals that outline effective solutions. Technical presentations elucidate proposed solutions' intricacies, involving iterative, collaborative discussions and adjustments based on continuous feedback from customer stakeholders, including IT teams and decision-makers. Transitioning to the implementation phase, Proof of Concept projects may be initiated for real-world solution applications. The seamless move to implementation teams ensures ongoing support, addressing post-implementation issues for continuous customer satisfaction. This holistic approach emphasizes effective communication, active listening, and building lasting partnerships grounded in trust. Engaging with diverse customer personas, each playing a distinct role in decision-making, involves tailored interactions. Technical decision-makers engage in in-depth technical discussions, addressing integration concerns and compatibility. Business decision-makers require presentations emphasizing business value, ROI, and alignment with overarching goals. Interactions with developers or data engineers involve technical implementation discussions and collaborative problem-solving in specific programming languages. These interactions with end users, project managers, and technical teams are essential for gathering insights into practical requirements, project timelines, and seamless implementation. The shared goal is to create solutions that meet business and technical requirements, ensuring feasibility, efficiency, and alignment with customer capabilities. Conclusion: A tapestry of skills and collaboration The success of our Remote Solutions Center lies in the tapestry of diverse backgrounds, shared attributes, and a commitment to continuous learning. The opportunities for hands-on application of technical skills not only strengthen our individual capabilities but also contribute to a collective knowledge pool within our team. The customer engagement process is a collaborative journey, with an emphasis on the importance of understanding and adapting to evolving customer needs. This holistic approach to team dynamics, skill development, and customer engagement positions our Remote Solutions Center for success in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Learn more about careers in solutions consulting at MongoDB.

February 21, 2024
Culture

Navigating the Indian Tech Landscape: MongoDB's Path to Success

As the Area Vice President of Sales for MongoDB in India, Sachin Chawla is at the forefront of a thriving market. In this article, he sheds light on MongoDB's strategy, challenges, and future opportunities in India. India is a hotbed of opportunities, and MongoDB has made significant strides in the region. We’re one of the top regions for downloads from MongoDB's hundreds of millions of downloads globally. Recently we launched an Academia Program to train 500,000 students in India and our MongoDB.local series welcomed thousands of customers and community members to our live events across three different locations in India. This demonstrates both the significant enthusiasm for MongoDB in India and our commitment to the market. We’re still in the early days of this market shift, and we’ve got a lot of work to do. But, there are a few reasons we think we're well positioned for long-term success, and they lie in the unique characteristics of the Indian tech landscape. Thriving Startup Ecosystem: India boasts the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, with over 40,000 active startups. These companies are predominantly tech-driven and innovation-focused, making MongoDB an ideal choice for their needs. Enterprise Transformation: With over 2,000 enterprises in India, a considerable number are currently on a transformation journey. These organisations have realised that true transformation involves building modern applications that are faster, always on, infused with machine learning, and can handle massive amounts of data from a variety of endpoints. This provides an opportunity for MongoDB to further penetrate this market. Developer Powerhouse: India is home to one of the world's largest developer ecosystems, with over 4 million developers. They not only cater to India but also serve global clients through large multinational organisations with developer centres in India. At least 20% of Forbes 2000 companies have set up their development centres in India, and this share is estimated to grow to 55% by 2030. Sachin speaks with MongoDB CISO Lena Smart at MongoDB.local Mumbai These factors present a wealth of opportunities for MongoDB. As a versatile, multi-cloud developer data platform, MongoDB can cater to a wide array of use cases across various industries, setting us apart in the Indian market. But, what sets us up for success is not only the market potential. Key success factors The first element that drives our success is technological innovation . MongoDB constantly innovates to stay ahead in the market. Our ability to adapt to emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, with products like Atlas Vector Search, makes us highly relevant and adaptable to the dynamic Indian landscape. Next is our talent pool. There are 1.4 billion people in India, creating a massive talent pool for both technical and non-technical roles. This means we can hire not only top-tier tech talent but also experienced sales professionals. We have a high bar at MongoDB. The caliber of people we hire makes us a unique player in the market. Finally, our partner ecosystem. Our ability to collaborate with large partners, including consulting and technology partners, is a significant advantage. As the India B2B SaaS ecosystem rapidly grows, we can leverage these partnerships to offer solutions and services to a diverse customer base. A collaborative team Like the broader APAC organisation, our sales ecosystem in India is highly collaborative. In today’s world, customer influence does not come from sales alone. Everyone including solutions architects, customer success, marketing, partners, and developer relations is involved. Our teams must work together as a cohesive unit. In my leadership meetings and business reviews, all of these functions are present, and we always put the customer at the centre of every decision we make. Having a unified customer approach is incredibly important. Recruiting and developing the best people Maintaining and nurturing MongoDB's culture and values, with a special focus on intellectual honesty and learning, is an ongoing process. Regular reviews, "lunch and learn" sessions, quarterly upskill training, and technical enablement activities help foster these values within the team. Individual upskill and enablement plans also ensure our team members are consistently growing their skills and careers at MongoDB. We have a huge focus on learning and growth, and we look for individuals who have a growth mindset. That’s why, when it comes to building a talented team, the first thing I focus on is someone’s ability to learn. We have a unique approach at MongoDB and need to be agile in this rapidly changing market, so someone’s ability to unlearn old ways of doing things and quickly learn new ones is critical to success on the team. In addition to this, the ability to move quickly in all aspects of work is important. Innovation that used to take ten years is now happening in six to twelve months, so we need to move fast. This means that actioning on things immediately, keeping up with the latest technology, and being able to learn from mistakes without having it slow you down is crucial. The last thing I focus on is our MongoDB value “Be Intellectually Honest.” Is this person able to earn someone’s trust? Do they accept and admit their mistakes? Are they open to hearing diverse perspectives and ideas? All of these things are central to our culture at MongoDB. Looking forward We have a bold vision for the coming years. Recruiting the right people, maintaining our culture, and continuing to be agile will be key. With a focus on innovation, talent, and collaboration, we’re well-positioned for long-term success in this dynamic and diverse market. We’re expanding our teams in India. Join us! View open roles on our careers site .

December 12, 2023
Culture

India: A Cornerstone of Growth for MongoDB Technical Services

India has emerged as a cornerstone in our MongoDB Technical Services growth story, marked by the team’s 100% growth in just two years. Bengaluru has been at the forefront of our expansion, witnessing an incredible increase in personnel and the addition of new teams and functions to support our developer data platform. This highlights Bengaluru’s emerging role in providing critical technical assistance to our customers and partners. Gurugram has also played a crucial role in the growth of Technical Services in India. This growth underscores Gurugram’s increasing significance as a thriving hub for MongoDB Technical Services. MongoDB’s continuing investment in expanding Technical Services in India reflects the substantial impact the team has had on MongoDB's customer success. APAC Technical Services team members A look into Technical Services We have multiple customer-facing Technical Services teams in India, each with unique roles and responsibilities. From specific product support to support for MongoDB services and Atlas cluster deployments, each team seeks individuals with strong critical thinking skills who can quickly detect, resolve, or escalate complex issues that may span various aspects of MongoDB's products and services. Our Technical Services teams are committed to delivering exceptional support to our customers through each team’s unique focus. Building together across teams and departments As part of their role, Technical Services Engineers (TSEs) need to partner with other supporting functions within MongoDB to ensure seamless operations and exceptional customer support. TSEs proactively identify issues that may require escalation and involve Escalation Managers accordingly. They also identify opportunities for improvement within the MongoDB product ecosystem and pass on any feedback, feature requests, and customer insights to our Product Management and Customer Success teams. India Technical Services team members The Technical Services team is highly collaborative and works together to solve customer problems. While each sub-team within Technical Services focuses on specific areas of expertise, there are numerous intersections that require cross-team collaboration. This collaborative approach enables team members to learn and build new skills by exploring different areas of interest. Excellence centers We also take pride in the technical excellence centers that we have built between our teams in India. These centers are part of our global Technical Experts ecosystem. Technical Experts help us train the Technical Services team, liaise with the development teams, and highlight pain points to the Product Management team, amongst other responsibilities. Learning and development We believe that an engineer's journey goes beyond a career and is about gaining knowledge, skills, and experiences. MongoDB is an integral part of this journey, offering a platform for continuous growth and development. New hires undergo comprehensive onboarding and training to gain a holistic understanding of the MongoDB ecosystem. Engineers are encouraged to participate in cross-team rotations and have access to various learning platforms, including O’Reilly Learning and internal Product Readiness training. We collaborate closely with our Technical Services Knowledge and Training teams to deliver training sessions, fostering both technical and presentation skills and an observational learning culture. Engineers are also provided with “protected time” to focus on their individual learning plan, allowing them to focus on delivering projects, prepping for certifications, growing their expertise in a specific area, or working in collaborative cross-skill focus groups. Periodic hackathons offer a platform for innovation, encourage collaboration, and contribute to team-wide problem-solving efforts. In addition, MongoDB User Groups and .local events allow the team to showcase and share their knowledge externally. A TSE speaking at MongoDB.local Mumbai By creating a learning environment where engineers can grow and achieve their goals, both our team members and the business thrive. Enhancing support across time zones An exciting development in our Technical Services journey is the introduction of the Swing Shift in India. This strategic initiative leverages India's engineering talent to enhance support during India and EMEA hours, further augmenting support for the surrounding regions and improving service continuity for APAC and EMEA customers. We continue to hire in both our Bengaluru and Gurugram offices. If you’re someone who is technically talented, enjoys problem-solving, loves working with customers, and values your personal and professional growth, I encourage you to explore open roles on our careers site .

November 29, 2023
Culture

MongoDB is Changing the Way We Hire Veterans: Learn How

One of our core company values at MongoDB is “Embrace the Power of Differences” which means that we commit to creating a culture of inclusivity with employees from different backgrounds and experiences. We value a diverse workforce as a way to broaden our perspectives, foster innovation, and enable competitive advantages. Our employee resource groups (ERGs) support our larger commitment to a diverse and inclusive community and empower our employees to create an internal network that they are passionate about. The co-leads for MongoDB’s Veterans ERG harnessed that passion, forming a collaborative partnership with our Talent Acquisition team to launch a new initiative. This initiative enables our recruiters to engage in more meaningful conversations with military veterans by providing insight into how different military ranks and disciplines build skills and experience that can translate into corporate roles. In addition, recruiters participate in a live discussion around resumes and how military experience can often lead to non-traditional career paths. The goal of this training is to empower recruiters to become advocates for veterans by better understanding how their military experience generates skills in areas that aren’t often highlighted through words on a resume. “Military veterans are an integral part of our employee population,” says Em Blankenberger, diversity recruiter at MongoDB. “Veterans offer a variety of skills, from technical to interpersonal, and are uniquely adaptable to many different environments. One goal of this initiative is to empower recruiters to have initial calls and offer advice to our veteran applicants regarding their resumes, interview skills, and verbiage used to help set them up for success throughout their career, whether that be with MongoDB or elsewhere.” A Veteran's Perspective Nathan Leniz, Senior Software Engineer & Veteran ERG Co-Lead I joined MongoDB in 2017 as an Education Engineer after 15 years in the United States Army. I was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician and gained the skills for deep technical research, structured experimentation, fast learning, leadership, project management, extensive planning, and handling adversity. Very little of my military career translates directly to the typical job descriptions I see at most tech companies. However, my experiences have taught me this: how to learn from failure, that the worth of a person can't be derived from arbitrary labels and categorizations, success as a team and organization is more profound than success as an individual, and that the ideas of even someone new to the field are worth listening to. These aren’t skills you’ll normally see listed on a job description or even written on a resume, but they are skills that recruiters can identify during conversations with candidates. In my post-military career, I've struggled with PTSD, imposter syndrome, and the normal vicissitudes of life. At MongoDB, I've found an organization with people who are beyond supportive, and I'm passionate about ensuring everyone has that chance. This is why I continue to advocate for other veterans, and it’s this passion that sparked the idea for a MongoDB recruiter training that would better enable our team to recruit veterans. I want to ensure veterans are better equipped to enter technical fields. MongoDB's Military Appreciation Program, along with our upcoming mentorship initiative and collaboration with Operation Code, aims to raise awareness among veterans and those transitioning to civilian life about the resources and opportunities available to them. Are you a veteran? Our Military Appreciation Program offers four dedicated learning paths to assist those who have served with education in data and tech. Enroll today! Ashley Heaps, Senior Manager, Global Billing & Veteran ERG Co-Lead After four years of active duty in the Army, I transitioned into corporate America and joined MongoDB as a Billing Supervisor in 2019. My role in the Army was 74D (also known as a Chemical, Nuclear, and Biological Specialist), which did not correlate to my corporate career. It wasn’t easy after being discharged from the Army. Many companies thought I didn’t have the experience for the roles I applied to, which made it difficult for me to be hired in a corporate setting. What I learned from my job search was that I did have experience, I just didn’t know how to translate it on my resume and align it to the roles I was applying for. Once someone finally took a chance on me, I knew I wanted to find a way to give back to other veterans. When this project presented itself I jumped at the opportunity. There’s still a long way to go, but this initiative is the start of improving the post-military job search for veterans everywhere. Conclusion At MongoDB, our core values are deep-rooted to our success. They are central to who we are as an organization, and we strive to ensure our employees connect with them on a personal level. Embodying the values “Build Together” and “Embrace the Power of Differences,” our Talent Acquisition team and Veterans ERG are achieving amazing things by connecting and leveraging their diversity of perspectives, skills, experiences, and backgrounds. Transform your career at MongoDB. View open roles on our careers site.

November 9, 2023
Culture

Config at MongoDB Shares Why Neurodiversity Matters

After a guest speaker from AsIAm visited our Dublin office in 2022, a few MongoDB employees realized there was a need for a global employee resource group (ERG) focused on disability and neurodiversity at MongoDB. This group of employees brainstormed and gathered information for a few months, contributing to a defined strategy for our new ERG, Config (a play on the word “configuration” and a nod to the database industry). Config officially launched in April 2023 with an AsIAm speaking event held in our Dublin office – the same organization that inspired the group’s formation the previous year. Neurodiversity in the workplace Recognizing neurodiversity within the scope of diversity and inclusion initiatives is a crucial aspect of modern workplace diversity efforts. It promotes a more inclusive environment where individuals with diverse neurological profiles, such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia, feel valued and included in the workplace. Neurodiversity can manifest in various ways and may show up as communication differences, sensory sensitivities, attention to detail, and unique approaches to problem-solving. Some neurodivergent individuals may have challenges with verbal communication or understanding non-verbal cues while others might excel in written communication or have a unique communication style. Sensory sensitivities can bring discomfort in environments with bright lights, loud noises, or strong odors. Also, many neurodivergent individuals thrive on routine and predictability, seeking consistent work schedules and clear expectations. How to create an inclusive environment In regard to recruitment and hiring, actively seeking neurodiverse talent through partnerships with neurodiversity-focused organizations, job boards, and outreach programs contributes to building a diverse workforce. On top of that, it’s important to educate recruiters and interviewers about neurodiversity to ensure they understand and appreciate different cognitive profiles and can create an inclusive interview process. Alternative interview formats can provide a more accurate assessment of a candidate’s abilities, and structured interview questions and clear instructions help to reduce ambiguity during interviews. Allow candidates to choose interview settings that are comfortable for them, such as in-person, video, or written formats. With workplace support, consider establishing mentoring programs to help neurodivergent employees navigate the workplace and build social connections. Work to create a sensory-friendly environment, clear communication, flexibility, and supportive supervision. In helping employees to become more supportive of their neurodivergent peers, create Neurodiversity Training to raise awareness about neurodiversity and promote a more inclusive culture. Peer Support Networks are also helpful for neurodivergent employees to share experiences and advice. Some reasonable accommodations to consider are individual accommodation plans, quiet spaces for those who need a break from sensory stimuli, task modifications, and communication aids. By implementing these accommodations and support structures, employers can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for neurodivergent employees, enabling them to thrive and contribute to their unique talents. Config members share their stories Supporting my neurodiverse family Yair Bar (He/Him), Escalation Manager Four out of my five children are neurodiverse: two have ADHD and two are on the autism spectrum. I've gained a deep understanding of their employment challenges once they become adults, and these barriers often stem from our neurotypical society's lack of understanding, empathy, and flexibility. Workplaces must proactively create inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals not only to participate but also thrive. My children have taught me valuable life lessons, like resilience and embracing diversity. My experience as a parent and my awareness of neurodiversity have helped me hone my skills including empathy, encouragement, active listening, and helping individuals redefine their vision and goals. I've applied this perspective in my career and value neurodiverse talent on my team. I firmly believe that organizations should prioritize supporting neurodiversity as it aligns with important values like commitment, social mobility, equality, and personal growth. As neurodiverse populations grow, organizations must address their specific needs. My goal is to support those facing neurodiversity challenges, making a real difference in their lives. I aim to raise awareness about neurodiversity within and beyond MongoDB, and I aspire to contribute to a more inclusive and understanding environment where everyone's unique abilities are celebrated. My personal experience with neurodiversity Rachelle Green (She/They), Workplace Coordinator Prior to 2022, I was not familiar with the concept of neurodiversity. It was through social media that I came across the term, sparking a process of self-reflection. I began to analyze my relationships, cognitive processes, organizational strategies, and sense of belonging in different communities and spaces. In 2023, I made a conscious decision to prioritize my mental health and investigate any concerns or suspicions I had. My goal now is to focus on understanding myself better, maintaining my well-being, and fully embracing my neurodiversity. In my journey, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of organizations embracing neurodiversity in their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. By doing so, they not only foster a more inclusive environment but also tap into a wider talent pool that includes individuals with unique perspectives and exceptional abilities. Config at MongoDB creates a space where neurodivergent thinkers like myself can feel valued and supported. I am eager to contribute my skills and experiences to this cause and make a meaningful impact in promoting neurodiversity acceptance and support within the workplace. An ally for the neurodiverse community Boris Subotic (He/Him), Employee Experience Manager In my HR career, I've witnessed the valuable contributions of neurodiverse individuals, including problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and innovative thinking. I'm committed to advocating for neurodiversity at MongoDB, ensuring all employees, regardless of their neurological differences, feel supported and valued. This fosters a culture of acceptance and enhances productivity and innovation. Recognizing neurodiversity aligns with MongoDB's value “Embrace the Power of Differences”. As an HR professional, I aim to be an ally and influencer in shaping company policies and initiatives. I prioritize empathy and understanding, offering mentorship and professional development opportunities. Creating a supportive environment is key to ensuring everyone thrives. I'm enthusiastic about the role of Config in promoting diversity and inclusion. Collaborating with peers and implementing change initiatives can make a significant impact. I'm excited to continue advocating for inclusivity, challenging stereotypes, and unlocking the potential of all employees through Config. We’re committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for everyone. Learn more about diversity and inclusion initiatives at MongoDB.

October 25, 2023
Culture

How MongoDB's Executive Support Team Impacts Business Success

Executive Support at MongoDB is crucial to the success of the business. We enable time-sensitive alignment on strategic initiatives, help our leaders avoid burnout, exemplify good work-life balance, and cultivate relationships through organizing team events. We are culture creators, influencers of engagement, and drivers of MongoDB’s values . For the past four years, I have had the privilege of growing my career at MongoDB. Working alongside remarkable leaders, I have been able to continuously develop my skills and expand my responsibilities into a global leadership role for all of Executive Support. In this article, I share three ways that being part of the Executive Support team at MongoDB has impacted my professional journey and can impact yours, too! Career development at MongoDB One of the standout aspects of the Executive Support team at MongoDB is the abundant opportunities for career development. Regardless of one's level of experience, team members have access to coaching, on-demand courses, and guidance from our Learning & Development team. This support enables us to refine our existing skills as Administrative or Executive Assistants, opening doors to more senior positions within the organization. Additionally, for those passionate about mentoring and shaping the future of Executive Support, leadership roles such as Leads and Managers provide avenues for personal and professional growth. Many team members have even acquired new skills from the leaders they have supported, leading to promotions outside of the Executive Support realm. We’ve had a Sales Executive Assistant (EA) who became a Project Manager, a Marketing EA who became a Corporate Communications Manager, a People Team EA who became an Employee Experience Coordinator, and even an InfoSec EA who became a Cybersecurity Specialist and then chose to transfer back to our Executive Support team! These are just a few examples, but they show how MongoDB prioritizes career development. Our managers are trained to support you as you identify your motivators, what skill gaps need support, and how you can expand the scope of your work to achieve your goals. Executive Support team members at a team building event Leveraging our diverse global team Embodying the mindset of "Think Big, Go Far," the Executive Support team at MongoDB leverages the diverse experiences and perspectives of our global team to navigate complex challenges and achieve extraordinary outcomes. By providing invaluable support and enabling our leaders to focus on strategic initiatives, we ensure that they have the space and freedom to reflect, strategize, and drive impactful projects forward. Our dedication to "Making it Matter" is evident as we approach our work with unwavering commitment, understanding that even the smallest tasks play a significant role in the overall success of the business. We know we are key in maintaining momentum towards our company goals. Our team thrives on focused execution while remaining adaptable to changing priorities, ensuring our leaders are well-prepared to tackle new and urgent demands. A transformative experience at MongoDB I joined MongoDB as the Executive Assistant to our CEO, Dev Ittycheria . During my time working with Dev, I saw firsthand the transparent nature of our leadership team. Though they are focused on the market opportunity in front of us and ensuring MongoDB is set up for long-term success, it does not come at the expense of our people. It was a privilege to support the CEO and work closely with his leadership team who lead with our company values and focus on our people in everything they do. I was also provided with the opportunity to participate in an immersive training program that provided me with a comprehensive understanding of MongoDB’s history and products. Throughout the week-long training, I not only bonded with peers from around the world but also had the privilege of learning from seasoned company leaders. This was an invaluable experience for me that enhanced my engagement and proved that regardless of my role, MongoDB wants me to take advantage of every learning opportunity the company has to offer. Ava (far left) at the MongoDB five-year IPO anniversary Conclusion At MongoDB, we place utmost importance on the development and growth of our team members. We firmly believe in the potential and dedication of our people, and our leaders continually strive to support their teams, even in times of change or crisis. By fostering a diverse global team and encouraging creative problem-solving, we consistently drive positive impact throughout our organization. If you are eager to join a team committed to professional growth and making a difference, I encourage you to visit our careers site for current job openings.

October 5, 2023
Culture

Building a Culture of Growth: SVP Simon Eid on MongoDB's Massive Opportunity in APAC

Simon Eid is Senior Vice President Asia-Pacific (APAC) at MongoDB and leads the sales teams across Australia and New Zealand, India, ASEAN, and Japan. Simon's go-to-market organisation in APAC is growing rapidly and has nearly tripled in size in the past three years. They are hiring in all regions . In this article, Simon discusses MongoDB’s opportunity in APAC and how he builds a culture of growth and accountability. Simon Eid, SVP APAC, MongoDB (left) and Anoop Dhankar, RVP ANZ, MongoDB (right) MongoDB's opportunity in Asia-Pacific Out of the top 13 economies by GDP in the world , five of them are located in APAC: China, Japan, Australia, India, and South Korea. And that's to say nothing of the ASEAN countries which alone have more than 650 million inhabitants. Combine this with the worldwide database market, one of the largest markets in the software industry. IDC estimates that it will grow to $137B in 2027, and MongoDB has just reached $1B in ARR. This gives you a sense of the massive market opportunity we have globally. Regardless of industry, product, or service, almost every company is becoming a technology company, which means that every company is becoming a data company. We believe MongoDB is the Developer Data Platform that is best placed to support and accelerate that trend. We’ve already captured thousands of customers around the globe, but it’s important to keep in mind that our world is still in the early stages of shifting to the cloud and changing how applications are built and run. Compared to other software, what's special about the market we play in is that the database is not a “nice-to-have”; it’s mission-critical for organisations. As our world continues to undergo this digital transformation, we have the opportunity to transform how our customers use software and data to innovate, create, and disrupt industries. For example, look at Cathay Pacific , Hong Kong's home airline carrier operating in more than 60 destinations worldwide. The company's digital team turned to MongoDB on their journey to become one of the first airlines to create a truly paperless flight deck. Flight Folder, their application built on MongoDB, consolidates dozens of different information sources into one place. Since the Flight Folder launch, Cathay Pacific has completed more than 340,000 flights with full digital integration in the flight deck. Their innovation is enabled by MongoDB. Building a team across regions and cultures Our team in APAC is unique because of the different markets and cultures within the region. What this means is that we go to market differently in India than we do in Australia, in Singapore than we do in South Korea, and so on. Each market is completely different, but within all of them, there is a huge opportunity. Different from many of our peers, in APAC we've established business leaders who run regionalized teams in India, ASEAN, and ANZ with all functions reporting to them. These teams essentially operate as their own business and implement local best practices into their strategy. But, it doesn’t mean they’re operating in a silo. At the leadership level, there is an immense amount of collaboration and sharing of experiences to identify what’s working and what isn’t within each region. We also have a fantastic global sales organisation that rolls out extensive training and best practices to help enable our local teams to best help our customers and grow the business. Members of our APAC team at a recent offsite in Phuket Culture The most important thing is culture. We have a very high standard around everything we do and how we interact with each other. We don’t entertain politics. You can teach someone new skills and coach them on how to be successful in a new role, but if they’re not aligned with the culture, they will not be a fit. It’s a non-negotiable for me and why the most important aspect of the hiring process is the cultural aspect. If you get the culture right, everything else starts to fall into place. What I hear at MongoDB and from the teams I've built at other companies is that this is the kind of culture they can really thrive and grow. At MongoDB, our culture is defined and shaped by six core values . One of the values that’s most important to my team is “Embrace the Power of Differences”. Within APAC, there are a variety of cultural identities and nuances that can often be difficult to navigate, whether it is cultural values, beliefs, or go-to-market strategy. It’s important that everyone who joins my team is respectful of each other’s regional culture. What we’ve done within the APAC region, and with teams across the globe, is take everyone on a journey to understand and embrace these cultural differences. Our role as leaders is to develop our teams, from the bottom all the way up, which is part of MongoDB’s BDR to CRO career development initiative. We need to develop the next wave of leaders so that they’re prepared to step up when the time comes. For APAC, this means that regardless of where someone is from, each team member has been coached and developed on the cultural nuances so that they can lead people and go to market in each of the different regions. It’s also important that each team member contributes to a culture of psychological safety. Being part of a high-growth tech company requires taking risks and making mistakes. We have a high standard and we hold each other accountable, but it never comes at the cost of creating an environment where people are afraid to fail. When someone faces setbacks, I encourage them to share those experiences so that we can collectively learn. Through mutual support, we foster a stronger team capable of delivering exceptional results. The future of MongoDB in Asia-Pacific For any organisation to be successful, I believe it’s critically important for the entire ecosystem to act as one. As I mentioned earlier, at MongoDB the whole country ecosystem is aligned around one set of goals, so it's not a case of different teams running off in different directions. The teams are willing to lean in and do what's required to help each other build a great business. I can confidently say that in APAC, we are one team. This means sales, marketing, customer success, solutions consulting, and professional services all working together to focus on three things: making customers successful, building technical champions, and driving new workloads. As we continue to grow our team and MongoDB’s footprint in the region, these are the three things that will drive our success. As I mentioned earlier, there's a huge opportunity for MongoDB in APAC. Despite hiring slowing down or stopping completely at many other organisations, we're continuing to invest heavily in the region. To give you a sense of that - we've nearly tripled the size of our APAC go-to-market team in the past three years, and we've got more open roles across the different functions and regions. If you want to be part of this journey, there are three things I want to reiterate: First, we are extremely passionate about our culture, from the field level up to the leadership level. As a team, this is the brand we bring to the market. Second, the opportunity here is massive based on the total addressable market and our current share. And third, we place critical importance on development. By joining this team, I can promise that you’ll be provided with countless opportunities to develop your career and make an impact. I’m confident in my team and the leadership we have in place who are ready to take MongoDB APAC to the next level. Join us !

September 28, 2023
Culture

Being Latine in Tech: Two MongoDB Employees Share Their Advice on Building Careers in Engineering

Ashley Naranjo and Martin Bajana, members of MongoDB’s employee resource group QueLatine, share their career journeys and offer insight into how other members of the Latine community can build careers in tech. Jackie Denner: How did you make your way into the tech industry? Ashley Naranjo: I am a first-generation Latina with a passion for Information Technology and a knack for problem-solving. After graduating early from high school, I embarked on a career in Nursing. I chose Nursing initially because I wanted to make a difference and help others, but my path took an unexpected turn when COVID-19 reshaped our world. In light of the circumstances, I reevaluated my options and decided to seize an opportunity with a program called Year Up . During the intensive six-month training and deployment phase, I not only completed rigorous coursework but also obtained IT Google Coursera certifications and actively pursued CompTIA certifications. This experience allowed me to secure an internship at Meta (Facebook) as an Enterprise Operation IT Support Tech, where my love for technology blossomed. During my time at Meta, I had the privilege of assisting diverse Meta users worldwide with a wide range of technical issues, including troubleshooting, software and hardware support, internal access permissions, and more. The exposure to a global tech environment further fueled my passion for the field. When my internship concluded, I was offered a 1-year contract role with Meta to continue my work as a support tech for the same team. Throughout that year, I immersed myself in all aspects of technology, maximizing my learning opportunities and applying my networking skills. As time went on, I knew I needed a new challenge. This led me to embark on a search for an exciting role, which eventually brought me to MongoDB. I am passionate about driving technological innovation, and MongoDB is a place where I can make an impact. Martin Bajana: My interest in technology stems from a variety of sources. From a young age, I developed a strong passion for video games and exploring new technologies. Whether it was experimenting with the latest gaming consoles or delving into computer hardware, I relished the opportunity to learn and understand the inner workings of these technologies. In school, I discovered my affinity for mathematics, which further solidified my decision to pursue a career in the tech industry. Choosing to study computer science in college was a natural progression for me, as it allowed me to combine my love for technology with my aptitude for problem-solving. After completing my education, I was recruited by Verizon, where I worked on front-end applications and Android development. Although the transition was initially challenging, I persevered and regained my confidence. It was during this period that I realized a career in technology was my long-term aspiration. Throughout my tenure at Verizon, I embraced opportunities to work across various teams, acquiring valuable experience and honing my skills. Eventually, I made the decision to join MongoDB, which has provided me with an enriching journey and the chance to shape my career in the tech industry. JD: Have there been any challenges you've faced throughout your career? AN: Imposter syndrome has been a significant challenge for me throughout my career, and it's something I still deal with to this day. When surrounded by my talented colleagues, I would often compare myself to them and focus on my perceived weaknesses and flaws, leading to a lack of self-confidence. However, I tackled this issue by addressing my feelings with my manager. Her support and guidance helped me realize my own potential and acknowledge my accomplishments. Maintaining a positive mindset has enabled me to view myself as a competent engineer and recognize the value I bring to my team. I have learned to take ownership of my successes and embrace opportunities for growth. Stepping out of my comfort zone has become a regular practice, as personal and professional development often stems from embracing challenges and discomfort. By giving myself permission to take up space and be confident in my abilities, I have been able to overcome imposter syndrome and continue to thrive in my role. MB: I have been fortunate enough to work for companies and teams that value and respect me for the work I deliver. Being in the tech industry and growing up in a culturally diverse region of the country, I have had exposure to individuals from various backgrounds and identities, which has made me more comfortable as a Latinx individual in the industry. My personal goal is to promote a work environment where everyone is judged based on the contributions they bring to the team, rather than their identity. I believe in supporting and respecting the identities of my peers and coworkers while fostering a culture of inclusivity and equality. JD: How has MongoDB supported your career growth and development? AN: In my time working at MongoDB, I have experienced exceptional support that has greatly contributed to my professional development and growth. As an engineer at MongoDB, I have been provided with numerous opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills through participation in tech talks, hackathons, and continuous learning about emerging technologies. I am grateful for the proactive approach taken by my manager and team leaders in fostering my growth as an engineer. Additionally, MongoDB's commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through the company's DEI initiatives. Platforms like our employee resource group “QueLatine” have made me feel a stronger sense of connection and belonging, particularly among my Latinx peers. By recognizing the power of our diverse backgrounds and experiences, MongoDB empowers us to have a meaningful impact in the industry. MB: I have experienced full support from my leader since day one. They have proactively sought to understand my career goals and have helped me create a clear career path to achieve those goals. This level of support has enabled me to take on challenging projects and initiatives within the company, allowing me to grow and develop in my career. Furthermore, MongoDB offers a wealth of learning and development resources to its employees, which I have fully utilized to continue learning and growing my skill set. JD: What is your advice for other Latines who want to begin careers in tech? AN: Having made a significant career change myself, I can empathize with the challenges that come with exploring new paths, particularly in the tech industry. As a Latina in tech, I feel a strong desire to encourage and raise awareness within our community about the incredible resources and opportunities that are available to us. My advice to others who may be considering a similar journey is to prioritize the continuous development of your technical skills, actively seek out mentoring opportunities, push yourself beyond your comfort zone by honing your networking abilities, and most importantly, believe in yourself and your ability to achieve great things! MB: Navigating the vast world of technology can certainly be overwhelming, but it's important not to fear feeling lost. Even after 12 years in this career, there are still days where I come across something I've never heard of before. Fortunately, we live in a world abundant with resources for continuous learning. My advice is to take the time to explore and ask questions. Seek out open-source projects that you can contribute to, and connect with other professionals in the tech industry who can share their experiences and provide guidance. Additionally, taking advantage of hackathons and other tech events can expose you to new technologies and ideas. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and most importantly, don't give up! Join us in transforming the way developers work with data. Build your tech career at MongoDB .

September 20, 2023
Culture

Beyond Borders: How MongoDB’s Talent Sourcing Team Fuels Global Hiring

Our Talent Sourcing team is an integral part of MongoDB’s Talent Acquisition organization. Hear from Sunny Kathuria , Senior Manager of Sourcing, to learn more about his growing team and how team members have access to learning and development opportunities that are transforming their careers. About the Sourcing Team The Talent Sourcing team is centralized in India with global support capabilities and is divided into specialized sourcing groups by business units: Sales, Engineering & Product, Customer Engineering, and Corporate & Marketing. The team’s strategy enables sourcers to act as true business partners to recruiters and hiring managers. Overall, we work towards the goal of generating a steady candidate flow for current and future positions by identifying, engaging, and networking with relevant talent pools of candidates, ultimately reducing the time to and cost of hire. Along with sourcing talent, we have a group of Talent Sourcers who support open positions in India and engage with candidates over the phone, email, and LinkedIn InMail to prequalify them for recruiters. The Talent Sourcing team at MongoDB contributes to nearly 25% of the overall hiring that takes place globally. The success of the team can be attributed to each sourcers’ knowledge of the industry, their effective utilization of sourcing channels, and their strong collaboration with recruiters and hiring managers. Hear from some of our team members Himanshu Kalra, Senior Sourcer - Customer Engineering I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of MongoDB's Talent Sourcing team. Working across regions, collaborating with global stakeholders, and hiring for diverse roles have contributed to my growth and continuous learning. I started as a Sourcer for Customer Engineering in APAC and was promoted to Senior Sourcer covering North America and India. This expansion provided valuable insights into different markets and talent landscapes. MongoDB's exceptional work culture and values stand out in our Talent Sourcing team. We encourage idea sharing, seek support from colleagues, and have autonomy in implementing strategies. I'm proud of the milestones achieved and excited about the future. Mahima Saxena, Sourcer - Engineering & Product Since joining MongoDB as a Technical Sourcer, my journey has been exceptional. The culture of collaboration and continuous improvement is a standout aspect of working here. MongoDB provides the necessary tools, resources, and training for us to excel in our roles, along with ongoing professional development programs to enhance our sourcing skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends. I’ve also had the opportunity to attend an offsite where I met senior leadership and gained valuable insights into our future plans. These experiences have reinforced my trust in MongoDB for my career. I feel privileged to be part of an organization that values its employees, fosters professional and personal growth, and provides a platform for success. Melwin Dsouza, Sourcer - Corporate & Marketing What sets MongoDB apart is its unique work culture. The inclusive and supportive environment motivates me to bring my best to the table each day. I am grateful for the constant support provided by leadership, who have been instrumental in my growth and development. There is a consistent focus on recognising employees which further reinforces my sense of accomplishment and fuels my drive to excel. One aspect that truly stands out for me is MongoDB's remote working policy, which has been a boon for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Syed Binish Jawaid, Senior Sourcer - Sales I’ve been captivated by MongoDB’s amazing culture and inclusive work environment that embraces diversity and inclusion. Ideas are encouraged, collaboration is valued, and collective achievements are celebrated, regardless of background or identity. I’m constantly amazed by the abundance of learning opportunities available here, which have allowed me to grow from a Sourcing Specialist to a Senior Sourcer. Shortly after joining, I had the privilege of being mentored by brilliant leaders and also became a mentor to new team members. This exposure not only facilitated my professional growth but also helped me become an expert in sourcing top sales talent across the globe. I’ve witnessed the genuine investment team members have in each other’s growth, which inspires and motivates me every day. Ankur Sharma, Sourcer - Sales Being part of the MongoDB Talent Sourcing team has been an incredibly exciting experience for me. I have the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest and most hardworking individuals with a diverse range of skills. One aspect that makes working at MongoDB truly unique is the opportunity to engage with various business units and global stakeholders, each with their own distinct cultures. This dynamic environment ensures that my learning curve is always steep and keeps me continuously challenged. I am proud to be a part of a company that fosters a top-notch culture where we not only work hard to deliver exceptional results, but we also celebrate our achievements and enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Garima Fulara, Senior Sourcer - Corporate & Marketing Since joining the team three years ago, each day has presented me with valuable learning opportunities and a platform for personal growth. Being a part of the Talent Sourcing team brings me immense pride, as my contributions are pivotal in driving the company’s growth by aligning the ideal professionals with the right positions. During my time at MongoDB, I’ve witnessed significant expansion in terms of employee numbers, new regions, business units, products, and more. Knowing that I’ve played a role in facilitating this growth fills me with a strong sense of accomplishment. How to succeed on the team We look for individuals with strong research skills, knowledge of LinkedIn Recruiter, and a drive to go above and beyond to find great candidates, especially for niche roles and geographies. If you are applying to be a tech sourcer, you need strong conceptual technical knowledge of topics such as MongoDB fundamentals, products, and competitors; databases; software development lifecycle (SDLC); web services and microservices; DevOps, DataOps, and TechOps; and distributed systems. Experience in sourcing from unconventional tools such as GitHub is highly desirable. Our interview process involves a live sourcing test followed by interviews with the hiring manager, department head, and stakeholders. For sourcing tests, we ask candidates to read a job description, prepare a boolean based on their understanding of the job requirements, and then run a search. Candidates are assessed on their approach and engagement with the interviewer throughout the conversation, more than the number and quality of search results. The rest of the interview rounds focus on culture, relationship-building skills, communication, and articulation. Overall, if you have attention to detail, great communication skills (sharing your observations and asking the right questions), are research-oriented and can be creative with boolean strings, we would love to network with you! Interested in pursuing a career on the Talent Sourcing team at MongoDB? We have several open roles and would love for you to transform your career with us!

August 16, 2023
Culture

Serving as the Digital Bridge: Meet the APIx Team at MongoDB

Meet MongoDB’s API Experience (APIx) team, the innovative group that connects our customers with our products. Their work is no small task; they operate at the intersection of technology and customer experience, ensuring that the product and user experience remains integrated, efficient, and effective. Keep reading to learn how APIx is making an impact and what it means to be part of this growing team. Jackie Denner: Thank you for joining me today to share insights into our APIx team's work. To start, will you give an overview of your software engineering background and how you started working with MongoDB? Colm Quinn: I come from a start-up background. My experience includes industrial automation, particularly in the development of time-series databases and real-time analytics tools for production data. My work spans various industries such as pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, renewable energy, and manufacturing. Throughout my career, I've adopted various roles, from development to customer relations, often serving as a bridge between Product and Engineering teams. I sought a new challenge and the opportunity to enhance my skills in system scaling in larger production environments, leading me to join MongoDB. Now, I serve as the Director of Engineering for the APIx team. Tasos Piotopoulos: In my nearly two-decade journey in the tech industry, I've explored a wide array of domains including gaming, consulting, healthcare, logistics, and site reliability. MongoDB invited me to join as a Lead Engineer for one of the APIx teams, an exciting role that combines management with hands-on technical work. This opportunity allowed me to utilize my expertise in large-scale distributed systems while nurturing my passion for fostering professional growth in others. The MongoDB interview process impressed me because I actually got to meet the team members I’d be working with, and everyone was friendly, knowledgeable, and great to collaborate with. Bianca Lisle: My experience as a software engineer has been diverse and exciting, and includes experience in IoT, automotive networks, and Android development. Additionally, I’ve worked extensively with the Control Plane of Redis and in-memory databases cloud services. MongoDB’s recruitment process and culture were delightful and positively influenced my decision to join. Currently, I work as a software engineer on the APIx team. JD: Thanks for the overviews! Tell me more about the APIx team. What types of projects does the team work on? CQ: In the APIx team, we strive to build a reliable and predictable API platform that caters to both external customers and our internal teams. A key part of our role is meeting customers where they are, considering their DevOps world, and integrating access into their platforms. We work closely together on different aspects of the API, which allows for comprehensive internal testing before the updates reach the customers. TP: The APIx team consists of three distinct units, one of which is the newly formed API Integrations. Collectively, we’re responsible for providing a world-class experience for users who interact programmatically and automate against Atlas, our cloud-native data platform. Two of our APIx units shoulder an array of Atlas API-related responsibilities. These range from the auto-generation of technical specifications and Software Development Kits, managing API versioning to shield customer applications from disruption due to platform updates, creating a comprehensive command-line interface enabling customers to interface with Atlas from their terminals, and more. Operating on a more overarching scale, the APIx Integrations unit designs a range of products that elegantly integrate with Atlas APIs, facilitating customer automation against Atlas's functionalities using leading infrastructure as code solutions. BL: The APIx team is in a unique position as an interface between the Atlas product and the customers. We work to protect customers from breaking changes in the API and also to assist our developers in avoiding breaking changes. Recently, we worked on a project related to versioning which allows the introduction of new features without impacting the customer experience. JD: APIx Integrations is a new team at MongoDB. What does the product direction look like? CQ: Our initial challenge was to ensure a consistent journey across all our integrations. That includes ensuring that different tools like AWS CloudFormation and HashiCorp TerraForm work in a consistent manner, are idiomatic, and follow similar documentation styles. Going forward, we aim to understand the DevOps ecosystem trends and the tools our customers want to use. We want to enhance our product offerings by going deeper, offering specific features for each platform that address common pain points. We're also seeking to broaden our scope by supporting more integrations based on market needs while maintaining consistency and ease of maintenance. Finally, we aim to improve our platform by automating and building tooling to keep pace with market changes. If you want to build systems, come do it with us! JD: What is the engineering team hoping to achieve with APIx Integrations? CQ: Our main goal is to increase the quality of existing and new integrations. We focus a significant part of our automation effort on maintaining consistent quality and preventing regressions in the system. We're also focused on user acquisition and gaining insights into how customers use the integrations, which can help us design better integrations in the future. We're dedicated to empathizing with our users, understanding their pain points, and working towards alleviating them. This work involves scaling up and improving our automation. It's also a great opportunity for our team members to develop their skills and grow, which aligns with our team culture. JD: Tell me about the APIx team culture. BL: I've found that we have a culture that strongly encourages questioning and learning. We've established a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable asking questions, regardless of their complexity or nature. We publicly communicate, and this openness allows the whole team to benefit from the shared information. It's an incredibly supportive group - we're never blocked for long periods due to obstacles, as there's always someone ready to help. The team's culture also gives everyone a voice. Even as a new hire, I felt encouraged to propose changes. We're open to experimentation and willing to adjust our processes based on what works best for the team. We also get the opportunity to share our work and ideas with the community, like collaborating on this blog post or participating in podcast discussions . It's an incredibly open, supportive, and dynamic team to be a part of. CQ: Our team culture is extremely collaborative. We work closely with each other, and our relationships with product managers foster a lot of ideation and discussion. Our approach to work involves rapid ideation, swift documentation, and making sure we're all on the same page before proceeding with development. We are a remote-friendly team, prioritizing support for people wherever they work. Quality is a critical aspect of our work; we prefer to delay a feature to meet our quality bar, and this results in high-quality work that the team members appreciate and take pride in. We also strive to enjoy what we do and the environment we work in. This is a reflection of MongoDB's overall culture, which is open, inviting, and encouraging for everyone to be themselves at work. We respect diversity and different viewpoints, as these contribute to better feedback and conversations. JD: Tell me more about your experience with the overall engineering culture at MongoDB. What has your experience working with the greater engineering team been like? TP: MongoDB's engineering culture embodies a profound commitment to technology as the driving force behind our work. It is refreshing to witness the genuine understanding and appreciation of technology at all levels of leadership. Also, working alongside exceptionally talented individuals at MongoDB has been a constant inspiration and motivation. The people at MongoDB are truly outstanding, making collaboration an absolute pleasure. BL: The engineering culture at MongoDB is transparent. Regular all-hands meetings with the company's leadership, including the CEO, keep everyone updated about the company's plans and direction. I also like that technical competence that runs across all leadership levels. This technical grounding allows realistic expectations and strategic trade-offs, protecting our high-quality output. CQ: The engineering culture at MongoDB has technical acuity across all levels, including senior management. The depth of technical discussions, whether it involves engineers, product managers or even salespeople, is something that pleasantly surprised me when I joined. With our primary audience being developers, we need a team with a strong set of technical skills. The work culture is incredibly friendly and supportive. TP: Additionally, our strong product management organization significantly enriches our engineering work output. MongoDB’s product managers are excellent at listening to customer needs, conducting market research, and holding user interviews before and after we develop a product. This provides us with invaluable insights to gauge interest, understand user needs, produce highly-impactful features, and allows us to continue refining our products post-development. The constant high-quality collaboration between these two areas has been a real growth opportunity. JD: What learning and growth opportunities are there for someone who joins the APIx team? CQ: Our team is constantly growing, and with this growth comes many chances to explore new areas and hone our skills. We have a targeted focus within the team to dedicate time to areas we're interested in, and we even have policies like no-meeting Wednesdays to make room for learning and growth. We also engage with the open-source community, with over half of our contributions being open-source. This allows us to integrate with a wider community, share ideas, and even speak at conferences. TP: We place a significant emphasis on growth as a central aspect of our engineering experience. We aim to provide a workspace where engineers have ample opportunities to think, read, experiment, and learn. We offer systematic coaching, weekly learning opportunities, discussions, and personal development plans. Our leads encourage each engineer to spend time on self-learning and development as part of their work. It's not just about delivering work but also about creating a nurturing environment where engineers can continuously grow with explicit support and guidance from their leads. BL: If you’re new to the APIx team, we want you to feel comfortable being yourself. Don't hesitate to ask questions, no matter how trivial they might seem. Your unique perspective could lead to improvements in our team. We encourage open communication, expressing your thoughts, and being proactive in learning about our challenges. By collaborating to solve our problems, we can elevate our team to the next level. JD: What advice would you give to someone considering applying to an open position on the APIx team? CQ: Initially, I'm interested in understanding how you've made an impact in your previous roles. When you’re in the interview process, remember that everyone in the room wants you to succeed. We’re looking for alignment in terms of how you approach situations and whether you would be happy on our team. The best way for you to succeed is to find a role where you'll genuinely enjoy the work. We’re hoping you find that place on our team! TP: MongoDB operates at an immense scale, a characteristic that might initially appear daunting, especially if you've not worked on systems of such a magnitude. Don’t let the scale discourage you from applying. We provide comprehensive onboarding training, ensuring you acquire familiarity with our practices and establish effective collaboration with colleagues. It's an incredible learning opportunity that allows you to grow both personally and professionally, and make an impact. Learn more about what our APIx team is working on: Atlas Administration API Partner Integrations Atlas CLI Atlas and AWS CloudFormation Interested in transforming your career at MongoDB? Find open roles on our engineering team .

July 27, 2023
Culture

Unleashing Innovation in the Start-Up Nation: Inside MongoDB Israel

Israel, often referred to as the “start-up nation”, has a thriving tech scene and drive for innovation. In the bustling city of Tel Aviv, our MongoDB office offers a space for employees from across the organization to collaborate, build community, and empower MongoDB customers to unleash the power of software and data. Now with over 50 employees in Tel Aviv, MongoDB Israel is paving the way for data platform transformation in this start-up nation. Read on to learn more about life at MongoDB in Israel. MongoDB has long had a presence in Tel Aviv, but we opened a new office space in December 2022. Located in WeWork Midtown, our Tel Aviv office offers amazing views of the city and coastline, and employees have full access to all of WeWork’s amenities and activities. Not to mention, we offer some great benefits to our employees in Israel, too! 25 days annual leave and 13 Israeli holidays Private medical and life insurance at no cost to employees 90% reimbursement for fertility, surrogacy, and adoption expenses through Carrot, up to a lifetime maximum of 54,500 shekel, plus new parent support through Cleo Twenty weeks of fully paid parental leave (regardless of gender) for employees who have passed their one-year work anniversary Keren Hishtalmut continuing education fund, travel allowance, meal vouchers, and an employee stock purchase program Global company initiatives to support mental well-being, including mental health resources, a free subscription to Headspace, and an employee assistance program What really makes MongoDB unique is its people. According to one team member, “The MongoDB Israel team is truly a standout in the tech industry, characterized by its vibrant energy, diverse talent, and collaborative spirit. We're a collection of individuals from various backgrounds, each contributing unique skills and experiences. This diversity fuels our innovative approach and fosters a dynamic work environment where everyone has an opportunity to grow, learn, and excel.” Hear what some of our employees have to say about working for MongoDB in Israel. Nitzan Aloni, Enterprise Account Executive Israel is a start-up nation; full of unicorns and full of innovation. This is why MongoDB is so perfect for our customers, and we feel it as a sales team. Customers love the technology and are happy to work and engage with us. It has been really wonderful to see the development of MongoDB in Israel, which is now the core developer data platform for many successful companies. Personally, one of my biggest achievements so far has been working with companies within the finance and healthcare industries. These sectors can sometimes be more legacy and less technologically advanced, but my team and I have worked with these customers to increase their confidence and knowledge. Today, almost all the big finance companies in Israel are using Atlas, our cloud managed database service. MongoDB is a major part of their modernization journey at its core. Our team in Israel is full of great minds, a lot of experience and ambition, and amazing energy! If you want to learn and develop yourself, this is the right place for you. Not to mention, the market is full of opportunities for MongoDB. Every company is looking to modernize itself, because today, more than ever, organizations need to be on the cutting edge in order to survive. MongoDB is a driving force for modernization in every sector. We are far from slowing down! Learn more about MongoDB’s opportunity and regional leadership from Vice President Gabriella Cohen. Itay Tevel, Sr. Solutions Architect My journey at MongoDB has been challenging and rewarding. I firmly believe that developers will build the future, and MongoDB empowers them by offering a developer data platform with an optimal user experience that extends far beyond the core database. My role as a Solutions Architect is multi-faceted and keeps me continuously learning while also giving me the opportunity to educate others. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the deep, meaningful discussions I have with developers about complex data problems. Even when engaging with teams that have been using MongoDB extensively for many years, we're often able to offer value and insights, thanks to MongoDB Atlas' ability to meet a broad range of customer demands. What sets MongoDB apart is our relentless commitment to the customer's experience. We're not just about developing outstanding technology; we're about ensuring that technology serves our customers in the best way possible. We actively work to remove roadblocks and streamline their journey with us. This customer-centric ethos permeates every level of our organization and informs every decision we make. The MongoDB Israel team is particularly known for its commitment to holistic professional development. Our Solutions Architects don't just focus on the technical aspects of their roles; they also invest considerable time and effort into enhancing their soft skills. This includes honing abilities like negotiation, time management, teamwork, and presentation skills, amongst others. Solutions Architects have the opportunity to evolve into advisory or principal roles, tackling more complex challenges, and expanding their spheres of influence. The interplay between the technical and business aspects of our customer engagements presents a fascinating challenge, one that keeps our Solutions Architects engaged, evolving, and motivated. MongoDB presents an exciting blend of technological innovation, customer engagement, and personal development opportunities. This makes it an ideal place for Solutions Architects looking to make a difference and advance their careers. Daphne Levy, Technical Services Engineer As a Technical Service Engineer (TSE) at MongoDB, every day I have the opportunity to learn and grow in my role. Apart from diving into diverse topics, such as core server performance, queries and indexes, Atlas search, replication, changestreams, and more, I have also had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. TSEs at MongoDB have the opportunity to work on challenging, impactful, and complex projects with the help of colleagues. MongoDB supports, respects, and challenges me to exceed my own expectations. Even when I feel uncertain or lacking in knowledge, I always know that someone has my back and people are always available to help me solve a new challenge. That being said, autonomy and ownership are also highly valued. Our managers trust in our abilities. This empowerment enables individuals to be independent in their work and be comfortable taking risks in order to influence the overall success of the team. As a TSE, I feel fulfilled knowing that my contributions play a significant role in the company’s success by helping customers resolve intricate technical issues. The sense of unity and cohesiveness within the team is strong; in Hebrew we call it ‘gibush’ (גיבוש). What I particularly appreciate about the Israeli team is its commitment to diversity and inclusion. We come from various cultures, sometimes different countries, and speak several languages. This diversity of backgrounds leads to a rich array of perspectives and ideas, sparking innovation and creativity. Collaboration among team members is a defining aspect of our work environment. It would be hard to find another tech company that invests so much into its employees. We constantly have the opportunity to develop and participate in training programs, conferences, workshops, and mentorships, along with participating in fun team bonding events that bring us together and help us build a more unified team. Lastly, MongoDB places great importance on maintaining a healthy work-life balance with a supportive environment that prioritizes employee well-being and offers flexibility, which has made it particularly advantageous for me as a working mum. Irina Sidorova, Customer Success Manager Joining MongoDB in Israel was an easy decision for me. I was blown away by how excited and passionate the developer community is about MongoDB. Their energy and genuine love for the technology made me curious and excited to dive deeper into learning more about it. During the interview process, I was impressed by the level of professionalism and humanity displayed by everyone I interacted with. In addition to having great and open conversations with each one of the team members, they provided me with clear expectations and learning materials, which gave me confidence and left me with a feeling that the company sets its people up for success. In my opinion, what really sets MongoDB apart is the culture of constructive feedback. After each interview, I received honest and valuable feedback that helped me to improve for the next round. I believe that this is crucial for personal and professional growth, and it's something that I really appreciate about MongoDB. One of my biggest highlights so far has been leading the Israeli MongoDB Certification Program. The program allowed participants to enrich their knowledge of MongoDB technology with the help of MongoDB University courses and Online Live Webinars with our Israeli-based team of Solution Architects. It was a great reminder of how much developers love the technology and how eager they are to learn more about it. At MongoDB, you'll have the opportunity to work on projects that challenge the technology market and be part of a company that is constantly growing, improving, and evolving. On top of it all, MongoDB is committed to providing employees with the support and resources they need to succeed. The culture is collaborative, supportive, and inclusive, with everyone in the company working together towards a common goal. If you're looking for a dynamic, challenging, and supportive work environment, join us at MongoDB. And in case you’re still debating, the Tel Aviv office is simply stunning – boasting the best view of the city and providing a perfect environment to work in! Join this dynamic team in Tel Aviv - view open roles on our careers site .

June 14, 2023
Culture

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