Chaitra Srinivasan is a principal firmware engineer for enterprise SSD products in Western Digital’s flash business unit. She is a creative thinker and passionate writer who loves diving into books and spending time in nature. Being a mom to her 1-year-old son has allowed her to see life through new, colorful lenses. Her biggest dream is to write a novel and win the Booker Prize for Fiction.
What does a firmware engineer actually do?
A firmware engineer brings life to electronic devices. We are the wizards who design, build, and maintain the software that controls these devices. From smartphones to SSDs to self-driving cars, firmware engineers are responsible for the operational intelligence of devices.
What’s your favorite programming language and why?
C programming. Aside from the fact that it’s my first programming language, C language gives you full control and can be fully mastered. When you get good at C, you rarely have to wonder, “What language feature should I use?” or “What does this code do?”
Coding in silence or coding with background music?
A mix of both, depending on my mood and the code I am dealing with. Silence when I need to be completely focused on the code, and light instrumental music at times to beat the silence.
If you had to describe your job as a food, what would it be?
English trifle. There are lots of layers to uncover as you dig deeper.
What’s your favorite part of the office or your workspace?
The cafeteria—it’s my personal networking and ideation hub. I network with my office friends at lunch where we exchange ideas, learn about each other’s work, and discuss the happenings at and outside the workplace.
Coffee breaks or snack breaks?
Tea breaks. I am a chai-a-holic.
How do you unwind after a long day of coding?
Playing with my 1-year-old toddler and [indoor] gardening. Having mastered outdoor gardening for years, I have recently ventured into [indoor] gardening, which comes with the challenge of growing plants in limited space and lighting. I am currently growing cherry tomatoes and mini petunias. My son and I love to see them grow and bloom.
What values or principles guide your work?
My 5D guiding principles at work are Dedication, Determination, Discipline, Diversity, and Direction.
If you could swap jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
With English literature being my first love, I would have been a writer. As a huge Harry Potter fan, I would swap jobs with J.K. Rowling and would pen the sequel to the greatest book franchise of all time.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?
At the start of my career, the best advice I ever received was: “Give voice to your questions; never keep them swimming in your brain. Just as there is no such a thing as bad publicity, there is no such a thing as a dumb question.”
Artwork designed by Rachel Garcera
