This article recounts the experiences of Navya Jammalamadaka, a 27-year-old software engineer at Microsoft residing in Redmond, Washington. The text has been refined for brevity and clarity.
As I embark on my career journey, I’ve witnessed significant shifts in software engineering roles.
In the past, my day involved coding for five to six hours without any AI assistance. However, my current responsibilities have evolved; I now act more like an architect, managing AI to help draft the code while I strategize the overall system design.
At Microsoft, there has been a clear push to integrate AI into daily tasks. Around the start of last year, I began utilizing a variety of AI tools internally. The first half of 2025 was dedicated to exploring these tools and their capabilities, while the latter half focused on incorporating AI into my workflow, such as employing it to assist with code reviews.
GitHub Copilot has emerged as my preferred tool for coding assistance and debugging tasks. While my work still undergoes review by a senior engineer, I find AI to be an invaluable resource.
My Entry into Big Tech
My path to Microsoft began in 2023 when I decided to pursue the widely-held dream in our field of working at a major tech company.
At that time, I was employed as a software engineer with a consulting firm in Connecticut. While applying for roles in Big Tech, a founder from a smaller tech company reached out to discuss a fascinating job opportunity in San Francisco. Since I hadn’t received responses for most of my Big Tech applications, I decided to pursue this alternative. Eventually, I accepted an offer, relocated to San Francisco, and started the new role in January 2024.
While I was content in my new position, I still harbored aspirations of achieving my Big Tech dream. In February, I began hearing back from several previous Big Tech applications, many of which had been submitted prior to my new job. I went on to interview with Apple, Meta, and Tesla while continuing my job applications.
I applied for a software engineering position at Microsoft that same month, leveraging a referral from a fellow New York University alum I had connected with on LinkedIn. The interview process moved swiftly after my meeting with the hiring manager, and I was thrilled to learn within a day that I was advancing. Following four additional interviews, I received and accepted an offer within a span of a few weeks.
The hybrid nature of the role required me to work in the Seattle office, which necessitated a move from San Francisco—a city I had grown fond of. Nonetheless, I believed the opportunity justified the change, so I relocated and began my new role in May 2024.
Utilizing AI to Navigate Engineering Challenges
Integrating AI tools into my daily tasks has significantly diminished the time I allocate to managing extensive codebases and drafting boilerplate code. However, the real advantage of AI goes beyond mere time efficiency. Effectively utilizing AI still demands considerable discernment—reviewing its suggestions critically and determining when to rely on its advice and when to exercise caution. It transforms my work from simply speeding up tasks to allowing a focus on more complex problem-solving.
Fortunately, I haven’t encountered “AI fatigue,” or burnout from extensive AI interaction, which some engineers experience. Nevertheless, I recognize that many professionals in the tech industry, especially those new to the field, are feeling heightened pressure to meet deadlines.
I believe AI can alleviate some of this pressure by expediting processes like debugging and deciphering code. Although work can still be demanding, AI can render it more manageable.
AI has been particularly beneficial for comprehending expansive Microsoft codebases that span over a decade. As a newcomer to the scale of Microsoft’s systems, the enormity was initially daunting. However, by persistently posing questions to AI, I was able to enhance my understanding of the codebase.
Advice for Aspiring Job Seekers
Many individuals express concerns about the future of software engineering, but I firmly believe that human engineers remain essential. Despite advances in AI, it struggles to grasp the complete context of our objectives.
While AI has proven to be immensely helpful, the mentorship and insights of seasoned engineers, who have extensive experience at Microsoft, are invaluable.
For young job seekers, I advise expanding your network on LinkedIn. Reaching out to people at a company after submitting your application, expressing your interest, can enhance your chances of landing an interview.
Optimize your LinkedIn profile as well; recruiters may only spend seconds reviewing it. Ensure your profile showcases a portfolio section that highlights your best projects. The goal is to make them think, “This candidate is doing something impressive.”
Finally, aspiring software engineers should be aware that the role is evolving rapidly. If you learned traditional coding techniques in college without AI support and your skills were evaluated based on that, remember that proficiency with AI is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.
