Building the Foundation

As part of the Inbound Data Team, Deesha works on what she calls "L0 for Abnormal architecture," the essential data ingestion layer that every other team depends on. "My team is responsible for ingesting data for all other teams to consume," she explains. "We're responsible for building integrations that allow seamless data flow from various platforms to Abnormal, making the ingested data usable for downstream teams."

The technical challenges are substantial: designing secure, scalable solutions that improve system performance while collaborating across teams to enhance functionality and reliability. "My role involves designing secure, scalable solutions, improving system performance, and collaborating with different teams to enhance functionality and reliability."

Her typical day reflects the balance between hands-on engineering and strategic thinking: "I spend about 50-60% of my time coding, working on feature development, optimizations, and bug fixes. Another 20-30% is spent on design discussions, code reviews, and brainstorming solutions with my team to ensure we build scalable and efficient systems."

AI as an Engineering Enabler

Deesha embodies Abnormal's AI-first engineering culture. "AI is shaping software engineering in a way that almost feels like having an extra brain in the team. It helps us debug smarter, also code faster, and gives us a lot of fresh ideas."

Her practical application shows AI's evolution from novelty to necessity: "I'm using Cursor right now to help me with content part of the project so that I can use my remaining time to focus on other complex aspects." But she's thoughtful about implementation: "AI doesn't always align with our architectural style or business logic, so it's essential to balance AI assistance with thorough code reviews to maintain system integrity."

The impact on her workflow has been transformative: "One of the most surprising benefits of AI in my workflow is how effortlessly it generates unit tests. Instead of manually writing test cases for hours, I can quickly generate a comprehensive suite that covers various edge cases, allowing me to focus on building core features."

Ownership That Transforms

One project exemplifies how Abnormal's ownership culture enables transformative work: the complete redesign of OAuth integrations. "The original flow had significant friction, which led to a poor user experience. I took the initiative to rework the entire process, redesigning both backend and frontend components, to create a smooth, intuitive experience."

The project pushed her beyond her comfort zone: "This project also pushed me to expand my skills by diving into frontend development for the first time." The results were immediate: "fewer authentication issues, higher engagement, and improved conversion rates."

This experience reflects a broader pattern at Abnormal: "I'm encouraged to take a lot of ownership, and I also have a lot of room to propose new ideas that I can also lead in the future. So it's like really the mix of autonomy that I'm given to pursue my projects and also having an incredibly supportive team."

Growing with the Company

Deesha's journey mirrors Abnormal's growth trajectory: "I joined as an Software Engineer 1 when the India office was just getting started, one of the first hires during a period of rapid growth. Initially, I lacked confidence, but working in such an energetic, supportive environment helped me develop my skills and self-assurance."

The office itself tells the growth story: "We have hybrid setup here at Bangalore office and we go twice a week. And like those two days go by, we don't even realize because like there's so much going on at office." The energy is palpable: "it encourages me to actually go to the office and have a conversation with my peers as well."

Her promotion to Software Engineer 2 came through consistently taking on challenging projects: "As the office grew tenfold, I took on increasingly challenging projects that allowed me to learn quickly, eventually leading to my promotion."

Collaborative Problem-Solving

Deesha's approach to technical discussions reflects Abnormal's collaborative culture: "We start with friendly brainstorming sessions to lay out the problem in simple terms, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Then, we open the floor for ideas. Everyone shares their perspective, and we ask plenty of questions to define requirements clearly."

The process emphasizes both speed and quality: "We break down complex challenges into smaller, manageable parts and evaluate different solutions together, balancing technical feasibility with effort. Our discussions are highly collaborative, often taking place over quick video calls or shared documents."

Thinking Beyond Code

Working at Abnormal has fundamentally changed how Deesha approaches engineering: "One key lesson I've learned is the importance of thinking beyond just the code, focusing on long-term impact, scalability, and maintainability rather than quick fixes."

This shift reflects a deeper understanding of engineering's role: "Initially, I approached problems with a 'solve this bug or implement this feature' mindset, but working here has taught me to ask deeper questions. This shift in perspective has made me a more strategic engineer, ensuring that the solutions I design are effective not just today but in the long run."

Her advice for potential joiners reflects this evolved perspective: "It's not just about writing good code, but about scalability, maintainability, and business impact. Be prepared to ask deeper questions and consider the long-term implications of your work."

Ready to build foundational systems that power AI-driven security at scale? Explore an Abnormal Career.