Meet Yang Ang, Senior Software Engineering Manager
Yang Ang builds products, teams, and the future of cybersecurity. Starting as one of the first two engineers in Singapore back in 2021, he has grown into an Engineering Manager leading three teams across APAC. We sat down with Yang to learn about his path, his approach to mentorship, and why he continues to choose to build his career at Abnormal.
July 26, 2025
From Engineer to Leader in Three Years
Yang joined Abnormal when the Singapore office was just getting started. Two engineers. Big ambitions. No playbook.
"I was one of the first two engineers in Singapore. Over the years, I've built and launched several high-impact products, including the Integrations Platform, Security Posture Management, and Email Productivity," Yang explains. "In late 2023, I advanced to Engineering Manager, taking on the challenge of leading and growing teams across Singapore and India."
His scope expanded as quickly as the company grew. What started as individual engineering work evolved into leading multiple product teams. The progression happened naturally as Yang stepped into gaps and took ownership of increasingly complex challenges.
Looking ahead, his goals remain grounded in impact: Continue expanding Abnormal's APAC presence. Mentor engineers to reach their full potential. Lead development of innovative solutions that address real-world security challenges.
Building Teams Across Time Zones
Managing engineering teams across Singapore and India while collaborating with colleagues in the US presents unique challenges. Yang has developed a rhythm that works.
His day starts with responding to cross-team requests and attending meetings with US teams. While he has moved away from coding, he still provides technical input, design suggestions, and code reviews as the original engineer for some products.
The middle of his day focuses on planning and one-on-ones with team members. Early afternoon brings meetings with India timezone teams for leadership and engineering discussions. Optional UK timezone meetings round out the day when needed.
"I utilize AI tools like GPT to synthesize information and frame documentation efficiently," Yang notes. The technology helps him process large amounts of information quickly, enabling faster learning and better decision-making.
The Art of Code Reviews and Knowledge Sharing
Yang approaches code reviews as both quality checkpoints and learning opportunities. He encourages senior engineers to mentor junior ones while providing historical context as the original engineer for several products.
"As the original engineer for some of our products, I provide historical context while encouraging newer engineers to take ownership and challenge existing approaches," he explains.
His strategy balances technical growth with productivity. He identifies projects with more buffer time for new team members. He also aligns projects with career growth goals and skill gaps, fostering development while maintaining team delivery.
"AI has helped me digest large amounts of information quickly, enabling me to learn faster and make better decisions. It has contributed significantly to my efficiency."
From MVP to Production Scale
When Yang talks about his proudest achievement, his eyes light up. Email Productivity represents his entire journey at Abnormal in microcosm.
"Email Productivity is my proudest achievement. I started working on it when it was just a small feature in the MVP stage. Over time, I took ownership of the entire service, rewrote it for production-level scale, expanded its feature set, and built a team around it."
The project grew alongside his own development. From individual contributor working on features to team leader building and managing the people behind the product. It has been deeply rewarding to see this product evolve alongside his career.
Leading Through Remote Connection
Connection in a remote environment requires intentional effort. Yang maintains open, transparent communication and fosters strong relationships despite physical distance.
"Other than regular syncs, both individually and on a team level, I stay connected to my team by proposing and hosting team events, or weekly connect sessions where we talk about things outside of work," he explains.
Beyond work discussions, he makes space for personal connection. Learning about team members' interests and personalities outside of work helps strengthen team bonds. People have fascinating stories and personalities that help teams grow closer once they know about them.
More Than Engineering
Yang brings interesting perspectives from outside technology. He is an avid snowboarder. He has worked as a falconer training and handling birds of prey. He has commanded a ship.
These experiences inform his approach to leadership and problem-solving. Each required different skills, but all demanded attention to detail, quick decision-making, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
The Future of Modern Engineering
AI enables Yang to focus more on high-level decision-making while filling gaps in communication and documentation. He sees it as a tool that amplifies his ability to lead, strategize, and innovate.
Technical discussions in his teams remain collaborative and structured around problem-solving. The team defines problems clearly, breaks them down into smaller components, and evaluates different approaches, trade-offs, and risks.
"I encourage open dialogue, ensuring that everyone has a voice and that we use data and past learnings to guide decisions," Yang notes.
