Feedback is not just a gift for automobile-enthusiast Aayush Sthapit. It’s what drives him to help build software that our Houzz Pro customers love. As a senior software engineer for Houzz, Aayush works with his team in Nepal and Houzzers in Tel Aviv to create technology-based solutions to address our users’ needs – and surpass their expectations.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always had a passion for anything that has to do with cars and motorbikes, and I wanted to be a racing driver. However, my path turned toward technology. I got my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, and that’s when my career was set. It didn’t end up being what I expected in my childhood, but it’s going well now!

Both Houzz and racing leverage technology to solve problems, get things done, and make an impact. The way technology does this is intangible – we can’t touch it – but the impact it makes is real. At Houzz, we can improve a lot of people’s lives through our technology, and that really fascinates and motivates me.

How did you find out about your role, and why did it seem interesting to you?
One of my friends used to work here and recommended me when the position opened. I did my background research on the company and found it pretty interesting. I was fascinated by the scale of the business, because I used to work for companies that had hundreds or thousands of users. 

Millions of people use Houzz, so it’s important that we design everything in the product to be able to scale. That was very different for me and one of the major reasons why I wanted to apply for this role. And it still fascinates me how many people use Houzz and Houzz Pro, and the impact we can make for a lot of people by doing just one small thing in the software. 

What is the best part about working at Houzz?
First, I would definitely say the people I work with! I’m part of the Project Management for Designers team, and everyone is there for each other. I truly love that about working here. People are really friendly, not just my team, but others who I work with, too. That, as well as the culture of the company itself, makes my work very easy.

The second thing is the feedback loop that we have with our customers and how we integrate it into our software development. Instead of only implementing ideas from product managers and testing them with users, we use customer feedback to help build the product itself. I think that has worked excellently for us, because the features we are working on are what customers want. 

What do you enjoy most about the work that you’re doing?
I really enjoy making an impact and creating value that benefits a lot of our customers. It’s also pretty dynamic, and I really love that about my work. One day I’m working on a task or building a feature for Houzz Pro, and the next I’ll be working on a different feature or on a bug. My job requires continuous learning of the software itself, how different parts work and how they connect together. It’s challenging, which makes it interesting.

Do you have a favorite Houzz Pro feature?
I would definitely say Selections Tracker. I actually led the project, which was one of my first big projects in Houzz Pro. I’m very proud of that; it’s my favorite feature. From what I’ve heard from customer feedback, it’s a favorite feature for a lot of people, as well, because it gives pros an in-depth overview of a project’s products and services that’s collaborative and intuitive to use.

Is there something that surprised you about working here?
When I came to Houzz, I noticed that while we have processes, they are flexible. My manager emphasizes that our focus should be on making sure everything goes well without compromising quality. It is important to ensure the software’s integrity and make sure customers are not impacted negatively in any way. 

What makes you most excited about the future of Houzz?
Building a product that customers not only need – but love and enjoy using – truly excites me.

It again comes to the customer feedback I talked about earlier. The features we are working on are what the customer wants versus us telling them what they need. It’s one thing that makes our customers love our product more. 

The other thing is the growth of the product. Based on customer feedback, we have developed tools that are useful for a lot of people, not just a niche group. We have the opportunity to scale in a lot of different areas. 

And we are extending our capabilities in the product, so more and more customers can see how the Houzz Pro can be useful for them. I truly believe Houzz Pro will be one of the most impactful software solutions for our industry. 

If you’re interested in joining our team, we’re hiring! Check out available opportunities at houzz.com/jobs.