What launching rockets taught this CTO about hardware observability
Oct 15, 2024
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Austin Spiegel, CTO and co-founder of Sift, shares insights from his time at SpaceX and Riot Games. He discusses the shift from film studies to aerospace software, stressing the importance of reliable tech in critical missions. Austin dives into the challenges of developing observability tools for hardware, particularly in AI model training and cosmic rays. He also emphasizes the value of co-location for instant feedback and collaboration, and offers strategies for scaling startups by hiring versatile engineers who prioritize user needs.
The guest's transition from film to software engineering was inspired by a serendipitous dinner with Elon Musk, highlighting the importance of unexpected opportunities.
His experience at SpaceX underscored the need for specialized observability tools in hardware development, addressing the limitations of existing software-focused frameworks.
Deep dives
Transition from Film to Software Engineering
The guest shares his unique journey from studying film to becoming a software engineer, which began when a serendipitous dinner invitation to Elon Musk inspired him to pursue a career at SpaceX. He initially aimed to work in the game industry but shifted his focus after realizing his passion for computer science, particularly in its applications for aerospace technology. At SpaceX, he contributed to developing internal software for manufacturing and testing rocket systems, further honing his engineering skills. This diverse background laid the foundation for his transition into entrepreneurship in the tech sector.
Lessons from SpaceX's Software Development
At SpaceX, the guest learned crucial insights about creating robust and resilient software under pressure, particularly in a safety-critical environment where malfunction could result in catastrophic outcomes. The experience of negotiating a software development process with NASA revealed the importance of establishing adaptable yet stringent standards to maintain high-quality output. He describes the effective use of a triplicated flight computer system in spacecraft design, emphasizing how similar redundancy principles influence software stability. These lessons continue to inform his work at Sift, which focuses on observability tools for hardware systems.
Innovating in Hardware Observability
The guest discusses the challenges in developing observability tools for hardware, noting that existing frameworks often cater primarily to software applications. A significant issue lies in the conservative nature of hardware companies concerning software deployment on their devices due to power and bandwidth constraints. Drawing from his experiences, he realized the need for a dedicated, end-to-end solution that specifically caters to hardware engineering use cases rather than relying on pieced-together, open-source tools. By conducting extensive user research within the hardware space, he and his co-founder identified an opportunity to create a more integrated platform to streamline data management and analysis.