Devon Lambert joined Upside's Engineering team in April 2025, bringing with him a passion for developing people as much as products. As Senior Manager, Engineering, Devon leads multiple teams while staying close to the technology and the teammates who build it.

Q: What brought you to Upside?

Devon: A friend of mine happened to be working at Upside in Engineering. We ran into each other a few times in the Austin area and he would talk up the product and the team. As I was prepping for a transition from my last company, I decided to tap my network through an organization called /dev/color and I met another Upsider through that org.  I was sold not only on Upside's product, but also the team and culture that was being built here.

Q: What do you love most about the culture?

Devon: That we care so much about culture. I'm a member of our R&D culture team, and that group was born out of a passion for building at speed — but also building as a team. Also, almost every individual I've worked with here is high on ownership.

Q: What do you think makes you unique as a team member?

Devon: I definitely want to see Upside succeed and deliver real value for our end consumer, but I also really want to see each and every one of my team members be the best they can be. This means that, as an engineering manager, I'm constantly on the lookout for opportunities to help holistically improve the lives of the teams who report to me and work with me.

Q: How did you find your way into software engineering and engineering management?

Devon: This is a two-sided question. I got into software engineering because I always wanted to make video games. I majored in Comp Sci in college and quickly realized that the road to video games was nuanced. Shortly after college I was introduced to web development and the rest is history.

I got into engineering management during a challenging project while working at Charles Schwab. We were introducing something completely new to the marketplace and we needed to move fast. I was given the opportunity and budget to hire a contractor. That contractor would go on to become my first direct report. I completely enjoyed working with him and growing him from a junior contractor to Senior FTE.

Q: How has Upside supported your growth since you joined?

Devon: As an engineering manager I have been tasked with leading multiple teams here at Upside. With each team I am exposed to different modalities of software engineering and have been able to widen my scope of best practices to keep in mind, while also honing in on technology that will drive the future of software engineering in general.

Q: What advice would you give someone starting out in software engineering?

Devon: Stay hungry for knowledge and don't let off the gas. In the early days of your career in software engineering things will seem daunting. That won't change, but your approach to dealing with the challenges that will come up will. 

AI is a great example of a whole new way of working / thinking that many are still coming to terms with. Those who are staying hungry with it are discovering powerful ways to fold it into their everyday work lives.

Q: Outside of work, what are you into these days?

Devon: I'm a huge geek so there's usually a mix of Anime and / or Sci Fi. Right now, I'm watching One Piece, Halo, and Sakamoto Days.

Q: Is there something you've always wanted to learn?

Devon: How to easily speak multiple languages. My kids are both becoming extremely fluent in French and I intend to match them at some point in the not too distant future. That and Spanish would be languages I would love to learn right away.

Q: Last question — if you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Devon: Super Healing. I've always liked Wolverine's tenacity and reliability in multiple battles. I feel like his super healing is one of his greatest attributes.

‍

Looking for a career that invests in your future? We're hiring! Learn more about our open roles and apply.