Hello, I'm Tom.
Principal Software Engineer @ Microsoft.
I'm a Software Engineering Leader with a penchant for tackling complex challenges.
My journey in the tech industry has seen me wear multiple hats - from a high-level Individual Contributor to leading an entire engineering organization. I like to stay technically sharp, while understanding that great things require collaboration.
Today, I am especially driven by a commitment to build meaningful software that changes peoples' lives and outcomes for the better.
Professional Path
After getting my feet wet at a small software agency in New Zealand, I moved to Microsoft in Seattle to really kick off my software career. There, I honed my technical skills and learned the intricacies of software development at scale.
Seeking to blend my technical expertise with a mission-driven endeavor, I transitioned to Oscar Health. There, I played a pivotal role in architecting a next-generation Claims Processing engine from scratch, diving deep into the convolutions of the medical billing industry.
More recently, I dove headlong into a two-year stint at Granted Health—an early-stage startup creating a much-needed product to help folks that are struggling with navigating the sometime hostile healthcare system. This was a deeply fulfilling journey, working on a highly impactful product. As the first engineer, I built the foundation for a highly productive stack and strong engineering fundamentals. Then, I transitioned to Head of Engineering, where I successfully transitioned the company through fast growth to 10+ engineers.
Now, I am back at Microsoft helping to usher in the new wave of agentic behaviors that will change how people interact with the web.
Technical Beginnings
I hail from the verdant landscapes of New Zealand. I grew up in a small town, and was always the kid that was tinkering with computers. After learning BASIC at 7 on the family's Amstrad CPC, I was instantly hooked. Many years and many programming languages later, I still find myself enamored with the craft of software engineering.
After finishing high school, I pursued a BE (Software Engineering) degree at the University of Auckland. Shortly afterwards, I moved to Seattle to start working at Microsoft, but I still strongly identify with my Kiwi roots.
Personal Palette
Outside of work, I have a variety of interests that keep me busy and inspired.
I'm an avid photographer, always observing and capturing the world around me. In the winter, you'll find me snowboarding. I also love the methodical creativity of 3D printing, the strategic intricacies of board games, and the feeling of flying afforded by FPV drones. I've always held a special place in my heart for music festivals. And of course, the occasional personal technology project keeps the engineer in me perennially intrigued.
Let's Connect
If my journey resonates with you or if you're interested in working together, let's connect. Find me on GitHub, LinkedIn, and Mastodon, or shoot me an email. For a more formal acquaintance, feel free to download my resume.
Thanks for stopping by!