Our "Meet Our Team" blog series continues with a profile of Joan Torres, a Software Engineer at Fieldguide.
Name: Joan Torres
Position: Software Engineer
Location: San Francisco
Tell me about your role and team at Fieldguide.
I'm a software engineer on one of the fastest moving teams I’ve ever been on. I’ve been at Fieldguide for a year and a half. Initially I was focused on getting ramped up on our codebase, but I quickly had the opportunity to bring in my expertise from my security compliance background. My focus within the platform was around permissions and handling document copies. Over the past year and a half we’ve been able to tackle some pretty fulfilling challenges as well as build amazing teams of driven and passionate people who have each brought their unique flavor.
Everyone is a hard worker and invested in the vision. The team is open to conversation. Rather than just solving a problem, we also focus on making sure we are solving it the right way and thinking ahead. I would describe this team as having a lot of empathy and being very knowledgeable.
What are some of your favorite aspects of working at Fieldguide?
I’m excited about the fact that we are working on a product I would have liked to use when I was doing security compliance work. I have a lot of passion for what we are doing. I also love how quickly feedback and features get implemented.
We also really embrace a growth mindset. We have a culture of blameless Root Cause Analysis reports (RCAs), and really strive to learn as a community. Some teams I’ve worked on, everybody wanted to “get the glory” of coming up with an idea, but you don’t get a lot of value from working with those people. Everything feels transactional. So it’s been fulfilling to work in an environment that nurtures growth, cares about solving real problems, and finds daring ways to provide an 11-star experience to our users.
What led you to Fieldguide?
I was looking to use my skills and expertise in a way that would have a greater impact. During my interviews with Fieldguide, the conversations were very positive and genuine. Everyone I spoke with seemed down to earth and focused on the vision. The problems Fieldguide is solving were issues I had experienced directly. From the first conversation, I felt like it was a pretty good match. Once I met the rest of the EPD team, I knew I would love to learn from them and work with them. Teams like these are necessary to reach the industry-wide impact we’re going for. This was a match made in heaven!
What excites you about the Fieldguide platform?
It’s going to make a huge impact in the industry. Big picture, the thing that really excites me is making security and audits frictionless. People won’t run away from audits anymore because they are scared of the process.
Describe Fieldguide’s culture in three words.
- Fun
- Challenging
- Visionary
What has been your proudest moment at Fieldguide?
Integrations, control sets, request auto copying, it’s hard to pick just one! But the overall theme is places where I was able to introduce a better experience for our core entities by adding new functionality. The fact that other team members can work on that code autonomously is a real source of pride for me. It shows that it was not just done to get it done, but implemented the right way, and in support of future work. I think this is the product of having the right conversations with people and collaborating with different teams.
What does your remote workspace look like?
I have a window that looks out on San Francisco. I also have a mix of work and hobbies in this room. I have my laptop and desk but also audio equipment, musical instruments, books, and some paintings on the wall.
My manager here at the home office is Winks, my cat. She is my partner in crime.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I’m a bass player, composer, and producer. I lead a fusion band called All Is Fused and also work on another project called 6 Speed Supernova. In 2020, I became an artist grantee for the San Francisco Arts Commission and won an award for Best Fusion Album with All Is Fused. We just released a new album called Embrace Form.
I’m also an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction. Reading feeds my imagination and my music. The more I read, the more it influences my music. It increases variety and helps me push boundaries.
Want to make a huge impact and have a front-row seat at Fieldguide? We’re hiring.
Jake O'Rielly
Software Engineer
Jake is a Software Engineer at Fieldguide. When he's not working, he's probably hiking, biking, reading, dancing, or writing (he's written two novels!). Jake is based in San Francisco, CA.
