Meet Devin Jackson, Nickels newest Senior Software Engineer
In this month’s employee spotlight, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Devin Jackson, a valued member of the Nickel’s engineering team. With over 5 years of experience building products, Devin brings a unique perspective and passion for unlocking hidden potential. Let’s dive into our interview to learn more about Devin and his journey at Nickels thus far.
How would you describe yourself using only three words?
Light-hearted, hard-working, and food-minded.
If you had a tagline what would it be?
I’m hungry.
What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
YouTube (judge me if you like).
What is something you are most proud of?
I’m most proud of the non-profit I built for my community called We Build Black. Our mission at We Build Black is to empower the Black community to achieve socio-economic change through technical education and professional development. Redefining what it means to belong in the tech industry is really important to me, and I’m excited to be a part of the journey to find a solution. You can learn more about We Build Black at webuildblack.com.
What brought you to work at Nickels?
The idea of building a product from the ground up. Working at a start-up is a hustle, and I’m always ready to roll up my sleeves and get cracking. Also, Nickels harnesses a team culture that encourages ownership and growth, and that was apparent to me when talking to the team during the interview process.
What is the most exciting project or activity you’re working on now–and why?
I’m currently focused on building out a message queue system that will allow Nickels to process large amounts of data from our clients more efficiently. This project is particularly exciting because optimizing a system’s resources to create a better product has alway been interesting to me, especially when I can leverage cutting-edge tools.
What do you think is the most important skill that someone in your role needs to have?
The most important skill someone in my role needs is to have the desire to own a project and see it through to completion. Taking ownership fosters accountability and growth and that continues to be a priority at Nickels.
What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?
First, you have to keep constant communication with the team about what you’re working on so as to not cause any stops in the workflow. The engineering team at Nickels has implemented daily stand-ups to help us stay connected as a team, and foster collaboration.
Additionally, I would also say to never stop learning. I’ve attended many schools and bootcamps, and I will never stop. As long as there is information to attain and mentors to help nurture that skill set, I will continue to grow my knowledge base.
If you were not working at Nickels, where would you be?
I’d love to run my own tech company, maybe something in AI or blockchain. The opportunity to shape the future through innovative technologies has always been an aspiration of mine.
Devins commitment to building products, dedication to personal growth, and his passion for empowering his community is truly inspiring. We’re grateful to have him as part of the Nickels team, and we look forward to witnessing his continued success and impact on the company, and for our clients.
Stay tuned for more employee spotlights as we continue to introduce you to the amazing individuals driving innovation and making a difference at Nickels daily.
