Working at Google as a Cloud Software Engineer

Summary

Kelly Harrington, a software engineer at Google, discusses her role in the Safe Browsing team, which uses virtual machines to scan the internet for dangerous content. She emphasizes the importance of security and privacy, not only for Google but for all users to build trust. Harrington highlights the challenges and constant evolution in the field, the support and resources Google provides for tackling technical issues, and the opportunities for career growth. She also notes the team's expertise and the dynamic nature of security work, ensuring no two days are the same.

Takeaways

• 👩‍💻 Kelly Harrington is a software engineer at Google, focusing on security and privacy.
• 🔍 She works with the Safe Browsing team, which uses virtual machines to scan the internet for dangerous content.
• 🌐 The scale of their work is immense, aiming to secure users across the entire internet.
• 🤔 Kelly emphasizes the complexity of securing users with varying levels of technical expertise and device capabilities.
• 🆕 The field of security is ever-evolving, with new challenges constantly emerging.
• 🔒 Security and privacy are top priorities at Google, which is essential for building user trust.
• 💼 The Safe Browsing team is part of Google's Cloud organization, providing protections for Cloud customers.
• 🛠️ Google's extensive resources and teams help engineers overcome technical challenges more efficiently.
• 🧠 Working with the Safe Browsing team offers the opportunity to learn from brilliant and knowledgeable colleagues.
• 🌟 Security and privacy are growing fields with ample opportunities for career growth and learning.
• 📈 Google offers a supportive environment for career advancement, even for those new to the industry.
• 🏢 The variety of projects at Google ensures that security work is diverse and never dull.

Q & A

What is Kelly Harrington's role at Google?

Kelly Harrington is a software engineer within Google's Security and Privacy team, specifically working on a team called Safe Browsing.

What does the Safe Browsing team do at Google?

The Safe Browsing team runs a large fleet of virtual machines to scan the internet and determine if a given site is hosting dangerous content or not.

How does Kelly describe the scale of technical work required to scan the entire internet?

Kelly describes it as 'Google-scale technical work,' emphasizing the vast impact it has on securing users.

What challenges does Kelly face in her role, considering the diversity of users?

Kelly considers the challenge of securing users with different levels of technical expertise, from various cultures, and using devices with limited memory.

Why is continuous improvement necessary in the field of security and privacy according to Kelly?

Kelly mentions that there's always something new happening, and someone might be trying to undo the security measures, which necessitates continuous improvement.

How does Google prioritize security and privacy?

Security and privacy are a huge priority at Google, as they want users to trust them, and the company's leaders consider it hugely important.

How does the Safe Browsing team support Google Cloud customers?

Safe Browsing provides APIs that Cloud customers can use to protect their users from visiting dangerous links, as part of the technical infrastructure that Google is built on.

What advantages does Google offer to engineers like Kelly in terms of resources and support?

Google provides a wealth of resources and support, making it easier to build complex things as many technical challenges have already been addressed by other teams.

What is Kelly's opinion about the expertise of her colleagues on the Safe Browsing team?

Kelly considers her colleagues brilliant and appreciates working with them due to their deep knowledge of the domain.

How does Kelly view the opportunities for career growth in the field of security and privacy at Google?

Kelly sees many opportunities for career growth in security and privacy at Google, both for newcomers and established professionals, with room for growth and leadership opportunities.

Why does Kelly believe Google is a great place to do security work?

Kelly thinks Google is a great place for security work due to the variety of projects and the constant new challenges that come with them, ensuring she never gets bored.