This is my Zipstory: Q&A with Dhanya

In this blog we meet US Engineering Manager Dhanya Tatachar who recently celebrated her fourth Zipsterversary. Read on to find out what Dhanya thinks has enabled her impressive career growth, and how she is supporting Zipsters in her team to thrive.

Tell us who you are, what you do at Zip, and a little bit more about your Zipstory

I'm Dhanya Tatachar, an Engineering Manager here at Zip. It’s hard to believe, but four years ago I was hired as the first Automation Engineer after seven rounds of interviews - I think I met the entire engineering team during the interview process! I remember a time when the SLTs and myself would test the App together and call out any potential issues. From those early days, with the guidance and support of so many incredible engineers and managers (too many to count!) we built the foundation for what is now a team of 12 talented Engineers. The majority of the team has been with Zip for over two years, and it’s been truly rewarding to see them grow and thrive within the organization.

As an Engineering Manager now, my role is to continue empowering our team to scale and evolve, ensuring that quality remains a top priority while maintaining the collaborative spirit that’s been central to our success. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m excited for what’s ahead as we continue to drive innovation and quality at Zip.

You’ve been a Zipster for four years now. What has enabled you to accelerate your career fastest during your time here?

I’ve been in the engineering workforce for 15 years now, with an average tenure of 1.5 to 2 years at previous companies. But Zip has truly been a game changer for me, offering unique opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership that I hadn’t experienced before. The most significant factor in accelerating my career here has been the trust that Zip placed in me early on, when I was given the responsibility of building out our Quality Assurance group. That initial trust was the foundation for my growth, and it enabled me to step into leadership in a way that felt both challenging and empowering.

Over the past four years, what has really accelerated my career has been the tremendous support and vision from the leadership team, particularly in the past year. The new leadership within Engineering has placed a strong emphasis on technology, growth, and leadership development, which has been a catalyst for my growth as a technical manager. This focus has provided me with the tools, resources, and guidance I need to not only manage teams more effectively but also refine my technical expertise and leadership approach.

In your experience, what are some of the opportunities you get working in Engineering at Zip that you wouldn’t get working elsewhere?

I have been a part of Zip’s transition from a start up to a mature tech company. Through this journey, I believe what sets Zip apart, at least in the past year, is the incredible focus on Ownership within the bounds of a blameless culture while also putting the onus on Accountability.

I’ve had the opportunity to define the boundaries of key processes, mentor engineers within this scope while promoting technical excellence - not just within Quality but to also help our SDETs spread their knowledge with Security, Infra and Data as well.

What excites you most about writing the next chapter of your career story at Zip?

As the manager of a group of incredibly talented engineers, what excites me most about writing the next chapter of my career here at Zip is the opportunity to continue driving software and processes toward simplicity and clarity.

In a world where complexity often creeps in, I’m passionate about leading my team and enabling them to deliver solutions that are elegant, intuitive and efficient.

What truly fuels my excitement, though, is the chance to assist members on my team to grow and elevate their technical expertise. I’m deeply committed to creating an environment where our engineers feel empowered to challenge themselves, push boundaries and celebrate their wins.

At the same time, I recognize how much I still have to learn in this role, especially from our incredible engineering leadership. I’m eager to continue refining my own leadership skills by absorbing the nuances of effective leadership - how to inspire teams, manage complexity and navigate the challenges of growing a high performing engineering organization.

The combination of helping my team thrive, fostering technical excellence, and continuously growing as a leader is what makes this next chapter so exciting.