In this special season 3 finale of ShipTalk, host Dewan Ahmed sits down with Puneet Saraswat, VP of Engineering at Harness, for an inspiring conversation about engineering leadership, system design, and the evolution of software delivery.

What You'll Learn:

Career Journey: Follow Puneet's path from discovering programming in a hot computer lab in North India to building Windows 7 kernel components at Microsoft, then transitioning to Azure's distributed systems, and finally joining Harness as one of their first 15 engineers.

Production Systems at Scale: Get insights into building reliable systems that serve millions of users, including lessons learned from Windows kernel development, Azure's global infrastructure challenges, and the evolution from monolithic to distributed architectures.

AI-Native Software Delivery: Explore how AI is transforming the software development lifecycle beyond just code generation - from automated pipeline debugging to intelligent remediation and best practice recommendations.

Engineering Leadership: Discover strategies for scaling engineering teams, balancing velocity with security and compliance, and transitioning from individual contributor to management roles.

Beyond the Code: Learn about Puneet's passion for indoor climbing 🧗‍♂️ and how lessons from physical challenges apply to navigating corporate growth and continuous learning.

Key Takeaways:

• Why fundamental computer science concepts matter more than ever in the age of rapid technological change
• How to build "cellular architectures" that prevent regional failures from cascading globally
• The importance of hiring generalists with strong analytical skills and growth mindsets
• Strategies for managing the balance between AI-accelerated development and production reliability
• Practical advice for engineers considering the transition to management

Perfect for software engineers, engineering managers, DevOps professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of AI and software delivery platforms.

Guest Bio: Puneet Saraswat is VP of Engineering at Harness, where he leads platform engineering and SRE teams. With over 15 years of experience, he previously spent nearly a decade at Microsoft working on Windows kernel development and Azure infrastructure. He holds a degree from IIT Kanpur and is passionate about building scalable systems and developing engineering talent.

In this episode of the ShipTalk podcast, co-host Eric Minick talks with Lukas Gentele, co-founder and CEO of LoftLabs, about revolutionizing Kubernetes infrastructure through virtualization. Lukas shares his entrepreneurial journey starting from age 16 and explains how his company pivoted to create vcluster, a technology that virtualizes Kubernetes control planes similar to how VMs virtualize physical machines. They discuss the inefficiencies of running many small Kubernetes clusters versus optimizing resources with virtual clusters, the impact on developer workflows, and innovative approaches to CI/CD testing environments. Whether you're looking to optimize cloud costs or improve your development experience with Kubernetes, this episode offers practical insights into the future of container orchestration infrastructure.

In this episode, Dewan sits down (virtually) with Kyle Galbraith, co-founder of Depot, to explore his unique journey from motocross videographer to startup founder. Kyle shares how his early experiences in film and programming shaped his approach to solving technical problems, and why he co-founded Depot to tackle the challenge of slow build processes.

Kyle dives into the real impact of inefficient builds on developer productivity, team morale, and business innovation. He explains his leadership philosophy of "radical transparency and brutal honesty," and offers valuable insights on balancing rapid delivery with stability, the importance of documentation, and his vision for the future of developer tools in an AI-driven world.

Whether you're a developer frustrated with slow builds, a technical leader looking to improve team performance, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation offers practical wisdom on building solutions that truly enhance developer experience.

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Follow Kyle on X: https://x.com/kylegalbraith
Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegalbraith459/
Kyle's personal blog: https://blog.kylegalbraith.com/
Learn about Depot: https://depot.dev/blog

In this edition of ShipTalk podcast, Ron Gidron, CEO of X Type, discusses the unique challenges of DevOps in platform-based environments like ServiceNow, emphasizing the complexities of managing multiple code bases and environments. He highlights the importance of visibility, governance, and automation in modern software development, sharing insights from his decades of experience in the tech industry. Gidron is particularly optimistic about the potential of AI to transform DevOps, predicting more intelligent, predictive approaches to software lifecycle management that can reduce manual testing and improve development efficiency.

Brendan O’Leary shares his journey from helping GitLab scale to IPO to his current role at Prefect.io, focusing on Pythonic orchestration. He explains why Prefect chose Python and how orchestration tools like Prefect complement CI/CD platforms like GitLab CI/CD and Harness in DevOps workflows.

We discuss the evolution of Developer Relations, its ROI, and tips for building sustainable open-source communities. Brendan also offers advice on balancing a tech career with family life.

In closing, Brendan shares his key lesson learned throughout his career: "write things down", emphasizing its importance for clarity and progress in tech.

For further insights, check out the articles Brendan suggested:

• Measuring Developer Relations
• What I Learned at GitLab That I Don’t Want to Forget

In this episode of ShipTalk, host Dewan Ahmed sits down with Alex Olivier, the CPO and Co-founder of Cerbos, to explore the evolving landscape of DevOps and the critical role of authorization in modern software development. With a wealth of experience designing enterprise solutions, Alex shares his insights on how to balance developer productivity with security, making the case for adopting tools like Cerbos at the right time.

Alex's journey in tech has taken him through esteemed roles at Microsoft, Qubit, and various startups, where he has consistently focused on enhancing the developer experience. His expertise spans core components such as authorization, data management, and security, making him a valuable voice in discussions around modern DevOps practices.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Cerbos and its Mission: Discover what Cerbos is and how it aims to streamline authorization processes, empowering developers to build faster and more securely.
• Balancing Speed and Security: Delve into the challenges teams face when trying to maintain rapid development cycles without compromising security.
• Optimal Timing for Adoption: Alex discusses the right conditions for adopting new tools and technologies, ensuring that organizations make informed decisions that align with their goals.
• Emerging Trends in DevOps: Gain insights into the trends that are shaping the future of DevOps and how organizations can stay ahead of the curve.
• Getting Involved with Cerbos: Learn how listeners can engage with Cerbos and contribute to its mission.

Join us for an enlightening conversation filled with practical advice and expert insights that can help you navigate the complexities of DevOps and authorization.

In this episode of the Ship Talk podcast, host Dewan Ahmed welcomes Vishwa Krishnakumar, co-founder of ZenDuty, to delve into the complexities of software delivery, from managing stress as a startup founder to the nuances of DevOps and SRE practices. Vishwa shares his journey from a young coder to a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of physical and mental well-being in high-pressure environments.

They discuss how ZenDuty emerged from a need to address incident management and the evolution of DevOps practices, highlighting the significance of timing and cultural shifts in successful implementations. The conversation also explores the role of AI and machine learning in DevOps, shedding light on how automation can enhance productivity and reliability without completely replacing human intervention. Tune in for insights on balancing manual efforts with automation, the future of AI in software engineering, and practical tips for maintaining sanity in the demanding world of tech startups.

In this episode of ShipTalk, we are joined with Ken Ahrens, CEO and Founder of Speedscale. Kubernetes is turning 10 this summer and we dig into how the ecosystem has been evolving.

Learn more from Ken as he walks through his journey on:

* Don't forget the fundamentals
* 10 Years into K8s, what is still challenging
* Enthusiasm, a very important skill