Meet Martha Cryan, Software Developer, Libraries Team

Life at Plotly: People & Culture Blog #23

Why did you choose to work at Plotly? What made us stand out?

The open-source software aspect really drew me in. Additionally, every interview I had was a positive experience. Each person I spoke with left me with a great impression of the company, and that feeling has carried through since joining.

What three words describe your Plotly experience?

Collaborative, rewarding, supportive.

In a few sentences, what do you do at Plotly?

I’m a software engineer on the Libraries team, working on Plotly.js, Plotly.py, and Dash. My role involves reviewing and finalizing pull requests — whether from community members or teammates — resolving bugs, and tackling assigned issues. More recently, I’ve been focused on the Telemetry project, which has been an open-ended and engaging challenge.

What’s your favorite work-from-home snack or beverage?

Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

If you were to describe Plotly as a color or a flavor, what would it be and why?

Cinnamon — warm and energizing.

What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve received during your time at Plotly?

Greg Wilson, Engineering Manager, has given me some valuable feedback on improving how I communicate. I have learned a lot about concisely conveying what I’m trying to say from his feedback.

What skill or expertise are you most proud of developing while at Plotly?

I’ve become really skilled at jumping into large, complex codebases — ones that have been worked on by many people over time. I’ve also developed strong sleuthing skills, like tracking down commit histories to understand why certain changes were made. Sometimes I can ask the original author, but other times, I have to piece things together myself, which makes me feel like a detective.

What is your favorite part about working for Plotly?

The company culture. I’ve genuinely enjoyed talking to everyone I’ve met here. There’s a shared appreciation for things outside of work — many people are artists, musicians, and creatives, which makes conversations interesting. I’ve also really enjoyed learning about Canada — I visited Montreal once as a child, and now it’s been fun working with so many Canadian colleagues.

How has working at Plotly changed your perspective on data visualization/remote work?

Before joining, I had used Plotly’s Python library and thought I had a good grasp of its API. But after working on the codebase, I realized just how many ways there are to visualize data. The sheer number of charts and plot types is incredible.

What’s your favorite item from Plotly’s swag collection?

During the engineering onsite in Montreal, Domenic gave me a box of star-shaped mints with a logo of a falcon on roller skates. The mints were great, and I loved the design!

What’s the most fun or memorable team activity you’ve participated in at Plotly?

One Friday, we had an Engineering Social on a video call where we played a drawing game. It was a fun way to unwind. It helped me connect with people I wouldn’t have otherwise interacted with.

What’s your favorite way to connect with your team remotely?

I really enjoy pair programming. It’s one of the best ways I’ve gotten to know my teammates — when we run into an issue, hopping on a call to debug together is always faster. Plus, it’s a great way to learn from each other.

What is your favorite hobby? Or what do you do outside of work?

I love playing piano and making music. I also enjoy sewing, drawing, and exploring new creative hobbies. On top of that, I love spending time with my nieces and nephews — babysitting them is a big part of my life outside of work.

Anything you’ve read recently that has impacted you?

I recently read The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson, and it really stuck with me. It’s written from the perspective of someone whose aunt was murdered, and it made me think differently about the true crime genre. It’s a fascinating and thought-provoking read.

Have you explored any AI-driven tools or techniques in your work on Plotly’s libraries, and if so, how have they impacted your development process?

I’ve been using Copilot for the last couple of years, and it has helped me to speed up my work a lot. It especially helps me with repetitive and tedious tasks.

Interested in joining the Plotly team? Explore our career opportunities.