Meet Philip McGrath, Software Engineer, Full Stack
Life at Plotly: People & Culture Blog #20
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work at Plotly?
In this blog series, we will provide insight into the daily experiences of working at Plotly. We have interviewed team members from various departments, including Engineering, Customer Success and Solutions, Sales, and Professional Services, to give a comprehensive view of Plotly.
What would you say to someone who was considering Plotly as a place to work?
I would say it’s a very supportive atmosphere, and I really appreciate the back-and-forth discussions. Not all of us agree or share the same opinions, but that’s a positive thing. Whether you’re new or have been here for years, your opinion is taken seriously.
I feel very heard at Plotly, which is incredibly valuable, especially in the tech space. It’s a very supportive environment, and everyone is approachable. For example, I could message anyone from new hires to the leadership team and have my thoughts or concerns listened to.
What is your favorite part about working for Plotly?
From an engineering perspective, I really enjoy the projects I get to work on, especially the ownership I have over them and the access to experienced team members. Being involved in the planning stages and having a say as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) made it feel like my project, not just something I was monitoring. I particularly enjoy the development phase and it is great taking things from start to finish — from design to product.
Even in product conversations, I still have a say, which I appreciate. Technically, the system we work on is very complex and interesting, providing a fun coding environment with lots of experienced people. There are complex problems to solve, and the product itself is exciting to work on. As a developer, you can dive as deep into technical or design aspects as you’d like.
Why did you choose to work at Plotly? What made us stand out?
My background is in data analytics, and I used Plotly’s Python libraries years ago while doing my Master’s. What stood out to me when I was looking for a new job is that the data analytics space can often be dominated by an old-school finance perspective, where innovation and newer tech aren’t a focus. That was the case at my previous company, where they focused solely on the finance side.
When I researched Plotly, I saw all the community work and how other companies were using Plotly in diverse ways. Data analytics, like statistics, can be a very dry topic if it’s not allowed to be used in innovative ways and here we have a cool community doing so. The ‘Figure Friday’ initiative is a great example of that — it’s a vibrant and exciting data analytics space.
What three words describe your Plotly experience?
Supportive, Challenging, & Rewarding
In a few sentences, what do you do at Plotly?
I’m an engineer on the applications team, working on Dash Enterprise (DE). I work across the entire platform stack; the UI, backend API, and our Kubernetes cluster infrastructure.
What is the most significant thing you have learned while working here?
Working here has improved my understanding of the full project lifecycle management. From a technical perspective, I’ve gained valuable experience with advanced tools like Kubernetes. I’ve enjoyed being involved in the ideation process, going through product planning, project requirements, design overview, and development work.
Here, we focus on thinking long-term and considering how changes will impact other parts of the system. Madhu, our Director of Engineering, often asks, ‘What problem does this solve?’ This mindset helps us constantly add value, solve customer problems, and even anticipate issues before they arise.
What are your proudest accomplishments so far during your time at Plotly?
The data sources project was great to start and then come back to finish. It’s important because other projects will be built on top of it. It was exciting to build a product that will be so widely used and useful. For a first iteration, it’s really polished, which isn’t always the case with initial versions of projects.
Do you have a mentor or role model? Who are they, and what are they like?
I had a professor during my undergrad, Peter Duffy, who was incredibly intelligent and a charismatic lecturer which can be difficult when teaching physics. He was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had and made the topics he taught very engaging. If you didn’t do well on your assignments, he was always understanding and would take the time to go over them with you. He shaped how I’d like to be in the future — capable but personable.
Have you read, watched, or listened to anything recently that has really impacted you?
Actually, our own Greg Wilson, the Engineering Manager in Libraries, recommended a book to me called An Immense World. It explores the different experiences animals go through — like how insects have to deal with the surface tension of water, something we don’t even think about. I started reading it a few weeks ago, and it offers a fascinating perspective on the world. Another book I’m reading is An Irish Atlantic Rainforest which touches on topics like rewilding, the Pacific Northwest, and how Ireland could be covered in temperate rainforests. There’s a lot of interesting discussion about climate change and rewilding, where the idea is that most of the time, we just need to let nature do its thing and nurture the return of biodiversity.
Do you have a secret talent, or (superpower) you want people to know about?
I’m really fast at building LEGO sets, though I’m not particularly innovative or imaginative with them. I’ve done a few, including an old Jeep Wrangler set, which I completed in about two hours — and it wasn’t small! I didn’t realize I had this talent, especially with the flower sets my fiancee received as a gift. They were quite intricate and I managed to complete three of them in an evening.
I was looking into world records, and while I’m not quite there, I’m in the 75th percentile.
What is your favorite activity outside of work?
About a year ago, I was really into weightlifting and Olympic lifting, and I was an avid weightlifter. Since moving to British Columbia (BC), I’ve gotten into biking and have been gathering gear for it. Biking around the Greater Vancouver area has been really enjoyable. Hoping to do a +200km tour around Vancouver Island next year.
What is your favorite place to travel?
We’re big fans of Western Ireland, especially places like Galway and Connemara. Our next trip is to Mexico, and since moving to BC, we’ve also visited New York. My partner is a massive fan of New York.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I love living in BC, especially the culture and living in Vancouver. If I could live anywhere, it would be the Swiss Alps. It’s an incredible place, and I’ve always had such wonderful experiences there.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
A nice mechanical keyboard is tied to my job — it’s the first thing I buy whenever I move.
What do you enjoy most about the team you work with?
They have a great eye for development, and I’m always impressed with the questions and discussions they bring to meetings. I wish I were as opinionated as they are, but I’m learning from that. Their insight makes for more interesting meetings, better conversations, and stronger development solutions. Honestly, everyone is really smart, insightful, and well-informed.
How do you envision the future of Plotly and your role in it?
I’m really interested to see how App Studio informs our decisions going forward. I’m curious about how we progress with it and feel that, with our community, smaller offerings and more tailored experiences could benefit both myself as a developer and Plotly. It opens up a lot of opportunities, especially for university teams that don’t have the budget for DE but could still benefit from improved data analytics.
Looking to join the Plotly team? View our open positions!
