a bittersweet departure from Energous

Today is a little bittersweet as I was laid off from Energous. I can't say I didn't see this coming because the tech industry has been hit hard by layoffs in the past several months. However, losing a job sucks no matter the cirumstance. Even though we are a unique company and don't have many competitors, the market is the deciding factor. Innovation does not always translate to success.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, my two years at Energous couldn't have been better. I got to work with an awesome team and learned many useful things. Another great thing about Energous was the catered lunches. Food always brings people together, and the best part is we had a different menu each time. I'm aware that a free lunch is very small in the grand scheme of things, but can't say I'm not bummed.

One thing for sure is that I'll miss my co-workers. Tomas was a really cool guy and certainly knew how to keep everyone in high spirits. I'm also going to miss Allison as we had so many common interests, and that she was someone I really enjoyed talking to. She was very supportive when she found out I was losing my job. I made sure to give her a big hug before we parted ways.

Of course, job hunting is always going to be a challenge. I suspect it's going to take longer this time due to the current state of the economy. However, I'm not planning to rush into things because finding a job that fits is far more important than getting one as soon as possible. But wish me luck — I'm going to need it for sure. *fingers crossed*

Currently listening to: "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses

a busy but awesome weekend

It had been a busy few days as we had to replace some water pipes that had been leaking for a while. We also had to repair a fence gate. I also had to prepare a PowerPoint presentation for a work demo. However, the weekend wasn't too bad otherwise as we went to a party at my mom's friend Carol's house!

Several weeks ago, my dad noticed the water bill was much higher than normal. We did an inspection and found that some leaks in at least two pipes. I hate to think how much money and water was wasted as this had been going on for several months. However, our neighbor Bob was had kindly offered to help us with the repairs. We agreed to do this on Monday as Bob needed to get parts. In the meantime, my dad and I also repaired a gate to our backyard after it fell off its hinges.

The other thing is my BMW failed a smog check a while ago. We were told there was a problem with the oxygen sensor, and that the best way to reset it is to take the car on a drive of around 50 miles. Our plan was to go to WinCo Foods in Tracy on Sunday as that was about the right distance. But it just happened that Mom's friend Carol invited us to her house in Pleasanton for lunch. As you could imagine, the three of us were more than happy to oblige.

In any case, all the food was delicious. Everyone had such a great time that we stayed for several hours. I really enjoyed the party even though there was no one else my age. We had planned to still go to WinCo Foods afterwards. But the three of us decided to leave that to another time as it was a little late. I then had to work on a PowerPoint presentation for a demo scheduled for today at 10 a.m.

Bob came over this afternoon to help us replace the pipes. Even with his help, this was a huge job and took several hours. I was also quite busy today due to some work-related deadlines. However, the good news is I found some free time after dinner and managed to hit 2,600 skill total in RuneScape on my alt account Traductus. Didn't think that would happen so soon. :-)

Currently listening to: "Now We Are Free" by Lisa Gerrard

first day at Energous

I just started working at Energous Corporation as a senior software QA engineer. Energous is a company based in San Jose that focuses on wireless power transfer. I'll be responsible for develop test plans and test automation for their wireless power systems.

Our receptionist Allison gave me some papers to sign when I showewd up. She then gave me a tour of the office before leading me to my cubicle. I took a few minutes to log into my laptop and make sure the e-mail works. On a related note, the laptop is a high-end mobile workstation with an octo-core Intel Core-i9 processor, 32 MB of memory and an Nvidia Quadro T2000 GPU. It's certainly comparable to the gaming laptop I got last September.

A short time later, my boss showed me around the labs and introduced me to my co-workers. Everyone was friendly and very helpful. It kind of sucks we weren't allowed to shake hands. The office feels a little empty as most people are working from home, but that's not a problem because I'm sure I'll get to know everyone soon enough. I spent the rest of the day studying the documentation and source code repositories.

Starting a new job is always an exciting experience. Although things were a little different this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that didn't make my first day any less enjoyable. Allison says we usually have free lunches five days a week — which is very generous in my opinion — but they have been suspended since the pandemic began. On the bright side, there's no shortage of snacks. I can't complain about the fact that my boss wants me at the office for the next few days. :P

Tuesday update

The company gave me a T-shirt and a goodie bag that includes a stainless steel water bottle, a 400 lumen flashlight and a multi-tool. It also contains sanitary items like wipes and masks. I'm so glad to work at Energous.

But things didn't go without a hitch. I must admit I forgot to bring my badge on the second day of the job. Yeah... that's what happens when you work from home for over a year.

In other news...

Happy anniversary to my parents!

Currently listening to: "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen

Memorial Day + leaving Silicon Labs

Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. I definitely had a good time even though we didn't go far.

Dad wanted to take us to Half Moon Bay on Saturday as we hadn't been there since October. However, none of us really felt like going there as it was pretty hot outside. After debating for some time, the three of us decided to turn around and go home after reaching Woodside. But that didn't matter too much because we had a good weekend otherwise.

We went hiking on Stevens Creek Trail on Sunday before going to Smart & Final for groceries. I decided to try out some José Olé burritos as the price was a too good to pass up. Despite the praise, they aren't as good as we expected. Guess you can't always trust reviews.

Mom suggested going to Cost Plus World Market because I've been wanting to go there for a while. Our last time here was over a year ago. I always love shopping here because there's so many snacks from different countries. Dad decided to take us to Daiso and Mitsuwa Marketplace in the afternoon. I was surprised to find both places so crowded. It's hard to believe there's still a pandemic going on. Can't wait for things to go back to normal soon.

Last week at Silicon Labs

The other big news is that I've made the difficult decision to resign from Silicon Labs. You may remember that I joined last November as a remote employee. However, the company is changing its remote policy and plans to require all remote employeees to relocate to their home office. Having considered different options, my family decided that the cost of moving to Boston was too high.

On that note, I've accepted a position at a San Jose-based company called Energous. It's definitely great to go back to a job that's closer to home. :-)

Currently listening to: "Aloha, E komo Mai" by Jump5

first day at Silicon Labs

I'm excited to announce that I've started a new position at Silicon Labs as a senior software QA engineer. It also counts as a promotion because this is my first senior role. :-)

Silicon Labs is a leading manufacturer of semiconductors and IoT devices. For those curious, my job is to expand test automation for their wireless products. I definitely hope to put the knowledge I gained from previous jobs to good use. Also worth mentioning is that everyone is very friendly and helpful. I work from home at the moment but certainly hope to meet them in person soon enough.

But there's also a challenge: as mentioned earlier, the team is based in Boston. Although they're letting me work remotely during the pandemic, the company expects me to move to the East Coast in the future. This is going to be a huge change in my life for sure. I guess I'll worry about that when the time comes.

Currently listening to: New Super Mario Bros. overworld theme

last day at Intel + future plans

It's a bittersweet day as I was laid off from Intel due to the pandemic. However, things are OK otherwise as I already have a job offer.

End of a chapter

As mentioned earlier, our group took a major hit due to coronavirus-related cancellations. For example, the 2020 Summer Olympics have been postponed for at least a year. To cut costs, upper management had to let people go. It's quite unfortunate because I've been an Intel fan a long time.

Despite recent events, my experience at Intel has been overwhelmingly positive. One memorable moment was going to Oregon last year. It was my first time flying on a private jet and also my first business trip. Oregon is also a beautiful state. Even though I wasn't there for leisure and didn't have time to visit any attractions, the trip certainly felt like a vacation to me.

We also had a Diversity Day event last April. It was cool to meet people from different cultures. I also enjoyed trying different foods and watching the performances. Imagine my disappointment when this year's event got canceled due to the pandemic.

I'm definitely a bit sad to leave this job. But what really sucks is not being able to properly say goodbye to my co-workers. Sending a farewell email or message on Slack just isn't the same. However, my manager said she'd love to put together a team reunion once the pandemic is over. It's certainly something I'm looking forward to.

A cross-country move?

The good news is that I already have a verbal offer from Silicon Labs. I'm still in the interview process, but the formal offer should come very soon. Everything certainly looks good so far.

But there are also challenges: the team is based all the way in Boston. Although this position is currently remote, the company has hinted that I may have to relocate when the pandemic ends. On the bright side, Boston is a pretty nice place. At least that was the case when we went there 15 year ago. I'm excited to see what the future has to offer.

October 16 update: Silicon Labs has sent me a formal offer. I accepted it as this is a company I want to work for. Here's to looking forward to the next chapter.

Currently listening to: Final Fantasy VII soundtrack - "Cid's Theme" by Uematsu Nobuo

got a cool new gaming laptop

I recently acquired an interest in autonomous vehicles and am considering working with them at my next job. In order to prepare for interviews, I've been experimenting with a tool called CARLA that is used for autonomous driving research. Because this program has high system requirements, my father decided that it was time to get me a new computer. After some consideration, Dad and I agreed that an MSI GL75 Leopard gaming laptop would be the best.

In any case, my new computer has a hexa-core processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB solid-state drive. It also has a really fast GTX 1660 Ti GPU. This computer is definitely the fastest I've had so far. Thanks, Dad!

Currently listening to: Final Fantasy VII soundtrack – "One Winged Angel" by Nobuo Uematsu

challenging times ahead

It looks like the COVID-19 pandemic is now having a bigger effect on my life. I've been told by my manager that I'm affected by a layoff and will be let go in mid-October unless I can secure an internal transfer.

I've mentioned before that I'm in the Intel Sports Group. Our organization provides a platform that allows users to experience sporting events in virtual reality. But due to the pandemic, several of our projects have been shelved indefinitely due to the cancelation of such events. As a result of these delays and an uncertain future, the company has announced that people will be let go.

This is unfortunate because Intel has always been one of my favorite companies. To make matters worse, chances are we won't get to properly say goodbye to our co-workers due to social distancing rules. One thing for sure is that job hunting is going to be much harder during a pandemic. However, the good news is that my boss has told me I don't actually need to work between now and my employment end date. I really appreciate that I can use this transition period to prepare for interviews. *crosses fingers*

first time volunteering in 16 years!

One great thing about Intel is that the company encourages people to do community service. Although this is something I've wanted to do for a while, there was never much of an opportunity due to time constraints. It's great to know that Intel not only allows, but actually encourages people to take time out to volunteer.

So my boss organized a volunteer event at a local church. I was pretty busy due to a work deadline but figured it wouldn't hurt to give up a few hours. Good thing I did because everyone else in my team showed up. Even my second-level manager joined us!

We arrived at the Cathedral of Faith in San José around 9 a.m. The pastor gave a brief speech before we went to our assigned areas. Our team performed two main tasks: filling the carts with food and loading them onto vehicles that will deliver them to families in need. It was physically exerting but certainly beats sitting in the office. :-)

Our plan was to have coffee at the church's café afterwards, but we decided to head back to the office after finding out the café was closed. On the whole, this was a wholesome experience. I think we definitely need to do this again in the future!

Currently listening to: "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel

a very happy 34th birthday

I just turned 34 years old. It was certainly one of my best birthdays ever!

One great thing is that our team at Intel regularly celebrates birthdays. They got me a pineapple cream cake and asked me to share my best birthday memory — which was my 20th for those curious. It's been a long time since I've celebrated a birthday with so many people. I definitely have the best co-workers. :-)

Although we didn't go to any restaurants this year, my mother made us a nice meal after I got home. Because we weren't sure whether the PG&E outages would affect us, she also made a delicious dinner for me yesterday as an early celebration. I'm blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

Currently listening to: "Together Forever" by Rick Astley

my first business trip!

I went to Oregon today to meet with a team we've been working with. This was my first business trip ever, first time flying on a private jet and also first time flying alone without my parents. It was definitely a new experience for me!

It was a little exhausting as I had to get up pretty early to catch the 7:45 a.m. shuttle to the Intel Air Shuttle terminal for the 8:30 a.m. flight to Hillsboro. I was actually supposed to arrive even earlier, but the 7:30 a.m. flight was fully booked. At any rate, check-in was very fast as we only had to show our ID and Intel badge. Not having to go through TSA was pretty nice. :-)

The plane was very small and not unlike the one we took to Sacramento during our second trip to Yellowstone. I was a little nervous about flying alone withouytmy parents, but that wasn't a problem as the other passengers were all co-workers. There was Wi-Fi access, although it was very slow most of the time. I tried to get some work done but decided to get some rest instead after not being able to receive any emails. No wonder people say Gogo Inflight Internet sucks.

I took the shuttle to the meeting location after we landed. The campus was located in a quiet area away from the city center. Our office was a nice place and had a startup vibe. I really enjoyed meeting the other team and wish we had more opportunities to work together. Even though I had to leave early to catch the shuttle, I don't think I missed much as the final meeting was almost over.

The flight back to San Jose was pretty smooth. The shuttle took me back to the Santa Clara office, where my parents picked me up. On the whole, this was an interesting experience. It's too bad there was no time for sightseeing as this was a business trip and I had a tight schedule. This reminds me - our last visit to the Pacific Northwest was over 11 years ago. Looks like we're overdue for another trip there. :-)

an exciting new career at Intel

I'm thrilled to say that I started my new job today at Intel. It's definitely great to be back in action after being laid off in October. For those curious, I'll be doing quality assurance for the Intel Sports team.

The morning consisted of the new employee orientation. The speaker went over Intel's history and benefits before an IT guy showed us how to set up our work computers. Our badges were then delivered to us. Breakfast and lunch were both served during the orientation!

After everything was said and done, someone led us to the building with my actual office. I met up with my boss before spending the afternoon setting up accounts and completing the online training required for new employees. It's easy to get lost here as the building is huge, but I'm sure I'll know my way around soon enough. It's actually a nice place to work as the building contains cafeterias and lounges with TVs and games. I'm definitely loving my new job so far.

Of note is that Dad used to work at Intel many years ago. I'm sure he can give me advice about the company's culture. Like father, like son.

Currently listening to: "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC

last day at Mocana

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

The week started badly as I was unexpectedly laid off from Mocana. I officially hate Mondays. :-(

You may recall that I joined last year as a software QA engineer. According to my boss, the company was shifting its focus to a new product and no longer needed my services. Although he was satisfied with my performance, this is cold comfort and doesn't really help. This is unfortunate because I really loved my job and the people there.

Looking back

While my career at Mocana didn't end the way I wanted it to, there were some great memories. The holiday cruise was definitely one of my favorite moments. The summer potluck and the Thanksgiving feast were also enjoyable. The catered lunches and snacks were pretty nice too. The best thing about working at small companies is that everyone is like family.

All that having been said, the most important thing for me right now is finding a new job. So wish me luck on my job search!

Currently listening to: "All the Small Things" by Blink-182

first day at Mocana

I started working at Mocana today as a software QA engineer. Mocana is a San Francisco-based startup that provides security for IoT devices. I'm definitely loving my new job so far!

The day began with our IT guy Raymond giving me my computer and setting up my company e-mail. Some time later, my boss Wesley introduced me to the other team members before helping me become familiar with our development tools. He says some people prefer to work from home due to traffic, but I'm sure I'll get to meet everyone soon enough.

Another nice thing about Mocana is that we have catered lunches twice a week - which Amazon Lab126 didn't have. Although it was too late to order mine, our accountant Linda ordered an extra sandwich for me. That is something I greatly appreciate. Of note is that there was a protest going on outside the office during lunch. I wanted to check it out but didn't feel too comfortable going too far from the office without being more familiar with the area. One step at a time I guess!

One of the best things about small companies is that everyone is like family. The only downside is that I have a long commute. Because the company is based in San Francisco, I have to take Caltrain and then transfer to BART before finally getting off at Embarcadero station. On the other hand, our office is in a nice part of town. There are lots of things to do and no shortage of restaurants. I also have plenty of chances to meet interesting people. Life is good.

Currently listening to: "Play That Song" by Train

new job coming soon!

The job search didn't take long as I've received an accepted an offer from a company called Mocana. The company produces security software for IoT devices. This job seems like the perfect fit for me because computer security has always been one of my interests. Although the office is pretty far in San Francisco, the office is located in a nice part of town. It's a long commute, but at least I can read some books and get some rest during the train ride.

If everything goes to plan, I should start at the beginning of next month. I'm pretty excited.

last day at Lab126

I got some bad news: my boss at Amazon Lab126 told me today that I was being letting me go. I don't want to disclose too much details except that my boss said I was no longer a good fit for the team. I understand that people are let go from companies all the time for various reasons, but I can help but feel a bit angry and betrayed, especially considering that I've been at Amazon for five years. To put it lightly, this really sucks.

The worst part is that I didn't get to say goodbye to most of my co-workers. Although the company was decent enough to not immediately escort me out like many other companies would do, my parents had advised me to keep quiet due to a potential legal case. Therefore, I didn't say anything to most people except a girl who seemed to guessed what happened. Oh well, time to start a job search.

Although this wasn't the way I wanted to leave Amazon, I've definitely had good memories working there. One of my favorites was the Amazon Fire TV launch. It feels great to be part of the team that made such an amazing product possible. The family picnics and post-holiday celebrations were great too. I certainly hope my next job will be just as awesome - if not better. :-)

Currently listening to: Overture No.1 in C major - Passepied by J. S. Bach

check out the Fire App Builder!

Our team at Amazon Lab126 just released the an open source library called the Fire App Builder. Internally known as Calypso, the Fire App Builder is a Java-based framework that allows easy creation of streaming media apps for the Amazon Fire TV. It's more for developers rather than end users, but feel free to check it out. :-)

my thirty years on their shoulders

I just turned 30 years old. It's hard to believe I've spent three decades on Earth. Where did all that time go?

Of note is that we didn't have a fancy celebration this year. Instead, I had a quiet dinner with my parents at a small Japanese restaurant called Joy Sushi. Though the food was pretty average, there are few things better than sharing a meal with two of the most wonderful people in my life.

I also received some birthday rewards: a cinnamon roll from Le Boulanger, some Baskin-Robbins ice cream and an item from Starbucks - my choice being a sandwich as it was the best deal. The nice thing is that all three stores were within walking distance. Freebies aren't quite the same as presents from friends, but I can't complain.

In other news...

1. Amazon just announced the second-generation Fire TV earlier this month. To celebrate the launch, Lab126 had an event at Campo di Bocce in Los Gatos. It was definitely lots of fun. Click here the pictures.

2. Dad recently got some dash cameras for our family cars. These cameras are useful for investigations in the event of an accident or other incidents. They'll also allow us to record road trips. :-)

3. Congratulations to my LAHS classmate Derek on getting married!

Currently playing: Angry Birds Friends

Check out the new Fire TV Stick from Amazon!

You may remember that we released the Fire TV set-top box in April. That was definitely a highlight of my career. In the same vein, I'm thrilled to say that the Fire TV Stick is now available!

The Fire TV Stick is similar to the Fire TV in terms of functionality but has a smaller form factor. The device is only $39 each, making it cheaper than the Chromecast or Roku. It starts shipping in November but can be pre-ordered right now. Amazon Prime members can get the Fire TV Stick for $19 - which is less than half price. Just make sure to be quick as the Amazon Prime deal only lasts two days. :-)

Disclaimer: All views expressed in this post are solely my own. I do not represent Amazon in any official capacity.

sometimes I miss the '80s...

Last week saw the release of the Amazon Fire TV streaming media player. Of course, no product launch is complete without some sort of celebration. To that end, Lab126 had a launch party at Firehouse Grill & Brewery in Sunnyvale this afternoon.

The project founders were such big fans of Ferris Bueller's Day Off that the Fire TV was code named Bueller. It only made sense that we used it to play the movie on the restaurant's projector screen. The events team also set up additional devices for gaming and retro music. The '80s theme was a nice touch.

There was also tons of food, including a cake made to look like Ferris Bueller's famous Corvette. It was an amazing event for sure. I'm sure you want to see the pictures, so here they are. :-)

Currently watching: Ferris Bueller's Day Off