Abnormal Voices: Meet Yashvi Ramanuj, Engineer
Describe yourself in three words.
Perseverant, Dedicated, Curious.
Tell me what you do at Abnormal in 2-3 sentences.
I work as a Software Development Engineer (SDE2) with the Inbound Data Team (IDT). We’re responsible for building integrations that allow seamless data flow from various platforms to Abnormal, making the ingested data usable for downstream teams. My role involves designing secure, scalable solutions, improving system performance, and collaborating with different teams to enhance functionality and reliability.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day is a mix of coding, design discussions, and collaboration. I spend about 50-60% of my time coding—working on feature development, optimizations, and bug fixes. Another 20-30% is spent on design discussions, code reviews, and brainstorming solutions with my team to ensure we build scalable and efficient systems. The remaining 10-20% is dedicated to cross-team collaboration, documentation, and mentoring junior engineers. While I use AI tools occasionally for code suggestions, debugging assistance, and performance analysis, most of my work is focused on core engineering principles—writing clean, maintainable code and architecting robust solutions.
What’s a project or feature you’ve worked on that made you proud? How did it impact users or the business?
One project I’m particularly proud of is the complete redesign of our OAuth integrations. The original flow had significant friction, which led to a poor user experience. I took the initiative to rework the entire process—redesigning both backend and frontend components—to create a smooth, intuitive experience. The impact was immediate: fewer authentication issues, higher engagement, and improved conversion rates. This project also pushed me to expand my skills by diving into frontend development for the first time.
What’s the most surprising way you’ve seen AI help streamline your work? Any unexpected challenges or learning moments?
One of the most surprising benefits of AI in my workflow is how effortlessly it generates unit tests. Instead of manually writing test cases for hours, I can quickly generate a comprehensive suite that covers various edge cases, allowing me to focus on building core features. AI-driven code suggestions also help refine syntax and improve efficiency. However, AI doesn’t always align with our architectural style or business logic, so it’s essential to balance AI assistance with thorough code reviews to maintain system integrity.
Could you describe a typical technical discussion in your team? How do you collectively approach problem-solving and decision-making?
We start with friendly brainstorming sessions to lay out the problem in simple terms, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Then, we open the floor for ideas—everyone shares their perspective, and we ask plenty of questions to define requirements clearly. We break down complex challenges into smaller, manageable parts and evaluate different solutions together, balancing technical feasibility with effort. Our discussions are highly collaborative, often taking place over quick video calls or shared documents.
What motivates you to come to work each day?
The opportunity to solve complex problems and see the real-world impact of my work keeps me engaged. Knowing that my contributions improve system efficiency, data accuracy, and user experience is highly motivating. Additionally, the culture at Abnormal plays a big role—there’s a strong emphasis on ownership, collaboration, and continuous learning. I appreciate the autonomy to drive meaningful changes and the support from peers who are always willing to brainstorm and troubleshoot together.
Why do you stay at Abnormal?
I stay because of the challenging problems, the culture of ownership, and the opportunity to grow as an engineer. The work isn’t just about writing code—it’s about solving real-world problems at scale and ensuring system reliability in a constantly evolving environment. The engineering culture encourages autonomy, collaboration, and experimentation, and my teammates continuously challenge me to think critically and push boundaries. It’s a place where I feel both valued and challenged.
Tell me about your career journey at Abnormal. How have you grown, and what are your goals for the future?
I joined as an SDE1 when the India office was just getting started—one of the first hires during a period of rapid growth. Initially, I lacked confidence, but working in such an energetic, supportive environment helped me develop my skills and self-assurance. As the office grew tenfold, I took on increasingly challenging projects that allowed me to learn quickly, eventually leading to my promotion to SDE2. Looking ahead, I want to deepen my technical expertise, tackle new problems, and contribute even more to my team’s success.
Tell me about something you’ve learned working at Abnormal that has changed how you work, or your perspective.
One key lesson I’ve learned is the importance of thinking beyond just the code—focusing on long-term impact, scalability, and maintainability rather than quick fixes. Initially, I approached problems with a “solve this bug or implement this feature” mindset, but working here has taught me to ask deeper questions. This shift in perspective has made me a more strategic engineer, ensuring that the solutions I design are effective not just today but in the long run.
What advice would you give to anyone hoping to join Abnormal?
Embrace Ownership – Engineers here have a lot of autonomy, so take initiative. If you see a problem, propose a solution and drive it forward.
Think Beyond Just Code – It’s not just about writing good code, but about scalability, maintainability, and business impact. Be prepared to ask deeper questions and consider the long-term implications of your work.
Stay Curious & Keep Learning – The company values continuous learning, so be excited about tackling new challenges, working with cutting-edge tech, and improving both technically and strategically.
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Here, AI isn’t a tool you adopt—it's the core of how we engineer, innovate, and defend the world from cyber threats. Ready to build cybersecurity's AI-driven future at Abnormal? Check out our open roles.
