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Richard Schmitz

Software Development Engineer at Amazon

Richard Schmitz is a Staff Software Engineer at Circle, a position he has held since joining the company at the end of 2022.12 With a background in software engineering, Richard brings extensive experience to his role at Circle.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Circle, Richard spent 8 years at Amazon and AWS from 2014 to 2022, where he worked as a Senior Software Engineer.2 During his time at Amazon, he:

  • Led the migration of over 60 on-premises applications to AWS
  • Designed and implemented marketplace facilitator tax collection
  • Collaborated with cross-functional stakeholders
  • Served as an Amazon Bar-Raiser, interviewing over 170 applicants across 20 teams
  • Mentored 8 engineers on technical and communication skills

Education

Richard holds a Bachelor's degree in Combined Physics and Biochemistry from the University of Victoria, which he completed in 2012.2

Current Role at Circle

As a Staff Software Engineer at Circle, Richard is responsible for:

  • Owning trading and pricing software
  • Recognizing and addressing issues within the company's technical infrastructure
  • Advocating for change when the status quo isn't working
  • Contributing to the broader organizational context and technical architecture

In his blog, Richard shares insights about joining a new company as a senior individual contributor, emphasizing the importance of ramping up, understanding the company's context, and making impactful contributions.1

Personal Interests

Outside of his professional life, Richard enjoys:

  • Playing with his children
  • Strumming his guitar
  • Reading
  • Hiking with his dog, Ella

Richard maintains a personal blog where he shares his thoughts on software engineering, career development, and his experiences in the tech industry.2

Highlights

Joining a New Company as a Senior IC - Richard Schmitz

Related Questions

What specific projects has Richard Schmitz worked on at Circle?
How did Richard Schmitz's experience at Amazon and AWS prepare him for his role at Circle?
What challenges did Richard Schmitz face when joining Circle as a senior IC?
What strategies did Richard Schmitz use to ramp up quickly at Circle?
How did Richard Schmitz's background in physics and biochemistry influence his career in software engineering?
Richard Schmitz
Richard Schmitz, photo 1
Richard Schmitz, photo 2
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Location

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada