Jose Martinez is a Software Developer Manager working from Mexico City to support Audible’s content and royalties systems. His team helps make it easy for customers to search and access titles on Audible and Amazon surfaces and allows us to continue expanding our catalog of 1 million listens. Hear what he loves about his work and the culture of kindness and growth he’s helping to foster.

Where are you working from?

I’m in an office situated in the heart of Polanco, one of Mexico City's finest neighborhoods. The area is beautiful, with numerous parks, cafés and restaurants, and it sits close to Reforma Avenue, home to the city's most iconic museums. Our team enjoys exploring new spots for coffee, lunch or desserts. I use my lunch breaks as an opportunity to connect with my team and community.

How does your job align with Audible’s mission to surprise and delight listeners around the world?

My team helps ensure the Audible catalog is up to date and current for customers, and we also support royalties on the back end, which is crucial for being able to expand audiobook offerings. Additionally, my team helps Audible’s growing catalog of 1 million titles reach new customers in regions where people have yet to discover Audible.

Can you share a bit about your career journey?

I began supporting Audible in May 2023 as an Amazon Support Engineering Manager. As part of my initial responsibilities, I created a team that would provide support to the software engineering teams for Audible’s content and royalties systems. After a successful first year, where we demonstrated positive results, I was given the opportunity to create a second team to provide support to Audible’s content and fintech teams.

The success of both teams led to an opportunity to transition to my current role as an Amazon Software Development Manager, this time with the mission of building a team responsible for making titles in Audible’s catalog available for download.

Can you share about a time when a leader empowered you to take on a challenge or explore a new area?

In my day-to-day work, my leaders empower me to take on new challenges. Everything starts with a clear definition of a focused goal that is achievable, but requires extra effort to accomplish. Without a doubt, reaching these goals gives me a sense of satisfaction and growth.

One example: when my manager encouraged me to increase my team's job satisfaction above the organization's established percentage; this is an important metric that reflects our team members' wellbeing. It was an exciting challenge that led me to evolve my leadership style and take it to new horizons, and my team was the main beneficiary. 

How do you draw inspiration from culture and technology?

I see myself as a curious individual who thrives on learning about new topics, people and cultures. Study has become one of my core habits, and I dedicate weekly time to staying current with the technology that surrounds us and plays a crucial role in my work.

As a leader, I believe in leading by example, striving to inspire my team and colleagues by acknowledging my own growth areas and working diligently to improve them. I love engaging in meaningful conversations and learning from others. Through consistent study, maintaining a curious mindset, and nurturing a network of people who contribute to my growth, I find inspiration for myself and, in turn, inspire my team and community.

Can you share about a time you were an advocate or ally for someone else, or for a group of people? How did that experience make you feel?

Several internal opportunities became available for my team members and colleagues to pursue, and although many were interested, it was a new process, so only a few people stepped forward. Upon realizing this, I provided support and guidance by addressing people’s questions, helping them write documents demonstrating their readiness, and finding qualified reviewers to evaluate the candidates' achievements. As a result, more people successfully transitioned to new roles where they could grow professionally. This opportunity was very rewarding and positively changed the lives of my colleagues.

Can you share about your employee experience and the transition to your new role?

The experience of supporting Audible has been excellent. In my role prior to this, I had many responsibilities, so I needed sufficient time to ensure a proper transition. I received full support from my hiring manager and the Talent Acquisition team to select a start date that would work best for me. Since I hadn't taken a vacation in a long time, I was given the opportunity to take a couple of weeks off to enjoy my honeymoon!

What advice would you have for a candidate considering working on projects supporting Audible?

Experience the quality and dedication of our team members firsthand by enjoying an Audible Original. Aside from that, my advice is simple: stay curious and remain open to daily growth opportunities. You'll have access to numerous resources to help you excel in your role. Most importantly, you'll be surrounded by an incredible support network of talented colleagues with outstanding human qualities, who are eager to share their experience to ensure your success.

Lightning Round!

Favorite genre? Fiction.

Listening from a speaker or headphones? Headphones.

Favorite activity while listening?  Household chores.

Morning person or night owl? Morning person.

Favorite snack? Nerds Gummy Clusters. Gummies. All types of gummies.

What is your favorite listen?

My favorite audiobook is Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins. This incredible memoir of a veteran Navy SEAL chronicles his journey overcoming numerous obstacles and provides practical methods for facing life's challenges. It's truly an inspiring story, and what makes this audiobook even more special is that it includes discussions between the author and the narrator.

See open Technology roles at Audible