Rupal Nahar is a software engineer whose work helps us keep the Audible website reliable, secure, and scalable. a member of our employee-led impact group Women in Tech, she’s been rounding out her tech career with volunteering in the community, public speaking training, large-scale presenting, and attending conferences like Grace Hopper. Find out what she loves about working in tech at Audible.

How does your work benefit our customers and your colleagues around the world?

My team supports Audible’s web platform and is responsible for availability of the site, protection from DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service), key integrations including shopping portal, and ensuring common capabilities across teams, such as slate token and customer context. 

What is life like at the hub you’re aligned to?

I’m in the Newark hub, where Audible provides opportunities to volunteer with non-profit organizations and make an impact in the neighborhood. I appreciate how much Audible invests in the community and how easy they make it to sign up.

What was your first Audible listen? What inspired you to check it out? 

The Harry Potter books, narrated by Jim Dale. I love Harry Potter and wanted to reread it. Then I heard from several friends that they listen to it to help them fall asleep, so I wanted to try that technique as well. I can confirm it has proven very effective!

Can you share about a time you had a leader at Audible empower you to take on a challenge?

My first manager at Audible empowered me to take on new challenges by trusting me with ownership and encouraging me to explore unfamiliar technical areas rather than staying in my comfort zone. She was the first female manager I’d ever had, and seeing someone I could envision becoming in a few years increased my confidence and willingness to step up. She modeled empathetic, confident leadership and actively supported my growth. As a result, I grew more confident as an engineer and paid that forward by mentoring an intern, expanding both my technical skills and leadership experience, which helped me grow into my new role.

What was a project where you had to move quickly to make something real?

I worked on migrating the Audible web platform from one AWS region to another. This required quickly developing an end-to-end understanding of the website’s architecture and designing a plan to move to the new region and eventually shift traffic. I proactively identified dependencies early on and coordinated across many teams. By using clear communication and breaking everything down into small pieces, the massive undertaking became manageable with time. The outcome was a deeper shared understanding of our systems, setting us up for a successful migration the next year. 

Can you share about a time you were an advocate or ally for someone else?

Through Audible’s Women in Tech Impact Group, I’ve been part of a Toastmasters chapter that creates a supportive space for women to practice public speaking and leadership. I deeply appreciate this space where we are supporting one another practicing something that is scary for a lot of people. I’ve encouraged teammates to volunteer for speeches and have voted for them for best speech. And people reciprocate that, as well! Participating in this group has shown me that even when my voice shakes, it is carrying something worth saying. With weekly practice I have improved tremendously in my public speaking skills.

Other than the people, what do you love most about the culture here?

I love the numerous growth opportunities at Audible. I recently presented to more than 80 people at a company-wide meeting, which gave me valuable visibility and the opportunity to share learnings at a large scale. I also attended the Grace Hopper Conference in Chicago, which was an incredible opportunity to network with industry leaders and bring back fresh ideas to my team.

What are the benefits you find invaluable for your personal well-being, or that help make both your work life and personal life more fulfilling?

I greatly appreciate the delicious and nutritious free lunch at the office! It saves time I’d otherwise spend planning or preparing meals, which makes my workday feel less stressful and my personal time more relaxed. Plus the chefs are so talented and innovative!

Do you use your engineering skills to make an impact outside of work?

I recently built a community-driven website to help people find Desi (South Asian) dance classes near them. It’s currently live in New York City and the Bay Area. I grew up dancing and continue to regularly attend classes and workshops, but I found it hard to keep track of what was coming up — most information is scattered across social media. I saw an opportunity to use my engineering skills to solve a problem I personally experience by creating a single, community-driven place where people can view and contribute upcoming classes.

It brings together two things I care deeply about: dance and technology. The dance community has given me so much — I’ve learned so many skills, made friends, and it’s a guaranteed mood boost when I’m feeling low — and this felt like a way I could give back.

What’s one quality people interested in working in tech at Audible need in order to be successful here?

In my experience, the skill that really complements technical expertise is communication. Specifically, the ability to explain complex ideas clearly to different audiences. Whether I’m working with stakeholders, collaborating with team members from non-technical backgrounds, or even writing documentation, being able to translate technical concepts into everyday language is invaluable. 

What made you choose to work at Audible, what makes you want to stay?

I love working somewhere people genuinely love the product. Whenever I tell someone I work at Audible, they get excited and share how much they enjoy Audible, which makes me proud to be part of it. On top of that, I love the people I work with. I have smart and kind colleagues who make work feel more enjoyable.

Lightning round!

Favorite genre? Lately, fantasy and fiction.

Listening from a speaker or headphones? Either.

Favorite activity while listening? Commuting and cooking.

Morning person or night owl? Depends on the day!

Favorite snack? Popcorn.

What are you currently listening to?

The Will of the Many — I’m hooked! The writing is great and the narration is so well done.

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