Hello, world. I recently left Google after four years on BigQuery. I’m calling this chapter funemployment.
What I was doing
I worked on BigQuery’s internals — the streaming layer, storage APIs, and the plumbing that moves petabytes between query engines and cloud storage. I learned a ton about building systems at massive scale: the engineering rigor it demands, the failure modes you’d never predict, and the operational discipline to keep it all running.
I’m grateful for the experience, but I reached a point where I’d learned what I could and was ready for something different.
What I’m doing now
I’m giving myself space to explore the parts of data systems I never got to touch at BigQuery. At the top of my list:
- Storage engines — I want to understand how data gets laid out on disk and build something from scratch. Row stores, column stores, the whole design space.
- Rust — I’ve been meaning to learn it properly and this feels like the right time. Building low-level systems stuff in Rust just makes sense.
- Building for fun — No PRDs, no design docs, no launch committees. Just picking problems that seem interesting and seeing where they go.
I don’t have a grand plan. I’m just following my curiosity and writing about what I find along the way.
Outside the terminal
I also have more time and energy for things I’d been neglecting — playing guitar and piano, meeting people, cooking, traveling, and actually being present for life outside of work. It feels good.
What’s next
I’m looking for my next role — ideally somewhere smaller, working on hard problems in data infrastructure with people who care about the craft. If that sounds like your team, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
But there’s no rush. Right now I’m enjoying the space to learn, build, and figure out what matters to me.
Say hi
Thanks for reading. If you want to chat about data systems, problems you’re working on, opportunities, or just want to say hi — I’m always happy to connect.