Profile: Greg Sauer, QA Engineer
“I’m always wanting to see our products improve, and I get to be that liaison who understands both what the customer wants, and what’s technically feasible.”
Where are you from originally?
Clemson, South Carolina
What did you major in college?
I majored in History.
When did you join NPR?
January 2019. My first day was on my birthday actually! It was quite the present.
What are you currently working on or have you recently worked on?
My team, the voice platforms team, just wrapped up ‘long form news’ on Alexa. It’s a way to get news continuously playing on Alexa devices by simply saying “Alexa, play the news”. It was a great challenge, but seeing the team work together through all of the ups and downs, and then seeing it out in the wild, was incredibly satisfying.
What personally excites you about being a QA Engineer?
I’ve always had a knack for breaking things. Software, hardware, bones, hearts, etc. When I realized I could turn it into a career, I was thrilled. Then once I got into it, I realized how much I enjoy collaborating with design, product, and developers. I’m always wanting to see our products improve, and I get to be that liaison who understands both what the customer wants, and what’s technically feasible.
What is your favorite Serendipity Days project that you worked on?
Well, i’m currently working on my first one! My goal is to install a VPN on a router in our testing room (also known as the Future Home Lab) so we can localize smart devices to member stations in various locations.
When you need to solve a problem with code, do you personally have a preferred programming language?
Python. However that isn’t used on our team, so I’ve been teaching myself node.js.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I love to travel and catch local soccer matches in various countries and experience their cultures. So far, I’ve seen matches here in States, the UK, France, Spain, and Italy. I also enjoy the outdoors, so am always down to go on a hike and garden. Since I live in an apartment, that has led to quite the house plant collection.
What is your favorite Tiny Desk Concert out of the ones you’ve attended?
Oh, this is tough. I’ve seen a handful of great shows, but my favorite was ‘The Comet is Coming’. I had never heard of them, but they caught my interest warming up, so I decided to check them out. And then they just shredded for 20 straight minutes and blew my mind.
Aside from the Tiny Desk Concerts, what are some of your favorite things about working at NPR?
The people of course! I get to work and collaborate with a wonderful group of humans every day. Plus the free books, food, and copious amounts of ‘chill space’.
What are some tech conferences you have attended in the past, and what were your key takeaways?
I recently got back from Google I/O and it was eye opening. They were really emphasizing their commitment to privacy, which is great to hear.
Which tech conferences would you love to attend in the future, and why?
Google I/O was a bucket list conference for me. But after checking that off, I want to go to a conference more focused on testing. I think STAREAST looks like it has been really beneficial to the testing community.
