Name: Siera Ford
Title: Software Development Engineer in Test
Department: Engineering
Tenure with PickTrace: Since 2021

RAPID FIRE:

• Grew Up In: All over Southern CA. I was born in Orange County, moved to Big Bear, then to Santa Clarita, then to La Cañada, and finally Santa Barbara where I’ve stayed.
• Currently Lives In: Carpinteria, CA
• Star Sign: Sagittarius
• What’s the last meal you ate?: Dunkin’ Donuts – got a large iced coffee and an egg wrap
• Favorite TV show?: I don’t watch a ton of TV, but I really like lighthearted funny classics like Friends or any reality competition shows
• If you could have any superpower what would it be?: Being able to talk with animals

  You recently  transitioned from the QA team to SDET, what are you most enjoying about your new role?

• I really like the technical challenge that it provides. For years I’ve been interested in coding more and being able to build solutions that make people’s lives easier. As an SDET, I can create automated tests that help QA and Engineering to move quickly and safely, and I get to help make sure that our customers have the best possible user experience.
• It feels like magic sometimes when you create an automated test and see how fast it runs. I get a thrill from building things and seeing them work.

What’s a favorite memory from your 3 years at PickTrace?

• Every single time I get to visit a customer and be out in the field is a huge win for me. When I think back it’s those moments I feel really grateful for what we’re working on, who we can help, and the impact we’re having. Catching a sunrise in the field truly never gets old.
• A specific onsite that’s a favorite memory is the Onboarding team’s trip to Washington when we were launching that product. It was so exciting to see what we’d been working so hard on to be used by real people. And it was such a blast bonding with the team in person – at one point I was laughing so hard I was crying. I think all of us had so much fun. 

What are your hobbies and passions outside of work? 

• I love taking my dogs to the beach – that’s my favorite thing to do
• Any outdoor adventure – hiking, biking, snowboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, etc.
• My fiance and I have been playing a lot of pickleball lately and he’s teaching me how to skateboard 
• My side passion for the past couple years has been getting the dog park built in Carpinteria – we just had the grand opening two weeks ago. There was a ribbon cutting, hot dog vendors, the local news was there! The dogs benefit from it, but so do I. It’s a special community of people that I probably wouldn’t get to know otherwise. 

Do you have any guiding principles or quotes that you live by?

• “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf”

If you were a fruit or vegetable what would you be and why?

• Cherry Tomato – I love them; I love eating them and growing them. They’re versatile, vibrant, and they thrive in the sunshine. I love summer and the sun so it feels fitting.