We sat down with Reto Strobl, an engineering manager at Google Zurich, about how he fell in love with computer science, why he likes being a Googler and what he enjoys about Google Zurich.
Reto: I got into computer science in college after a friend told me about algorithms—that writing a good one was like solving a riddle. I ended up getting a master’s in computer science at ETH Zurich, with specializations in computer vision, cryptography and system engineering. I worked at IBM while getting my PhD, and I built a content management system at a friend’s startup. Then I came to Google eight years ago. I wanted to work here as soon as I heard Google was coming to Switzerland.
Reto: I’m an engineering manager for AdWords for Video. I manage a team of 20+ engineers and collaborate with test engineers and UX designers. I also do a lot of hands-on development. I built this team more than a year ago and AdWords for Video has grown exponentially since we started.
Reto: I love working with such great people. The Googlers on my team are extremely dedicated and collaborative. I guess that’s the norm at Google, of course, but I can’t help but be struck by it every day I work with my team. It’s also pretty fun to see bloggers writing about a technology you’ve worked on—especially as traffic rises. Our teams get to have a huge impact.
Reto: Zurich is home to a lot of Googlers. There’s a critical mass here with lots of fascinating people to get to know. Additionally, the location is great. It’s 50 minutes to skiing by train, and we have easy access to 12 of the world’s finest mountains. It’s quite bike-friendly and lots of Zooglers bike to work.
Reto: True, we do have to work across time zones and sometimes have to travel to the HQ in Mountain View. Travel can be challenging for anyone, especially if you have a family. But I see the cross-country collaboration as a great chance to meet people from around the world and incorporate their perspectives and ideas into my work. And, although it’s not the Alps, I’ll admit the skiing in California is pretty good.
