From being one of SpotDraft’s earliest engineers to becoming the go-to person for permanent fixes, on-call management, and complex front-end integrations, Sumanth’s 6+ year journey has been all about curiosity, ownership, and quietly raising the engineering bar.

As an engineering manager, he bridges urgent problem-solving with long-term, high-leverage initiatives that shape how SpotDraft scales.

1. What is your role at SpotDraft?

My day-to-day involves managing on-call permanent fixes, helping on-call engineers and the support team, and contributing to high-impact projects that require deep technical focus. I’ve also worked extensively on Angular upgrades, Office plugins, and the OnlyOffice editor integration, projects that demanded both technical depth, patience and persistence.

2. How did you get into engineering?

Honestly, I always wanted to be an engineer. I studied Electronics and Communication and spent a lot of time tinkering with microcontrollers and assembly-level coding. My first job was at Tech Mahindra, testing the Geo 4G platform. That sparked my interest in development, so I started building small projects on the side. Coding became my escape, something I naturally gravitated toward. That curiosity is what eventually led me here.

3. What has changed since you joined SpotDraft?

When I joined SpotDraft, the front-end stack was Angular, which I wasn’t familiar with, I had worked with React and D3.js before. My approach was simple: learn from real-time examples in our codebase. At the end of the day, it’s just a framework. If you understand the fundamentals, you can adapt.

The real challenge wasn’t Angular itself but complex integrations like OnlyOffice. That was tough but also deeply rewarding because it taught me how to navigate unfamiliar territory and figure things out on the fly.

4. What qualities help you thrive in your role?

Curiosity, consistency, and ownership. I believe in showing up every day, exploring the codebase, and asking questions; even if they feel basic. Collaboration matters too, talking through challenges with teammates has led to some of our best fixes.

5. In a high-performance environment like SpotDraft how do you balance work and life?

Yes. SpotDraft pushes you, but in the best way. The flat structure means I can directly engage with leadership, question processes, and take ownership of impactful projects. It’s challenging, but never boring.

For balance, I swim, take long walks, and watch movies. These aren’t just ways to relax, they often help me think through complex issues. I’ve found a rhythm where unwinding actually contributes to problem-solving.
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6. What keeps you motivated in a high-performance environment like SpotDraft?

My growth has been organic. I didn’t plan a fixed career path, I just kept saying yes to challenges. Early on, I worked on ad-hoc tasks and upgrades. Later, I led critical projects for major prospects. Over time, that built trust, confidence, and opportunities for leading.

Learning Angular, leading integrations, and stepping into on-call leadership all came from curiosity and ownership, not a checklist.

‍7. What sets SpotDraft apart from other places you’ve worked?

Three things:

• A flat structure where you can openly talk to executives.
  
• A culture that values ownership and curiosity. You’re encouraged to question and improve processes.
  
• The chance to work on new, challenging problems instead of just maintenance.

At SpotDraft, you’re building, not babysitting. That makes a huge difference.
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8. What advice would you give to new engineers joining SpotDraft?

• Focus on fundamentals. Strong basics will carry you through complex challenges.
  
• Be curious: explore the codebase, documentation, and even repositories.
  
• Don’t rush to learn everything at once. Growth is a continuous process.
  
• Show up every day with curiosity and ownership. That’s what will take you far.