Great engineering is as much about mindset as it is about skill, and Matt Kearney brings both in equal measure. As a Software Engineer II at Wayfair, Matt has spent the past year and a half making a meaningful impact through his sharp problem-solving, ownership of complex challenges and consistently positive approach to teamwork.
Recently recognized for both his technical strength and outstanding character, Matt is the kind of teammate who raises the bar for those around him. His calm confidence and collaborative spirit have made him a trusted partner and a valued member of our engineering organization.
Read on to learn more about Matt and the work he's doing to help build what’s next at Wayfair.
What project or accomplishment are you most proud of in your time here?
There was a project where my team had a constraint where only a fraction of data was available when we were testing code. I was able to build an application from the ground up that allows data to be copied from production, as well as customized to fit specific test cases.
It started out as just a tool our team used, but recently has grown interest for more use cases. It’s really fulfilling to see an app I made help other people, and to be able to improve it for them.
What do you enjoy most about working at Wayfair?
The thing I enjoy most is easily the people that I work with. I’m lucky to get to work with a group of such smart and inspiring people. Their contagious passion pushes me to work harder and be better at what I do.
How do you stay calm and confident in your work when tasked with complex situations?
The first thing I do is communicate with my team if something is not going as expected. Sometimes I just need to lock in and work at it for a few hours, and sometimes I reach out for help if it’s out of my domain.
I try to stay humble by saying, “There’s no such thing as magic in software engineering.” The problem I’m dealing with has a solution, someone knows it, and soon, I will too.
What does “home” mean to you?
“Home” to me is where I’ve made fond memories with the people I care about, and the place where I will make many more.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I actually wanted to be a software engineer!
I’ve always enjoyed coding and working with computers. One thing led to another, and I’m happy to say that I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do!
What’s your favorite Wayfair product that you’ve purchased?
One of my favorite products I’ve gotten from Wayfair is my
Design Inn Smart Electronic Kitchen Scale. I love to bake and this product helps me so much in the kitchen!