🌱 Why I Choose Values-Driven Engineering (And Why It’s Worth It)

Building a Career in Tech Without Selling Out My Ethics (or My Sanity)

💼 Leaving the Bank, Finding My Path

When I left my job as a software engineer at a big bank, people thought I was taking a risk—financially or professionally. But here’s the thing: I actually got a 25% bump in total comp. What changed wasn’t how the industry saw me. It was how I started defining value for myself.

I didn’t leave because I couldn’t keep up. I left because I was tired of cutting off parts of myself just to fit in.

I wanted to work somewhere that didn’t just “accept” my queer, neurodivergent identity—but recognized it as a strength.

Now I’m on a privacy-focused engineering team at a company that aligns with my values. And honestly? I feel more successful and more myself than I ever did trying to force it in environments that weren’t built for me.

Ethical tech exists. It’s quieter than FAANG, maybe. But it’s doing the work to build the kind of future I actually want to live in.

🔐 Privacy Is People

Privacy engineering isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about protecting people.

Every technical decision—whether it’s a logging config or a policy tweak—is also a moral one. Are we choosing convenience or consent? Are we building for control or for care?

And here’s something we don’t talk about enough: doing privacy work means thinking like someone who wants to break the system and like someone who might be broken by it.

You need both the analytical mindset and the emotional fluency. That’s why having a strong ethical core isn’t just a bonus—it’s the job.

Sure, sometimes the answer is clear. But most of the time? It’s gray. It’s “do we really need to keep these logs?” or “what happens if we just... don’t ask for this data?”

These aren’t Jira-ticket decisions. They’re hallway conversations, gut checks, culture calls.

👥 Why Neurodivergent Engineers Matter

When teams include folks with intersectional, neurodivergent perspectives, it’s not just about inclusion—it’s about building better systems.

We’re the ones who notice when things don’t line up.

We’ve been the edge case.

We know what happens when people like us are left out of the design.

In privacy engineering, that lens matters deeply.

Because this work isn’t just about regulations—it’s about relationships.

And ND engineers often bring:

• The ability to spot unintended side effects before they land

• Comfort with ambiguity and layered thinking

• Creative problem-solving when the obvious path won’t cut it

We’re not risks. We’re signal-boosters. And we’ve earned that insight through lived experience.

🏛️ Trust Is a Long Game

When a company hits a crossroads, it usually faces two choices:

• Ship fast, collect more, optimize for the quarter

• Or pause, listen, and protect trust for the long haul

Too often, it’s the first. But here’s the truth:

Trust is the moat.

It’s your brand, your resilience, your user base.

Lose it, and it’s nearly impossible to rebuild.

I’ve seen the difference when privacy engineers have the power to say, “This doesn’t feel right.” When leadership actually takes that seriously. When teams ask not just, “Can we?” but, “Should we?”

That’s the culture I want to build—and stay in.

🌈 Rethinking Success (My Way)

For me, success isn’t just about comp.

It’s about:

• Doing work that reflects my values

• Having energy left over at the end of the day

• Knowing I’m building tech that protects people, not exploits them

Choosing a values-first path didn’t set me back. It let me grow.

So if you’re wondering whether it’s worth holding out for a workplace that aligns with your ethics—this is your reminder: those places do exist. You’re not too idealistic. You’re just early to the version of tech that’s worth staying in.

Want to build privacy tech that feels like safety, not surveillance? Start by building a home for your values.