Hardware Podcasts

Solutions Software Engineering with Matthew Sanabria

Oxide and Friends · 7 May 2025 · 1h 31m · Episode 16

What this episode covers

Matthew Sanabria, a Solutions Software Engineer at Oxide Computer Company, discusses his transition from HashiCorp and CockroachDB to joining the hardware startup. He details the role's unique blend of software engineering, customer empathy, and technical breadth, specifically focusing on integrating Oxide's rack-scale computers with Kubernetes, Terraform, and other cloud-native tools. Sanabria also shares insights on hiring criteria, debugging complex plugin ecosystems, and the importance of partnership over vendor relationships in the hardware industry.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Oxide Computer Company, HashiCorp, CockroachDB
Products
Kubernetes, Terraform, OpenTelemetry, Fallthrough
Also
Go, Rust

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 57m

    Finding Hardware Flaws with Laura Abbott

    Laura Abbott, an engineer at Oxide Computer, discusses her accidental discovery of a buffer overflow vulnerability in the ROM update mechanism of the NXP LPC55S69 microcontroller while working on Oxide's server root of trust. She explains how Oxide is rebuilding the server from the ground up with a focus on hardware security, utilizing their open-source operating system Hubris and the Rust programming language to mitigate risks like memory safety issues. The conversation covers the architecture of the server's secure components, including the service processor and TrustZone-M, as well as the challenges of remote hardware debugging and contributing to the Linux kernel community.

    Security & privacyMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    6 chapters

  • The Builder Circle · 1h 16m

    S3 E1: Mastering Tech Adoption and The Hardware Development Workflow with Jon Hirshtick

    Jon Hirshtick, founder of SolidWorks and Onshape, discusses the evolution of hardware development tools, emphasizing that software is a tool rather than a solution. He explains how customer visits and inferring needs drove the creation of features like the feature manager and cloud-native workflows. Hirshtick advises software founders to focus on usage metrics, understand market size realistically, and avoid the gap between demo and real-world complexity. He also shares lessons from his time on the MIT blackjack team regarding failure, persistence, and team dynamics.

    EDA & CAD toolsValidation & product-market fit
    13 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 26m

    338: Working With People Is Terrible

    Christopher White, an embedded software engineer and co-host of Embedded.fm, discusses his 25-year career spanning Cisco, the startup Procket, and medical device companies like Reliant Technologies and Sawtooth. He details his work on multicast routing, OSPF, and custom silicon routers, explaining how high-intensity startup culture led to burnout and a return to academia for a physics master's degree. White also reflects on his transition to consulting, his time at Fitbit, and the importance of finding a work arrangement that fits one's personal needs rather than following a standard corporate path.

    Careers & educationEmbedded firmware
    7 chapters

  • TRADEOFFS · 58m

    T-25-007 : Valentina Ratner - Mechanical Engineer to SaaS for Hardware CEO

    Valentina Ratner, co-founder and CEO of AllSpice, explains how she adapted Git workflows for hardware engineering to solve collaboration issues in electronics design. She details the transition from building Amazon delivery lockers to founding AllSpice, focusing on version control for PCBs, schematics, and BOMs. The episode covers the strategic decision to charge for the tool to ensure commitment, the shift from SMB to enterprise sales, and the challenges of integrating with ECAD tools like KiCad and Cadence.

    PCB design & layoutEDA & CAD tools
    10 chapters

  • Just Gonna Send It · 54m

    Zane Hengsperger (Founder/CEO, Nox Metals)

    Zane Hengsperger, founder and CEO of Nox Metals, explains how he transitioned from a software career to building a modern metal service center in Detroit. He details the process of acquiring a massive high-speed saw, managing the high costs of rigging and installation, and leveraging software to automate quoting and nesting for American manufacturers. Hengsperger discusses his journey through Y Combinator, the importance of building a strong network, and his strategy for scaling operations to serve the aerospace and defense sectors in California.

    Starting a product companyManufacturing partners & offshoring
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Oxide and Friends. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.