In this Life at Pinterest Blog, you’ll get to know Kurubell (Kurby) Gebremedhin, a Full Stack Engineer, through a series of six questions about his role, career journey, working life at Pinterest and advice to job seekers.
Hi Kurby! Thanks for joining us. Let’s start with a quick introduction.
Hey, I'm Kurubell, though I go by Kurby for short. I started as a New Grad Engineer, and now I'm currently two years into my software engineering journey. I work as a mid-level Full Stack Engineer, based in the San Francisco area. I'm part of the Homefeed Product team, where I primarily handle both desktop and mobile web development. Our team is responsible for maintaining and enhancing all features, introducing new modules and addressing bugs that occur on our homefeed surface.
One of our recently shipped projects that I'm proud of was building the tab carousel system you now see at the top of your web homefeed. I also played a key role in developing the Holiday Finds tab and its accompanying Holiday Finds header, which helped improve the seasonal shopping experience for our users.

You shared that you started as a New Grad Engineer, can you share more about your career journey?
My journey into software engineering was a bit unconventional. While studying Computer Engineering in college - focusing mainly on electrical engineering - a FaceTime call with a friend during senior year changed my trajectory. Inspired by his experience as a Software Engineer, I pivoted my career path, dedicated myself to learning data structures and algorithms independently and secured a software role by March of my senior year. Then I packed my bags and moved out to San Francisco on my own, and I haven’t regretted it since.
For the past two years, you’ve joined us at AfroTech. What does it mean to you to represent the Pinterest team and connect with hundreds of attendees?
It's amazing! I love being able to share my Pinterest journey, especially with people who look like me. This year was my second AfroTech and hearing everyone's unique stories while sharing mine was an incredible experience. Being Ethiopian, I often connect with other Ethiopians at these events - they come up to chat about our shared background and what it's like seeing each other succeed in tech.

If you could describe working at Pinterest in one sentence, what would it be?
A place where you can have a large-scale impact from the comfort of your home while being part of a team where everyone's got your back!
What advice would you give to someone hoping to join the Pinterest Engineering team?
Make sure your resume is filled with internships that demonstrate engineering capabilities or passion projects that make you stand out. I like to tell candidates to study LeetCode regularly to make sure they're being consistent. Most importantly, communicate with your interviewer. I interview software engineering candidates, and the most engaging interviews are the ones that make a genuine attempt in collaborating with the interviewer. Remember, we’re here to help and want to see you succeed!
How do you use Pinterest to find inspiration?
As a sneakerhead, Pinterest is my go-to for discovering new shoes and styling inspiration. But lately, I've been using it for something totally different. I'm planning a move to New York, and I've been finding inspiration for WFH desk setups and new room decor.

Ready to join the Pinterest Engineering team? Explore career opportunities and apply here.