Four Essential Lessons in Career Upskilling

Whether advancing technical skills, solving complex problems or collaborating with fellow industry experts, Meta engineers have many opportunities to accelerate their professional development, like attending industry conferences such as AfroTech!

As Meta teammates prepare to gather in Houston on Monday, we spoke with four engineers about the lessons they learned from last year’s conference. Here’s what they had to say about embracing challenges surrounding the changing AI landscape and how the experience has expanded their professional expertise.

1. Dive deep to understand technology more holistically

"I see my role as essential to creating the infrastructure that supports Meta’s vast ecosystem. My work in network deployment ensures the system for user traffic is robust, scalable and reliable. What excites me most is seeing how every piece of the puzzle fits together to build systems that keep Meta technologies running smoothly. It creates a strong sense of purpose and collaboration that keeps me passionate about building solutions that improve connectivity for everyone. 

The network is vast and complex, with many different areas to explore. If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of networking, I recommend starting with the basics. Learn about the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model and how it applies to our network infrastructure. Once you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, start exploring specific protocols and technologies used at each layer of the OSI model. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of how our network operates.” – Shikirah J., Network Engineer

2. Leverage data for more impactful decision-making

“Building tools that use data to drive strategic decision-making is at the core of my work. While my deliverables, like pipelines and dashboards, may not always be in the spotlight, they play a crucial role behind the scenes in empowering leadership across the company. As data engineers, we're not just processing data for the sake of it; we eventually want to use it to tell a story that will influence decisions. This story shapes the way we design our logging, pipelines and data visualization dashboards. 

To hone these skills, I recommend jumping in headfirst. The sooner you start, the quicker you'll learn what you don't know. It’s also crucial to stay curious, embrace repetition, and remain open to feedback. The more you build dashboards or present insights, the better you'll be. Along with getting better, you'll also receive more feedback from peers, which will improve your skills even faster.” – Pelham C., Data Engineer 

3. Embrace new challenges head-on to expand your skillset

"My team designs and implements robust network infrastructure to support Meta technologies like AI, VR and AI glasses. As part of this role, I frequently collaborate with talented colleagues from different professional backgrounds and perspectives. I’m constantly learning about new aspects of our business. Recently, I had the opportunity to learn about program management as part of a new grad rotational engineering program within our infrastructure team. I even got to manage a full program to success and closure!

For me, learning is all about hands-on experience and experimentation. If there are specific skills you want to develop, seek out opportunities to work on real-world projects, volunteer for leadership roles and take on additional responsibilities. Don't be afraid to try new things and make mistakes — it's all part of the learning process. I also recommend reaching out to more experienced colleagues for guidance.” – Tunde S., Connectivity Engineer

4. Collaborate with industry experts to broaden your perspective

"One of the best things about my role is the chance to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry. Ensuring the reliability of complex hardware systems, like AI glasses, is a huge responsibility but also incredibly rewarding — especially knowing that millions of people around the world benefit from the tech we create. 

I’m constantly learning and growing by collaborating with subject matter experts in areas like compute, storage and networking. Coming from a data science background, I’m inspired by the opportunity to think outside the box and approach problems from multiple angles. It’s the combination of working with world-class talent and tackling meaningful challenges that fuels my passion for this work." – Siji M., Hardware Analytics Engineer

Whether it’s upskilling in new technologies, expanding professional skills or collaborating across disciplines, continuous learning at Meta is a shared journey that inspires innovation and drives meaningful change. Interested in seeing how you can accelerate your skills while making a global impact? Learn more: https://meta.careers/479w9OB 

How have you upskilled and grown your career in this quickly evolving era of AI transformation?

Shikirah Johnson Pelham Van Cooten III Akintunde Sowunmi Siji Medaiyese