Employee Q&A: Get to Know Varsha Thirumakil, Software Developer

What do you do at CashStar?
I work as a software developer on the Illuminati (more this than this) scrum team. Our team does a lot of work for CashStar’s internal tool — Client Configurator. This tool helps technical account managers and solution delivery folks to configure many things. Basically, it’s an interactive way of automating tasks, and it’s one of the reasons our solutions are so flexible and able to meet customer requirements without any custom development work.

How did you come to work at CashStar?
I came to the United States two years ago to pursue my Masters degree at the University of New Hampshire. I am fortunate to have family here in New England so when it came time for my job search I targeted companies in the region so that so that I could be near my family and friends. I found out about an opening at CashStar via a LinkedIn post from the company’s recruiter and reached out.

What occupation did you want to have when you were a child?
My dream was to become a pilot. I grew up near an Air Force base as my father worked for the Indian Air Force. I looked forward to weekends so I could watch the airshows, parachute trainings and spend time with my father at the Air Force station.

Where is your favorite place to eat in Portland?
My favorite place to eat in Portland is Veranda Noodle Bar, which serves up traditional Vietnamese food. I love spicy dishes and the cooks at Veranda can be liberal with the heat when asked. I recommend ordering Tofu Pho-fuh (Rice Noodle Soup).

What are you up to when you are not at CashStar?
I would like to say it is cooking North Indian dishes, but to be truthful, they don’t always end up as I hoped they would. It should not come as a surprise that I love roller coasters and other thrilling and speedy activities. After all I grew up watching parachute trainings. Recently, I’ve enjoyed a trip aboard the Codzilla-speedboat in Boston, visited Six Flags in Massachusetts and the Universal Studios in Singapore. They have all been memorable experiences. Skydiving is on my bucket list!

What excites you most about working in the gift card ecommerce space (e.g. trends, challenges/solutions you’re helping solve, etc.)?
I’m always excited when I can surprise and celebrate friends and family and I get to bring this passion to work. At CashStar we help several of the world’s leading brands create innovative digital gifting experiences so that their customers can celebrate special occasions.

Why do you like working at CashStar?
I think this is a great place to work. The company culture is fantastic, and I work with motivating and enthusiastic colleagues. The onboarding process here was seamless. I especially enjoyed the training offered to software developers before joining the team. Overall, I’d say working here has been a wonderfully transformative experience.

To learn more about software development positions and other career opportunities at CashStar, visit our Careers page.