People at Plaid: Building with heart, leading with impact

At Plaid, we’re building a future where financial systems work better for everyone. But we’re not doing it alone. Our team is full of thoughtful, creative people who care deeply about our mission, the work, and each other.

In this post, you’ll meet three Plaids—Sam, Akshit, and Isabelle—who are helping shape that future. From building API surfaces and developing ML-powered insights to designing seamless user experiences, they remind us what’s possible when you bring purpose to your craft.

🔧 Sam Subramanian

Engineering Manager, Core Services – SF

Can you share a bit about your role at Plaid and what your day-to-day looks like?
I lead the Core Services group, which I think of as 'Plaid’s Plaid' because we're responsible for the core business logic, onboarding flows, orchestration, and data processing pipelines that power all of Plaid’s products, much like how Plaid serves as infrastructure for the fintech ecosystem. We tackle technically complex challenges: distributed systems, core data modeling, and API design.

My favorite part of the job is the messy early stage of getting new bets off the ground, when nothing’s built yet and everyone’s still dreaming. I step into whatever role’s needed to turn that ambiguity into something real—something the team can build. Most recently, I’ve been leading a major API design effort, bridging the gap between product and engineering. My goal is to make the complex things clear and set people up to achieve the right outcomes.

What excites you about your work at Plaid?
We’re in a high-leverage space—the teams I manage sit at the heart of Plaid’s product stack. We don’t just support the business. We work on systems that power every product and touch every customer. The impact is huge; one well-placed abstraction can unlock true customer value and drive millions in ARR. 

I also love the culture of high ownership. If you see a problem and rally people around it, you can drive real change. Many teammates are co-located in our SF HQ, which enables us to maintain tight feedback loops, foster a high-trust culture, and move quickly on complex problems. The bar is high, and I learn every day from the engineers I manage.

As Plaid evolves from a connectivity provider into a user-based network, I’m excited to build the systems and the teams that can scale with that transformation. 

Can you describe a project you’ve worked on at Plaid that you’re particularly proud of?
I’ve recently been leading the design of a new API to support user-centric products.  Early on, product teams came in with strong, competing opinions, which made it hard to move forward. The turning point came when I wrote down the core principles I cared about and developed a shared language to bring those perspectives together. This alignment helped us arrive at the right abstractions.

I brought a customer-first mindset, reducing complexity so teams could adopt the API with minimal friction. After establishing early alignment and scaffolding, I stepped back. Now, watching my team lead cross-org discussions and own critical decisions has been the most fulfilling part.

What challenges have you faced in your role, and how did you overcome them?
Scaling myself. I’m learning where to step in, where to delegate, and how to build the systems and processes that enable the team to thrive without me being in the middle of everything. 

The API design project marked a shift in how I lead. I drove early discovery, navigating competing opinions and clarifying what we were building. However, instead of staying in the center even after, I made sure the right people had clear ownership over different parts of the work.  I aligned the team around a clear plan and stepped back to let them run. With reflection and feedback, I’m getting better at picking problems only I can solve while helping others grow into the rest.

How do you ensure that you continue learning and growing in your role?
For me, growth has two parts: making it happen for yourself intentionally and surrounding yourself with people you can learn from. In 2024, my focus was on owning business-critical, cross-team technical initiatives and developing senior ICs. In 2025, I’m doubling down on scaled leadership and am growing my product instincts while shaping long-term strategy for my group. I learn best by navigating ambiguity hands-on, then deepening that learning through regular written reflection.

I’m fortunate to have a manager who is thoughtful, sharp, and invested in my growth. I learn every day from how he drives outcomes through influence. I also rely on close relationships with senior engineers and managers. One of our senior-most architecture leads has shaped how I think; she brings clarity to vague problems and asks the questions that matter, something I now try to model for my own teams.

Rapid Fire Q’s
Best Plaid memory? 2022 Core Services onsite (NYC)
Hobbies? NYT Crossword (especially Thursdays)
Sightglass or Telescope Coffee? Sightglass. Quick cup, always​.

🧠 Akshit Annadi

Software Engineer, Credit – NYC

Can you share a bit about your role at Plaid and what your day-to-day looks like?
I work on the Credit team, building ML-powered insights to help lenders make informed decisions using cash flow data. I specifically work on developing machine learning powered insights that customers can use to automate income verification, decisioning, and more.

My day-to-day responsibilities consist of more than just coding, but also extensive collaboration across data science, product, design, and GTM.

What excites you most about working at Plaid?
The people. I joined as a new grad and quickly found a tight-knit, supportive group on my team and beyond. Whether it's eating meals at the office, enjoying company happy hours, or spending time outside of work traveling and exploring the city, it makes coming to work feel like hanging out with friends.

Can you describe a project you’ve worked on at Plaid that you’re particularly proud of?
Over the past year, my team has developed a set of cash flow-powered insights products that enable lenders to underwrite using non-traditional data, such as banking data, to supplement more traditional inputs, including credit scores. 

Many people are traditionally excluded due to having low or thin credit files, and the products we’ve built expand access to critical lending services for these individuals. Knowing that the products we work on have a real impact on people’s lives is something that has been motivating and exciting.

Rapid Fire Q’s
Best Plaid memory? Company-wide retreat
Favorite in-office event? Plaiderdays
Commute? Subway​.

🎨 Isabelle Charafeddine

Product Designer, Link – SF

How does your role contribute to Plaid’s mission?
I’m a product designer working on Link, the experience that handles consumer bank login and authentication. The design updates to Link impact many of the product's surface areas across the company, so I must take a principled approach to all my work. My role ensures that we consistently deliver the best possible experience, continually iterate, and push forward creative new ideas.

Can you describe a project you’ve worked on at Plaid that you’re particularly proud of?
More than just a single project, I feel the most proud when we ship anything that improves usability and basic access for the end user. Sometimes, the improvements that users need the most can be overlooked. Errors while connecting to a bank are one example of this. We shipped new designs that enhanced the user's ability to recover from errors, and we saw immediate improvements in our metrics. It feels good to deliver a better experience for people. 

How do you balance creativity and analytical thinking in your role?
As a designer, I must balance creativity and analytical thinking at every stage of my process. The balance becomes easier once I’ve framed the problem tightly. If we know we are solving the right problem, understand the parameters and navigational possibilities, then that’s when the best creative juices start to flow. 

Do you have a favorite productivity hack or tool you can’t live without?
To keep a clear mind, I need to write everything down. Whether it’s a decision, a task, or even an idea that sparks in my brain, writing it down gives me the comfort of knowing that I won't forget it later. It gives me permission to clear my head and focus on what’s in front of me and needs my attention now. There are many great tools for tracking tasks and writing notes, but sometimes there is nothing as effective as good ol’ pen and paper.

Rapid Fire Q’s
Best Plaid memory? Hackathon
Favorite snack or lunch food? Veggie minestrone
Favorite spot in the SF office? 2nd floor deck

Ready to build what’s next?

At Plaid, we’re not just solving complex technical problems—we’re growing careers, building community, and making financial systems more inclusive along the way.

If you’re curious, ambitious, and ready to make a difference, come join us.
👉 Explore open roles