Pandora

Senior Software Engineer · 2015–2017 · Oakland

Senior Software Engineer on Consumer Electronics, building networked device test automation and shipping the Pandora for Uber rider integration plus Chromecast on-demand UI work.

This was 2015–2017—the integration years after acquiring Rdio. The engineering challenge was not building from scratch, but scaling Rdio's device platform to power Pandora's broader listener base, modernizing the technology stack, and bringing music to new audiences through Uber, Chromecast, and other platform partnerships. I shipped three production systems from that transition, closing out the Rdio integration with reliable playback across every device and partner surface.

• Java
• Python
• Connected TV
• iOS
• Android

• Device QA

  Built networked test infrastructure for playback validation across Chromecast, Roku, and mobile devices.

• Partner playback

  Shipped Pandora listening inside Uber with auth, playback controls, caching, and cross-team coordination.

• TV interfaces

  Designed and built Chromecast receiver UI for playback, queue browsing, and TV-scale interaction.

1. Pandora for Uber rider integration

   Streaming integration

   Shipped Pandora music integration into the Uber rider app, including authentication flows, playback controls, offline caching, and queue management optimized for in-ride listening. Coordinated across Pandora, Uber, and mobile platform teams to adapt the streaming experience for rider context.

   SourcesUber Rider Music announcementPandora for Uber rider integration
2. 

   Chromecast on-demand receiver UI

   TV platforms

   Designed and built on-demand user interface for Pandora's Chromecast receiver with gesture-based controls, queue browsing, artist navigation, and device state management optimized for TV interaction. Shipped to production and maintained across playback scenarios.

   SourcesChromecast client demoPandora (service)Uber Rider Music announcement
3. 

   Device test automation infrastructure

   Device integration

   Built networked test framework enabling automated validation across Chromecast, Roku, and mobile platforms. Coordinated with QA to set up cloud and physical device infrastructure, remote control, log capture, and result reporting. Reduced QA cycle time and enabled CI integration for device playback validation.

   SourcesChromecast client demoPandora (service)

About Pandora

Pandora is a music streaming and automated music discovery platform founded in 2000. After acquiring Rdio's technology and remaining subscribers in late 2015, Pandora merged the services and expanded to new device ecosystems and integrations. The service provides personalized radio stations, on-demand playlists, and seamless listening across phones, tablets, cars, and connected home devices.

Related context

• Uber Rider Music announcement

  Uber newsroom article announcing Pandora integration in the rider app.

• Chromecast client demo

  Watch at 1:35 to see the Pandora Chromecast receiver UI in action, showing playback controls, queue management, and device integration.

• Pandora Crunchbase profile

  Public company context for Pandora Media.