The global technology job market is booming, with careers in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) taking center stage. For many young engineers, this is a place that promises not only innovation but also big paychecks.
One such story that has gone viral is that of Manoj Tum, a 23-year-old Indian-American engineer. He recently joined Mehta with a package worth $400,000 (approximately Rs 3,360 crore to Rs 3,520 crore depending on the exchange rate used).
Early career decision
Born and raised in the United States, Tum didn’t choose the most obvious path. He admitted that he didn’t get any internships during his college days, but landed a contract role right after graduation, which gave him the right exposure.
When faced with a choice between a traditional software engineering job or a low-paying machine learning job, he chose ML. Because that’s where his passion lies. That decision, he says, changed the course of his career.
From Amazon to Meta
Prior to joining Meta, Tumu worked as a software development engineer at Amazon Web Services, focusing on AI and ML. He moved to Meta to work on AI projects closer to his interests.
His current role at Meta is in machine learning software engineering, researching and building multimodal models for monetization in advertising science.
How did he crack the meta interview?
in an essay by business insiderManoj Tumu shared his approach. Unlike many people who rely on referrals, he applied directly through company websites and LinkedIn. He also emphasized the need to emphasize professional experience over personal projects when building a resume.
“Projects can be helpful in the early stages, but they should eventually be put on the backburner,” he writes.
His meta-interview process spanned six weeks, starting with a screening call, followed by four to six rounds covering coding, ML concepts, and behavioral assessment.
He prepared his answers to align with the company’s values. “At Amazon, I focused on leadership principles. At Meta, I aligned my responses to the company culture,” he explained.
Lessons for young engineers
In his essay, Tum advised candidates to prepare seriously for behavioral interviews, which many people underestimate. He also pointed out the importance of industry knowledge and said the world of ML is rapidly moving from classical models to deep learning powered by neural networks.
While tools like ChatGPT are changing the game, he believes opportunities will only grow if engineers make the right choices early on.
Academic background
Manoj Tumu earned a master’s degree in computer science (with an AI specialization) from the University of California, San Diego and completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of California, Santa Cruz with highest honors, graduating nearly three years ahead of schedule.
From Monta Vista High School to Meta, his story is a reminder that a bold career move, a passion for AI, and thorough preparation can open the door to the most coveted jobs in Big Tech.
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