Seneca College RED 2019 - 29

Hey, Alexa!
Software developer Kris Vukasinovic delivers for Amazon

a pretty average morning routine.
Just like millions of people across the globe, he
wakes up to the sound of his beeping alarm clock. He
sets his daily alarm with the help of Alexa, the virtual
assistant device developed by Amazon, ensuring that
he's awake in time to begin work promptly at 8 a.m.
Unlike millions of people across the globe, Vukasinovic then heads to the Toronto Amazon office to
help develop the very technology that began his day.
As a software development engineer, Vukasinovic
works on the Alexa communications team making
those "Hey Alexa" commands come to life.
This self-proclaimed "science nerd" was once interested in a career in medicine, studying biomedical
science at York University and working as a Surgical
Technician at Mount Sinai Hospital.
With an application to Seneca's Honours Bachelor
of Technology - Software Development program,
Vukasinovic veered off that established career path.
"I worked hard while I was in school," Vukasinovic says. "I was that kid in Starbucks super late
at night studying."

PHOTO: JOANNE RATAJCZAK

KRIS VUKASINOVIC HAS

Before he had even graduated, Vukasinovic secured
a coveted software engineering internship with
Amazon. He and a few select others were flown to
interviews in Seattle, Washington, home to the ecommerce company's headquarters.
Following the successful completion of a four-month
internship, Vukasinovic was offered a full-time position
working with Amazon Fulfillment Technologies, the
team that runs the automation technology in Amazon's
warehouses.
"I remember one night distinctly. I had ordered
something from Amazon.ca, and I got paged about an
issue in the warehouse that it was coming out of. I
was like, 'I had better fix this, 'cause I want my item
by tomorrow!'" he says, laughing. "It's nice to work
for a company where you actually use their product."
About a year later, Vukasinovic made the internal
move to Alexa Communications.
Now recognized as one of Canada's top young developers, Vukasinovic was celebrated at the Developer
30 Under 30 Awards in 2017.
His work has taken him to London, Paris and Milan,
travelling with his Amazon colleagues to develop
innovative technology that impacts millions of Alexa
devices and their users.
So, what makes Vukasinovic #SenecaProud?
"It's the people and the relationships, the professors," he says. "Strip everybody off campus and
Seneca is just empty buildings with some computers
and desks. But if you have the right people, then
you have the ability to form relationships and truly
learn from one another."

It's nice to work
for a company
where you
actually use
their product.

RED

2019

http://www.Amazon.ca

Seneca College RED 2019

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