Wayfair — Behind the scenes

Founded: 2002
Tech stack: JavaScript, PHP, C#
Employees(#): 10000 (1200 techies)
Headquarters: Berlin, Boston

Now it’s time to tell everything about Wayfair! What problem are you solving?

Wayfair believes everyone should live in a home they love. Delighting customers is our ultimate goal; we make it possible for shoppers to quickly and easily find exactly what they want from a selection of more than 8 million items across home furnishings, décor, home improvement, and more. Founded in 2002 by two software engineers, Wayfair’s story spans years, goals, and technologies: We move fast, build to scale, and think big.

What do you do and makes your service exciting?

We’re constantly developing, testing, and improving to make sure we’re delivering the best for our customers as the largest online-only retailer for home in the US, and an emerging up-and-coming contender in Europe. Through technology and innovation, we’re reinventing the way people shop for their home — from product discovery to final delivery.

What kind of talent are you looking for?

We are looking for full stack PHP engineers, DevOps, DABs, product managers, etc…

Can you describe the work environment at Wayfair?

Wayfair is grateful to have a diverse, imaginative, and inspiring team that contributes to our growing culture and evolving workplace. Learning and growth opportunities are around every corner; we invest in continuous professional/personal development and tech happiness whether its on the clock or after-hours — we want your work/life balance to matter. Your future teammates are from more than 30 different nations and know that every opinion matters, whether we’re discussing code, architectural vision, or the next team event! We think beyond today’s challenges, encourage smart risk-taking, and most importantly, never settle — we believe there’s always an opportunity to do better and be better.

What growth opportunities do you offer to your employees?

Our engineers, product managers, testers, and more are offered an array of opportunities to upskill and grow. Lunch-and-Learn sessions, exposure to local meetups and conferences, plus self-organized study groups all thrive as initiatives to cultivate your technical career at Wayfair. As you progress and work with your team, paths of growth via leadership or high-level contributor status are crafted with the individual in mind — we make sure we’re asking the right questions to understand what our employees are looking for in a fulfilling and gratifying profession.

What’s the tech scene like in Berlin and Boston? Are you happy to have started Wayfair there?

Berlin is the heart of Germany’s startup scene, where we’re lucky to have the space to encourage collaboration and teamwork. It’s a bustling city full of promise and opportunity, and we’re incredibly happy to call it our European home. It’s diversity, tech know-how, and adventurousness are the perfect characteristics to reflect Wayfair’s spirit and character.

Boston is another hub of thriving web and mobile startups, with the intellectual prowess of MIT, Harvard, and other schools influencing the ecosystem. Pockets of innovation are dotted throughout the city, where Wayfair’s HQ keeps good company with similar-sized ventures who’ve established themselves locally and globally. We couldn’t imagine our home base to be anywhere else.

Prove that you’re The One. What would attract candidates to work for you?

At Wayfair, we’re always looking for curious, analytical, and adaptable people to join our growing organization. You’ll find a dynamic environment where learning and growth opportunities are abundant, while hard work and results are rewarded. You’ll work cross-functionally and closely with senior leadership to achieve team goals, enjoy company-sponsored social events and wellness programs, as well as curate your own path as we continue to grow at massive scale. If you’re interested in a challenging and fulfilling career, make yourself at home at Wayfair.

What’s the future of tech careers?

Tech job titles and requirements are changing at a rapid pace, meaning the importance of continuous learning and development will be paramount for future careers. Areas such as AR/VR, cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, plus the evolution of current software development will all impact the tech jobs of the future. We’re game to keep up with evolving trends, so watch this space for Wayfair!