Tuan Vu

Tuan Vu

Software Engineer

About

I’m Tuan Vu, a Senior Engineering Manager at Quora, where I lead the teams building our core AI & Machine Learning platform.

My passion is sharing the field-tested playbooks that help ambitious engineers and technical leaders build high-impact careers. This site is where I deconstruct the strategies I’ve used to navigate my own path from an individual contributor to a tech leader at companies like Quora and Meta.

My Journey

My career has been a journey of connecting the dots looking backward. It began in data science and machine learning, led to a period of exploration where I started this blog and my YouTube channel, and then took me deep into the world of large-scale infrastructure at Meta.

Now at Quora, I’m at the forefront of one of tech’s most exciting challenges: building the systems that serve Large Language Models (LLMs) to millions of users efficiently and cost-effectively. These experiences have given me a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the tech industry.

My Expertise & Philosophy

My engineering philosophy is built on a foundation of scale, efficiency, and impact.

As a Senior Engineering Manager at Quora, I lead the ML Platform organization. My daily work involves solving complex problems to make cutting-edge AI accessible and affordable.

Previously at Meta, I specialized in Ads Core Infrastructure, where I was responsible for strategic resource allocation. I made high-stakes decisions on hardware planning and project viability that directly impacted the company’s bottom line, learning firsthand how to operate where a single mistake could have massive financial consequences.

My core areas of expertise include:

  • Technical Strategy & Leadership
  • Large-Scale Backend & Distributed Systems
  • Machine Learning Infrastructure (MLOps)
  • Infrastructure Cost & Performance Optimization

Career Coaching & Mentorship

I believe career growth is a skill that can be learned. My goal as a coach is to give you the frameworks that I use to mentor my own teams and navigate my own career. I offer personalized mentorship focused on:

  • Optimizing your resume and profile to attract top-tier opportunities.
  • Mastering technical interviews (System Design, Coding) from entry to Staff+ levels.
  • Acing behavioral interviews by crafting compelling career narratives.
  • Negotiating compensation to secure the best possible offer.
  • Developing strategies for promotions and accelerating your career path.
  • Leading with influence and navigating complex team dynamics.

If you’re ready to accelerate your growth, you can book a 1-on-1 session with me on TidyCal.

Let’s Connect

  • Read my articles: You can find all my posts and tutorials right here on this website.
  • Watch my videos: I share technical deep dives on my Youtube channel.
  • Follow my journey: Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

Learn more about my story from my Techie Story interviews: