Curious about the masterminds who develop our amazing tech and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes at Breaktime? Then you’re in luck, because we recently chatted with our incredible programming and development team—Steve Hallman, (Director of Engineering), Justin Burgler (Senior QA Manager), Carly Michaels (Senior Program Management Lead), Elliot Berry (Senior Full-Stack Developer), Annan Wang (Frontend Developer), and Rafael Porto (Software Engineer)—to get a first-hand look at the technical side of Breaktime.
From ideating to problem-solving to bug fixing, this team embraces all of Breaktime’s challenges to make our lives easier—and we’re so grateful for the amazing work they do. Take a look at what this talented team had to say about the tools they can’t live without, features they think more brands should be using, and more in this roundtable.
What’s the most exciting or rewarding part of your role?
Steve (Director of Engineering):
We get to work at a scale such that our technical decisions have an impact on the performance of our platform. It makes the work more challenging (in a good way). I also love that my team has such a direct impact on the platform that powers our business.
Justin (Senior QA Manager):
The most exciting part of my role is digging into strange bugs to try and replicate them.
Carly (Senior Program Management Lead):
Getting to work with a team of collaborative problem solvers. It's great to have a team that is always willing to discuss new opportunities or ideas.
Elliot (Senior Full-Stack Developer):
The most rewarding part of my role is solving tricky technical challenges in a way that makes things easier for other people. Whether that’s making a UI more intuitive, optimizing a system to run faster, or creating tools that empower others, I love seeing how code can have a real impact.
Annan (Frontend Developer):
The most exciting part of my role is always about facing new challenges and solving them. As we are constantly expanding our product, there's always new things for us to try and explore which brings a lot of fun.
Rafael (Software Engineer):
Building new architectures, structures, and environments.
What’s one tool you couldn’t live without in your role?
Steve:
My AirPods. I'm in a ton of virtual meetings and the AirPods work well for me there. When I'm heads-down coding it's also nice to get some music going in the background.
After work I'll listen to podcasts while doing chores around the house, again with my trusty airpods.
Justin:
DBeaver, a tool I use to look at databases.
Carly:
Lately, I have been enjoying leveraging meeting transcription tools to ensure we are capturing all action items from meetings.
Elliot:
I could name a dozen software tools, but honestly, I couldn’t live without the ability to bounce ideas off my teammates. Whether it’s a quick code review, a brainstorming session, or just a chat about a tricky problem, having a supportive team to collaborate with is invaluable.
Annan:
VS code. It's the best IDE, at least for me.
Rafael:
IntelliJ.
What’s a feature or functionality you’d love to see more brands using in their digital campaigns?
Steve:
My answer to this used to be QR codes. QR codes finally started to take root during the pandemic and I think it's great. They're such a no-brainer way to get consumers directly into an experience, bypassing walled gardens.
Since QR codes isn't my answer, I'd like to see brands use more restraint. I know it's a strange feature to suggest.
A few months ago I bought some shirts from an online retailer and started getting daily sales emails from them. A man only needs so many shirts. They know what I just bought. They know what they sell. Put two and two together. Maybe reach out to me in 6 months when I need replacements. Not Every. Single. Day. trying to sell me the same thing I just bought.
It also seems like brands have recognized that consumer inboxes are a way to break through the noise. Brands are respecting the opt-out today much more than they did in the past, which is so refreshing. But again, brands should use more constraint.
Justin:
Listicle image comparison, I think its a cool feature that doesn't get used very often.
Carly:
Leveraging AI for additional layers of engagement and to create a unique, personalized experience for consumers.
Elliot:
I’d love to see brands embrace more interactive, weirder, personalized storytelling—things that feel like they were made just for the user rather than just another generic ad. This is where Breaktime really shines: dynamic games and experiences that are tailored to the user. Add a sprinkling of AI and inform it with our partners' products and messaging, and you’ve got a recipe for some truly engaging campaigns.
Annan:
Our Gen-AI receipt generator.
Rafael:
Fraud prevention to protect against bots and users that try to hack the rules.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone interested in working in dev, what would it be?
Steve:
Don't blindly trust answers from AI tools! AI tools can be helpful, but they can also be very wrong. This is true for using AI tools for anything.
Beyond that, just start building. There's no better way to gain experience other than rolling up your sleeves and just start writing code. Think about a tool that you wish existed, or an improvement to a website you like, and start working on it.
Justin:
Be prepared to always learn, as technology is constantly evolving and changing
Carly:
Technology and digital marketing is constantly evolving. Taking time to continue to learn and build your knowledge base is really important!
Elliot:
At the end of the day, development is just googling something baffling until it makes sense. Gaining better internal patience through practicing mindfulness, as well as finding a therapist you like and trust, can help weather the storm of frustration.
Annan:
Don't be afraid to try out new things.
Rafael:
To work on dev, you must be hungry for knowledge, because technology is always evolving, and if you stop searching, you will be outdated. When working with developers, you must pay attention to details. Details are what make the difference between a good product and a bad one.