Day One Ready: What New Engineers Need to Know About AI — Engineering Now Unlocked

Day One Ready: What New Engineers Need to Know About AI — Engineering Now Unlocked

Author: ServiceNow Community Podcasts May 13, 2026 Duration: 29:33

Day One Ready: What New Engineers Actually Need to Know About AI | Engineering Now Unlocked

Starting your first engineering role — or coming back for a return offer — and wondering what AI actually changes about the job? This episode gives you the real answer, from two engineers living it every day.

Jordan Shelton and Cynthia Mathenge sit down with Ian Thurlow (Senior Manager, Data Platform Software Engineering) and Andrew Yan (Software Engineer, Data Foundations) to talk about what day one looks like now, what AI tools actually do for early-career engineers, and what fundamentals still separate good engineers from great ones. If you’re about to start an internship, just got your return offer, or you’re a manager thinking about how to set new engineers up for success — this is the conversation you need before day one.

What you’ll learn
✔ What AI actually changes about day-to-day engineering work (and what it doesn’t)
✔ Why the fundamentals matter more than ever — not less
✔ How to build a network at a company like ServiceNow, even if you start remotely
✔ How to use AI as a sounding board, not a crutch

Chapters
00:00 Introduction — Engineering Now Unlocked
02:08 Meet Ian Thurlow and Andrew Yan
03:03 How AI is changing day-to-day engineering work
04:47 AI as an accelerator, not a replacement
09:04 AI as a sounding board 
12:38 Leadership mindset in an AI-first team
13:46 Raising the bar for early-in-career talent 1
5:41 What your first 30 days should look like
17:43 This or That
19:16 Code reviews: the fastest way to learn that nobody talks about
20:57 Building your network — even fully remote
24:24 Ian and Andrew’s Work Advice
27:43 Outro

Guests
Ian Thurlow Senior Manager, Data Platform Software Engineering — ServiceNow
Andrew Yan Software Engineer, Data Foundations — ServiceNow

Hosts
Jorden Shelton Technical Program Manager, AI Engineering & Delivery — ServiceNow
Cynthia Mathenge Business Operations Manager, AI Engineering & Delivery — ServiceNow
Bobby Brill ServiceNow Insights

Links & Resources Learn more about ServiceNow Engineering → https://www.servicenow.com/company/careers/engineering.html

ServiceNow Docs → https://docs.servicenow.com

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Dive into the dynamic world of ServiceNow through the voices of those who know it best. ServiceNow Podcasts, curated by the ServiceNow Community Podcasts, isn't a single show but a rich library of conversations. Each series within this collection is hosted by different practitioners and experts, bringing you grounded discussions from a wide array of focus areas. Whether you're looking for the latest platform updates, deep dives into implementation strategies, or insights on IT service management and beyond, this podcast has a channel for you. You'll hear authentic talk about real-world applications, emerging trends, and the practical knowledge that professionals are using right now. It’s like having a direct line to the community’s collective experience. Tuning in means accessing a broad variety of topics designed to inform and educate, all framed within the context of what's happening at ServiceNow and in the ecosystems around it. For anyone working with or interested in the platform, this ongoing series of dialogues is an essential resource for staying current and connected. Find your niche, learn something new, and get the perspective only insiders can provide through these regular episodes.
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