As I understand, we tried using AWS to power key infrastructure but ran into scalability/cost issues. We still use 3rd providers for various things but my understanding is that a lot of this eng work is to reduce the costs incurred from these services.
I do agree though, as a new hire, that the culture here is quite a bit on the NIH side, compared to a more traditional software shop.
Further, does it make sense that you'd rather buy hardware up front to scale for Halloween and New Years instead of being able to dynamically surge your infrastructure?
Oh, that was what I was told during new employee training. I'm not in the infra org and tbh, I don't really buy the do-it-in-house-for-scalability argument either. I've also seen other employees express sentiments similar to influx's wrt infra.
Beyond the obvious HR issues that Susan Fowler exposed, it was a bad place to work for almost any engineer. I would stay far away if you get an offer there.