Antonio Troina: My Journey So Far as a Senior Staff Software Engineer
Antonio, a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Deliveroo, shares insights from his six-and-a-half-year journey, highlighting the rewarding challenges of guiding teams and balancing technical and product perspectives. Discover his advice on career progression and the unique opportunities at Deliveroo.
Could you introduce yourself and your role at Deliveroo?
I’m Antonio, a Senior Staff Engineer at Deliveroo. I have been with Deliveroo for six and a half years, overseeing the entire New Verticals domain as well as the Catalogues space, as an Individual Contributor (IC).
Can you tell us a little bit about your career journey into engineering and how you found yourself at Deliveroo?
I have been passionate about computers since childhood, which led me to pursue studies in software engineering. I began my career working for consultancy firms in Italy, my home country, before moving to London, where I continued in consultancy roles across both the private and public sectors. Eventually, I joined Deliveroo, which, interestingly, is my first purely product-based company. I started as a Software Engineer six and a half years ago, and as my skills, experience, and ability to influence grew, I naturally transitioned into my current role, which I truly enjoy.
Reflecting on the role of a Senior Staff Software Engineer here, what do you think is the most rewarding part of it?
One of the most interesting aspects of my role is helping teams see challenges from different perspectives, drawing from my experience over the years. I’ve encountered situations where problems were approached in one way but could have been tackled more effectively through alternative methods. I enjoy guiding teams through that journey, particularly when it comes to challenging product requirements and rethinking how problems are framed. While many initiatives originate from product, some also stem directly from technology. Often, our technical interactions with other teams and systems provide insights that may not be as clear to product managers. In these cases, I find that a bottom-up approach can be highly effective.
What would you say about career progression at Deliveroo?
I would say career progression is quite varied. It can involve moving upward within the same path or making a lateral shift to explore a different direction—both of which I’ve seen engineers successfully pursue. In my case, I chose the IC path and have continued progressing in that direction. Along the way, I’ve found myself both challenged by new requirements and tasks, and supported by my peers and managers in navigating that journey.
Additionally, I’ve seen many successful examples of engineers making lateral moves, such as ICs transitioning into management or exploring that path to determine if it’s the right fit for them. This flexibility allows for different avenues of career growth depending on individual interests and aspirations.
What sets Deliveroo apart from any other tech companies you’ve worked for?
Deliveroo has evolved significantly over the years, and one aspect I particularly appreciate is the level of involvement engineers have in what we build. While I’ve worked at other companies where engineers played a role in development, my previous experience in consultancy often meant engineers were less directly engaged in the broader product vision. At Deliveroo, I value the opportunity to think from a product perspective, collaborate closely with product teams, and truly understand what we’re building and who we’re building it for - beyond just the technical implementation.
At the same time, there is a strong focus on operational excellence, ensuring that we make strategic rather than purely tactical decisions as we grow. Striking that balance is always a challenge, but I’ve seen it evolve over time. Ultimately, what I appreciate most as an IC at Deliveroo is the ability to be deeply involved in shaping the products we create.
What is the most impactful piece of work you’ve worked on at Deliveroo?
Whenever I’m proud of something I’ve accomplished, I believe that if, after a few years, I don’t look back and see ways I could have done it better, then I haven’t learned much. One project I’m particularly proud of delivering with the team was the transition to a new system for serving menu pages to our customers. It was a long-overdue change that provided a significant technical advantage. While, in hindsight, there are always things we could have done differently, I see that as part of continuous growth and learning. I often look back on that project and the collaboration with the engineers involved with a great deal of appreciation
What’s a skill you’ve developed that you didn’t expect when you joined?
Nothing about my experience has been particularly surprising—I expected to be involved in more than just writing code. I joined the company knowing that my role would naturally expand to include a stronger product focus, and that has been one of the most valuable aspects of my growth here.
One key lesson has been understanding the balance between engineering and product perspectives. Early in my career, I saw compromises as frustrating—technical decisions I wanted to implement one way but had to adjust due to product requirements. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of factors like time to market and the need for trade-offs. I’ve learned that sometimes cutting corners is necessary for speed, but it’s crucial to do so intentionally, knowing that these shortcuts often remain in place longer than expected. Ultimately, I’ve grown more comfortable making these decisions, where before this might have caused more hesitation or frustration.
What would be your one piece of advice for any new engineers or managers looking to join us?
Whether you choose to be an engineer or a manager, one of the most valuable things you can do is build strong relationships with your peers and managers. Getting to know the people around you fosters collaboration, opens up conversations, and allows you to influence areas beyond your immediate scope. These connections can provide insights into different aspects of the business and help you grow professionally.
Additionally, continuous learning is key. Deliveroo has a highly diverse team, and there’s a great opportunity to learn from a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Building these relationships not only enhances your understanding but also enables you to work more effectively.
And as an IC, I’d also recommend experimenting with AI for coding - I’ve started using it myself, and it’s been both useful and fun.
We’re hiring! If you are interested in roles in Tech, please visit deliveroo.com/careers.
About Antonio Troina
Antonio is a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Deliveroo, where he has been since 2018. He oversees the New Verticals group and the Catalogue group as an individual contributor working across product and engineering to deliver effective solutions to problems, ensuring a seamless integration of technical and product perspectives. He mentors engineers and managers, fostering growth and collaboration within the company. As part of the tech leadership group, Antonio actively contributes to shaping the vision for the architecture at Deliveroo.