Archit Agarwal talks about his five-year tenure at Swiggy, what made him stay, and how he evolved into the SDE-III he is today.
When Archit joined Swiggy, he was a loyal customer, impressed by the company and its offerings. Over the past five years, he has grown alongside Swiggy, bringing in his technical acumen, penchant for innovation, and a strong belief in enjoying the process no matter the task at hand. This is his journey, a story full of learning, problem-solving, and perhaps the most important — fun at work.
1) Tell us about the beginning of your Swiggy ride. What was your role when you joined the company, and how has it changed over the years?
I joined Swiggy in 2019 as a Backend Software Developer in the Payments team, which was still in its early stages. Over the years, I have grown from being a curious fresher exploring the nuances of backend systems to a team lead overseeing critical projects. I continue to learn something new every day, and can see how much I’ve evolved both as an engineer and a leader.
2) How would you describe your journey at Swiggy?
It’s been an incredible ride, filled with challenging problem statements and constant innovation. Most importantly, the journey has been defined by a strong sense of camaraderie at work. Swiggy is a place where ideas are nurtured and shaped into impactful action, and it feels great to work on projects that reach millions of users. The vibrant culture and brilliant team have made every moment worthwhile.
3) Looking back, what would you say has been the best moment of your tenure at Swiggy?
All my stand-out moments involve us doing something awesome together. The team outings (especially our trips to Rishikesh and Phuket), our quarterly jamboree meetups, and the sheer excitement of watching the team spring into action during production outages when I was new. Each of these moments highlighted the team’s spirit, resilience, and passion.
4) What led you to join Swiggy?
Swiggy’s focus on technology and innovation was what first drew me in. I was also very interested in solving real-world problems that I knew would have a direct impact on people. Being part of such pathbreaking work in a customer-first organisation was too good to pass up. Being a Swiggy customer myself, I knew firsthand the value the company delivers, and I wanted to be part of the larger mission.
5) What was your first day at Swiggy like?
My first day was a whirlwind of excitement and new experiences. It was overwhelming to step into the large ETV office which had just been inaugurated. Everyone seemed very enthusiastic, the space was buzzing with creativity, and I could see people engaged in conversations across all the tables and rooms.
The onboarding process, including a speech from our founder Sriharsha, was both inspiring and fascinating. They also conducted activities that helped us new joiners understand Swiggy’s operational complexities. I then met my team — Checkout and Payments — an energetic group of 15-20 people, and we wrapped up the day with a team dinner. Day one set the tone perfectly, and I was super excited to dive into work.
6) If you could go back in time, what would you say to the Day 1 version of yourself?
I’d tell myself to embrace the journey with curiosity and creativity. Go with the flow, enjoy the challenges, and never stop having fun while learning.
7) Are there any lessons you’ve learned in your time here that can be carried forward in life?
One lesson stands out in particular, because it’s something that we may tend to forget with time — do things for the pure joy of it, all while staying curious and creative throughout. This has shaped my approach to work and life, teaching me to enjoy the process as much as the results.
8) What would you say played an important role in your decision to stay with Swiggy?
It’s a long list, to be honest. The main factors have been the people, the projects, and the overall culture. An environment that is conducive to innovation, supportive managers and peers, and of course the opportunity to solve meaningful problems – all these aspects of the Swiggy life have made me stay. The organisation’s dynamic and customer-centric ethos keeps me motivated every day, even after five years.
9) What’s one Swiggy value you resonate the most with and why?
‘Consumer comes first.’ Being a Swiggy customer from before I even joined the company, I understand the importance of delivering the best experience. This value inspires me to work harder every day and ensure that we consistently delight millions of Indians.
