The Engineer of 2026 Will Look Very Different | Albert Strasheim, CTO at Rippling | ScalerPod

AI is changing who gets to write code. And what it means to be an engineer. In this episode of Scaler Pod, we sit down with Albert Strasheim, CTO at Rippling, to talk about how AI coding agents, voice-driven development, and cross-functional builders are reshaping modern engineering teams. From product managers and designers writing code to interns becoming power users of AI tools, Albert shares a sharp, inside look at how real companies are integrating AI into their workflows. Join our FREE Masterclasses here: https://www.scaler.com/events/?program=data_science&type=upcoming?utm_source=osocial&utm_youtube=osocial&utm_campaign=brand_scaler_events_osocial_youtube_ripplingcto-scalerpod-episode40&utm_content=YTDescription This conversation dives deep into how engineers must think beyond syntax, why real-world problem understanding matters more than ever, how transcription tools are changing development habits, and what AI-native engineering teams actually look like in practice. What you’ll learn in this episode: - How AI coding agents are transforming software development - Why engineers must deeply understand real-world systems - How voice-to-code tools are reducing traditional coding friction - Why universities often spark breakthrough technologies - What future-ready engineers should focus on in 2026 Chapters: 01:07 - Introduction 02:00 - The Future of Junior Talent & Internships 05:50 - 06:45 - AI-Native Developers & Work in 2026 14:45 - Solving the Education Gap in 2026 23:35 - What Rippling Does - The Product 35:00 - Tech Stack of Rippling 47:55 - Experimenting with Tech Stack with AI 59:20 - Albert's Career Journey and Learnings 1:08:30 - How is Building Features in an Existing Product Different? 1:19:23 - What Segments does India have Talent in? This episode is especially relevant for software engineers, computer science students, tech leaders, and product professionals trying to understand the future of AI in software engineering. #ScalerPod #Softwar