Jeff Sweeney, Software Engineer

Our mission at Protenus is to advance the science of healthcare by bringing together creative and skilled individuals who are passionate about the security, usability, and applicability of health data. As this information becomes more voluminous, comprehensive, and, as a consequence, more vulnerable, we are building scalable, insightful solutions that address critical issues preventing the efficient, safe, and effective delivery of patient care. 

Our team is composed of a diverse group of people who come together to achieve this shared mission. To give a glimpse into our culture and highlight the diversity of our team, we’ve asked Jeff Sweeney, Software Engineer, to share more about his experience working at Protenus.

What’s your role at Protenus, and what do you do?
I’m a Software Engineer who builds and maintains data pipelines and models which help Protenus ingest and structure raw data from our customers.

What did you do before coming to Protenus? 

Before my time at Protenus, I was completing my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. During my time in school, I was an undergraduate Teaching Assistant (TA) in the CMNS department and completed a summer internship as a Software Engineer at G3 Technologies in Ashburn, VA.

What initially attracted you to Protenus?

My initial attraction to Protenus was the positive reviews I read online by current and former employees. The company seemed like a warm and welcoming place where you are given plenty of freedom to grow. During my onsite interview, I got to see this first hand. Aside from the intriguing open office that I was thrilled to be in, the whole team was very friendly and ecstatic to have me there. It was after this interview and meeting the team, that I knew Protenus was the type of company I really wanted to be a part of. 

What’s your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part about working at Protenus is their interest in my growth. I’m encouraged to challenge myself and work on new opportunities, effectively keeping myself in the learning zone at all times. Our quarterly 360 reviews paired with a bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with managers allow your progress to be constantly tracked to make sure you’re achieving the personal goals that are important to you.

Complacency is not something we have to worry about at Protenus, as individuals and the company alike are continuously working toward new growth opportunities.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned since starting at Protenus?

The most important thing I’ve learned since starting at Protenus is the benefit of putting yourself out there and pushing yourself beyond what you think you can accomplish. From day one, I’ve been encouraged to work on a variety of projects at Protenus, whether I’ve felt ready for the task or not. While this is a little intimidating at first, it quickly became clear that someone can accomplish a lot more than they think when presented with the right opportunity. Protenus has really opened my eyes to this concept and made me comfortable with accepting and embracing new challenges.

How has working at Protenus impacted your career?

Being my first job out of school, I knew I wanted to be a Software Engineer, but I never really considered which industry I would eventually settle into. Working at Protenus has piqued my interest in healthcare. Patient privacy and clinical drug diversion are serious problems that need creative solutions. Knowing that we’re building the valuable tools necessary to help tackle these issues makes what I do exciting and enjoyable. My experience at Protenus has left no question which industry I want to be part of and continue to grow in.

What has surprised you the most about working at Protenus? 

What has surprised me the most about working at Protenus is the transparency from company leadership. We hold a company-wide meeting every Monday morning and go over various topics from product health, sales and revenue goals, customer health, and much more. For each employee to be updated on all company topics on a weekly basis was not something I was expecting, but I have been pleasantly surprised by these meetings.

In 10 words or less, how would you describe the culture at Protenus? 

Family-oriented atmosphere putting other people first.

View our Careers page if you'd like to see current job opportunities at Protenus.