Expert Application Engineer focused on cloud, security, and inner source
Discover application engineer John Coyne recently moved into one of the areas that supports the Discover Customer Servicing application for Banking and Loan customers. He is responsible for high-level architecture and modernization efforts for the legacy platform. John also serves as an Innersource contributor to our internal CI/CD product, a member of the Cloud Design Review team, and a "Security Champion."
"I helped to architect and build the Discover Virtual Assistant, which is used to help automate messaging conversations with customers in our mobile app and website," John says about one of his most memorable projects. "I was able to co-present a session at the Google NEXT Conference in 2019 to showcase what went into building the platform and how the product owner manages it."
Get to know more about John
You've been with Discover since 2004. What has inspired you to grow your career here?
Discover has a great culture, awesome benefits, and a great tech stack to work with. I've worked on a number of different teams on a wide array of projects and products. The ability to build something that you can see making a real impact for customers is exciting to me. Having internal mobility helps to keep things fresh—I haven't ever worked on the same team for more than three years.
Collaboration and simplification are key principles at Discover. Engineers' opinions are valued by product owners and management alike. We strive to innovate and automate. Whether you are building something greenfield or trying to modernize a legacy system, you can have the freedom to choose your technology, follow a solution pattern, or help to define a new one if an existing one doesn't fit your need.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I love the outdoors. I am into running, biking, hiking, swimming, camping, and both water and snow skiing when I can find the time. Several years ago, I attended ÜberConf, which is a great Java/JVM conference just outside of Denver. I woke up at 5 a.m. one morning to drive out to a trailhead near the Continental Divide Overlook to go for a hike and watch the sunrise from the mountains. It was glorious.
What are some of the things you're passionate about outside of work?
Music—consuming it in any fashion whether it's live, streaming, or spinning at 33 1/3 rotations per minute. I love going to see live music, whether it's at a local bar, the House of Blues in Chicago, or the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington (which I made a trip to recently).
I have built up quite a vinyl collection in the past few years. After inheriting some of my in-laws' old albums (classics from the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin to name a few) when they downsized several years ago, I decided to buy a nice turntable and started collecting vinyl from some of my favorite artists, old and new. Also, I subscribe to several streaming services, one of which is exclusively dedicated to live music.
What's your favorite film?
I wouldn't say I have a single favorite, but Pulp Fiction is up there. It definitely turned me into a huge Quentin Tarantino fan.
What's your caffeine of choice?
Coffee or tea
In virtual meetings, John prefers
Camera on
If you had to pick a pet, what would you choose?
Dog
What's the best thing you've ever eaten?
For my wife's birthday, we went out to Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse, and I ordered the gorgonzola crusted filet, which was topped with bacon and scallions. The steak alone was so tender and delicious, but the toppings just elevated it to the next level—smokey bacon, creamy cheese, and a slight bite from the onions.
