Engineering What’s Next: Celebrating Engineers Week 2026

Engineers at Coupa are shaping what’s next, through code, curiosity, impact, and a shared commitment to building better systems for people and businesses.


In celebration of Engineers Week 2026, we asked a few of our engineers how they’re transforming the future: their own, Coupa’s, and the communities we serve.


Their answers reflect a profession grounded in purpose, growth, and possibility.

From Curiosity to Customer Trust: Abhishek Pandey, Software Engineer


Abhishek’s engineering journey began by experimenting with modded apps in school and trying to understand how systems worked beneath the surface.


“That early spark still drives me today, whether I’m digging into a complex issue or collaborating across teams to solve real customer problems.”


At Coupa, Abhishek owns a microservice responsible for inbound invoicing for a government client, a critical component of compliant invoicing.

 During the implementation, he helped resolve integration challenges by focusing on root causes and aligning the right teams quickly.


For Abhishek, engineering goes beyond functionality. “When systems work seamlessly, customers can focus on growing their business instead of fighting technology. What we build isn’t just code, it’s trust.”


Joining Coupa as a newcomer to Ruby on Rails, Abhishek was given the time and trust to deeply understand the platform. That ownership changed his perspective.


“Engineering stopped being about making things work. It became about building systems that are reliable, secure, and scalable.”


His advice for aspiring engineers: “Stay curious. Learn by building. Focus on understanding why something works — not just how.”

From Hardware Roots to System Design: Nitin Salunke, Senior Lead Engineer


Nitin’s path into engineering started with hardware and a fascination with how physical components worked together. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a passion for software architecture.


“Hardware provides the skeleton. Software provides the soul.” Today, as a Senior Lead Engineer, Nitin oversees architecture within the Sourcing Module, an infrastructure that supports millions of RFQs and auctions globally.

“At Coupa’s scale, even small optimizations create real-world impact. We’re building infrastructure for global trade.”


Nitin is currently helping integrate AI Agents into sourcing workflows, moving beyond traditional UI toward intelligent systems that reduce cognitive load and enable more strategic decision-making.


“We’re implementing AI in real-world environments where accuracy and reliability are non-negotiable.”


His growth at Coupa mirrors that evolution. Starting as a “team of one” in India, he expanded into architectural stewardship, mentorship, and global collaboration.


“An engineer’s value isn’t just in the code they write but it’s in the standards they uphold and the teams they help build.”


His advice: “Focus on the problem you want to solve. Keep building. Engineering is a craft — and your perspective is an asset.”

More Engineers Shaping What’s Next


Engineers Week is also an opportunity to revisit the stories of Coupanians whose journeys continue to inspire.

From Relocation to Belonging: Mehnaz Bano, Lead Software Engineer

In her first year at Coupa, Mehnaz relocated from Berlin to Pune and discovered more than professional growth. She also found belonging. Her story reflects how engineering excellence and human connection go hand in hand. Read more: #My1stYearatCoupa:
Four Stories of Growth, Purpose, and Community.

From Problem Solver to Inventor: Chien-Yi Tsai, Patent Holder

Chien-Yi wasn’t thinking of earning a patent but set out to solve meaningful problems. His curiosity about smarter supply chain route modeling led to U.S. Patent No. 12481936, demonstrating how innovation happens when curiosity meets opportunity. Read more: The Power of Curiosity:
How Chien-Yi Tsai Turned an Idea into a Patent at Coupa

Engineering Simplicity at Scale: Anand Deshpande – Smart Intake & Orchestration

Anand helped lead the development of Smart Intake & Orchestration (SIO), transforming complex request workflows into intuitive, human-centered experiences across the Coupa platform. His work exemplifies innovation rooted in empathy. Read more:
Building Simplicity Through Smart Intake & Orchestration

Scaling the Cloud with Precision: Krati Bansal – Sr. Cloud Software Engineer

A Standout Performer award winner, Krati has led critical frontend containerization efforts that make Coupa’s cloud infrastructure faster, more resilient, and more scalable. Beyond technical excellence, she’s a mentor and force multiplier for her peers. Read more:
Shining Bright: Meet Coupa India’s Standout Performers

Engineering the Future, Together


At Coupa, engineering isn’t just about technical skill:

  • It’s about curiosity that drives deeper understanding.
  • Ownership that accelerates growth.
  • Architecture that scales with intention.
  • Innovation that serves real businesses.


And above all, it’s the impact that extends beyond code.


As we celebrate Engineers Week 2026, we honor the engineers who are transforming their futures while shaping ours.


If you’re inspired by these stories and ready to build systems that power global commerce, explore
Coupa Careers and join our Talent Community.


At Coupa, the future isn’t just imagined, it's engineered!

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