Toast Careers

What drew you to Toast and the restaurant tech industry?

Prior to joining Toast, I was a product and engineering leader for several years, working at major corporations like Motorola, Intel, Infineon, and Amazon. I was looking for an opportunity to set up a best-in-class, technology-driven centre where people could grow and thrive. 

During my discussions with executives at Toast, I was very impressed with everyone I met during the interview process. Toast's vision of enriching the food experience for all through technology aligned with my beliefs and passions.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a founding Toaster (team member) in India? 

As the first employee in Bangalore, growing the team and scaling the company culture has been my priority. Having previously worked at larger companies that were already well-known in the area, I was not accustomed to establishing resources or attracting talent to an unfamiliar brand. Building people policies and a foundation for our culture has been an exciting journey.

One of my favorite parts so far has been the inauguration of the Bangalore site where we met Toast leaders for the first time and connected on a personal level. The “SpiceCon”(external tech conference) event we held during that time helped Toasters to connect with India industry leaders to understand various aspects of tech industry trends, sharing experiences/challenges of incubating a centre in India and learning from their success stories. 

What do you think differentiates Toast’s technology team and what excites you about the growth opportunity ahead? 

With our customer base in the restaurant space, Toast is uniquely positioned to use the power of data to improve all aspects of the restaurant business and improve the experience of operators, guests, suppliers, and employees. There are exciting opportunities for new technologies like robotics, voice, and AI.

All of us are driven to innovate for our customers and that has been a big part of Toast's success in building out the operating system of restaurants. It is important that customers find the product reliable and work as expected. 

There is no contradiction between staying on track with new trends and preserving Toast’s core values. Toast core values are timeless and will act as guiding lights as we explore new trends and technologies.  

How would you describe the Toast culture in India?

The teams in India are extremely passionate with a strong commitment to contribute and make business impact. The teams in Bangalore and Chennai bring a pioneering spirit to deliver value to the customer in spite of time zone challenges. There is a tight-knit community and camaraderie built transcending lines of business – check out these videos to hear what other team members had to say about our culture. 

How does Toast prioritize its people?

We are tremendously proud of the inclusive, thoughtful benefits we currently offer, and we’re excited to continue exploring new additions to our offerings. 

Some of our programs/ benefits that empower Toasters  include:

• In-office meals and snacks
• Thorough, inclusive insurance plans
• Mental Health Wellness Programs
• Paid volunteering time through local chapters of Toast.org at Chennai and Bangalore offices in India
• Employee resource groups, known as Toast Communities, which support the whole person and cultivate a sense of belonging within the company and community

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the Toast India team?

Toast gives an opportunity to apply a diverse range of skills to an exciting industry that we all have enjoyed in our lives. It presents unique and complex problems to be solved. It is the early days of digital transformation in restaurants and for Toast in India.  You can thrive in Toast India by innovating on behalf of customers. 

Check out our current openings in India here.

Uma Seetharaman is now a member of the Toast alumni community. We greatly appreciate their many contributions to and lasting impact on Toast!