Hi, I’m Eliza, a Tech Lead on the Payments team. Our team is responsible for the interfaces that homeowners use to make payments, as well as the underlying infrastructure that ensures funds are routed to the right place. Since making a payment is a core aspect of the homeowner experience and one of the most frequent homeowner-servicer interactions, our work is critical to the company’s success.
In my role, I lead some of our team’s largest projects, mentor other engineers, review technical designs, and help shape our product roadmap. Being a Tech Lead means wearing many hats and being flexible to whatever the team needs!
What excites you most about Valon’s business model and market potential?
Before I joined Valon, I had no idea there was an entire universe beyond closing on a home. I’ve never owned a home myself, and wasn’t really familiar with what mortgage servicers do.
Now that I’ve been at Valon for a few years, I’ve seen the kind of difference we can make. Building tools that make it easier for homeowners to navigate their options can have a meaningful impact and help them remain in good financial standing. The more efficiency we build into the servicing industry, the more time and attention we can give to the homeowners who need it.
Can you share an example of a project you’ve worked on that directly impacted Valon’s mission?
One project I’m particularly proud of enabled the system to automatically accept slightly short payments while still crediting the homeowner’s account.
It’s common for homeowners to accidentally send in payments that are just under the required amount, often by less than a dollar, due to changes in their accounting state or simple human error. Previously, the homeowner could be charged fees or have their credit impacted, causing unnecessary stress.
While the idea was simple enough, the technical execution was more complex. Our entire system is typically precise, so adapting it to handle small discrepancies required intricate work. Additionally, determining whether a payment was truly short had to be dynamic: a payment might be considered short at one point in time, but changes in accounting data could alter its status. Ensuring system consistency and effectively communicating the complexity to homeowners were critical considerations.
But once this project launched, we were able to reduce a significant pain point for homeowners, making the mortgage experience more personal and stress-free.
How has Valon’s rapid growth influenced your career and opportunities for advancement?
As with most startups, there is so much for us to build. What that means is there’s no shortage of gratifying, high-value projects for those motivated to take them on.
One of my very first projects at Valon was building a system to automatically identify incoming checks based on past payment data. Manual check identification was one of our servicing team’s most time-consuming tasks, and I was entrusted with building this system. My project ended up reducing this time by 90%. It was really cool that I got to make such an impactful difference so early on at the company.
What advice would you give to someone considering joining Valon’s engineering team?
I joined Valon with no prior experience in finance or with mortgages. I was initially surprised by how fast-paced, and changeable the mortgage industry could be. Rules and regulations change all the time – it’s like solving a complex puzzle that’s constantly shifting under your feet. As an engineer, it’s important to embrace the business context and build systems that can adapt quickly.
My second piece of advice is to challenge yourself. Valon is a place where you can really own your career. You’ll have the freedom and support you need to take risks and grow.
What’s your favorite part of Valon’s working environment?
Definitely all of the New York office dogs!
But really it’s the relationships I have with my coworkers. Our team starts each day with a trivia round, sharing funny or cute facts and occasionally pictures of our pets. It’s a great tradition that helps build camaraderie and makes Valon feel like a tight-knit, mutually supportive community.
If you’re interested in joining Eliza as part of Valon’s team, check out our open career opportunities.
