Name:
Chuck Hays (chuck.hays@microsoft.com)

Title/Product:
Software Development Engineer in Test, Expression Blend/SketchFlow

What inspires you?
Working on difficult problems with passionate people inspires me. I am continually amazed at the amazing people I get to work with on a daily basis. I also have a strong desire to learn and grow. These combine well when working on a product like Expression Blend.

How did you choose to work on this team with this product?
This team is great because of the passionate and dedicated people. Expression Blend and especially SketchFlow is a great product to work with because our software enables so many people to transform their creativity and ideas into reality. I love to see what customers produce with our software.

What’s your favorite feature? Why?
Sketchflow is my favorite feature of Expression Blend. Sketchflow is a new feature demo’ed at MIX ’09. It allows rapid prototyping and easier expression of ideas in the early stages of application design. It provides a flexible way to rapidly try out various ideas, while still retaining all the power of Expression Blend.

How long have you been a Microsoftie?
Just over 1 year.

What does your typical workday look like?
My primary responsibilities include review of specs, writing of test specs for features, and writing automation software to test Expression Blend. I along with the rest of my team am responsible for ensuring the quality of Expression Blend. In addition I spend time interacting with customers, helping find their pain points and ensuring those issues get resolved.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I spend much of my time outside of work building projects and all around tinkering. I also coach youth hockey, and participate in a number of sports, including broomball. My wife Andrea and I enjoy travelling, spending time outdoors, and spending time with our families.

Links:
http://chuckhays.net/