Harshal Shah's career in software engineering spans over a decade, with his roles at companies like eBay, Qualcomm, and Comcast highlighting his ability to lead teams and develop impactful technologies. Currently a Technical Lead Engineer at eBay, Shah oversees a team of 12 software developers, guiding them in creating tools that improve user experiences and drive company revenue.
One of his significant achievements at eBay has been leading the development of the AI-driven "Ads Unified" campaign tool. Launched in 2024, the tool simplifies the creation of promotional campaigns for eBay sellers. Using artificial intelligence, it generates tailored keywords and strategies in seconds, a process that previously required hours or days. The result? A significant percent increase in eBay Ads' quarterly revenue, totaling $2.6 billion.
Shah says about his leadership philosophy, "My focus is on empowering my team with the tools and knowledge they need to innovate. Leadership is about amplifying the strengths of others, not just directing them."
Mentorship: Building Future Engineers
Shah's commitment to mentorship is a defining feature of his career. He emphasizes fostering technical and professional growth within his teams, particularly among early-career engineers. He implemented a structured mentorship program at eBay that pairs junior developers with senior staff, focusing on skill development in full-stack technologies like Angular, React, and NodeJS.
His mentorship extends beyond day-to-day tasks. Shah dedicates time to guiding his team through complex technical challenges, ensuring they understand the "how" and the "why" behind their work. His mentees often cite his ability to break down intricate software architecture concepts into digestible lessons as a key factor in their development.
"Mentorship is not just about teaching technical skills, it is about fostering confidence and curiosity in problem-solving," Shah explains. His approach has contributed to a learning culture, with team members reporting improved performance and career satisfaction.
Pioneering Solutions in AI and Cybersecurity
Shah's technical projects demonstrate his ability to tackle real-world challenges. At Qualcomm, he led a team that developed a suite of network monitoring and management tools. These tools included an anomaly detector, intrusion prevention systems, and a dashboard for network analytics. The project added $5 million in annual revenue for the company and addressed critical data security needs for its clients.
Shah's published research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. His 2019 paper, Deep Learning Architectures for Safe and Secure Artificial Intelligence, outlines techniques like adversarial training and federated learning to create secure AI systems. These contributions have been widely cited in academic and professional circles, underscoring the practical implications of his work.
The Numbers Behind the Career
Shah's career trajectory is punctuated by measurable impacts across multiple organizations. At Comcast, his leadership on a fraud detection project reduced credit losses from millions to thousands within two months. His AI-driven tool at eBay shortened campaign setup times for sellers by 95 percent, significantly improving accessibility for smaller businesses. The mentorship program he introduced at eBay led to a 20 percent increase in team productivity. Shah's technical blog writing, including eight research papers, has garnered over 300 citations and over 5,000 reads by different professionals and students. His work on AI-as-a-Service models has influenced how businesses adopt scalable AI solutions.
Recognition and Future Goals
In 2024, Shah received the Global Recognition Award for Engineering Leadership and Academic Excellence, a distinction that highlights his dual impact on corporate innovation and academic research. Additionally, he earned two Silver Claro Awards for his contributions to technology and artificial intelligence. His research paper titled "Towards Safe AI: Ensuring Security in Machine Learning and Reinforcement Learning Models" has been awarded for the contribution and honorable achievement in Innovative Research by the 26th edition of International Research Excellence and Best Paper Awards in Dec 2024.
Looking ahead, Shah is focused on integrating more privacy-preserving techniques, like federated learning, into commercial AI systems. "As AI systems become more ubiquitous, ensuring data security while maintaining functionality is crucial," he notes.
A Career Built on Impact
Harshal Shah's career exemplifies a blend of technical innovation and human-centered leadership. His contributions, whether through groundbreaking tools, insightful research, or dedicated mentorship, are a model for how engineering leaders can drive meaningful progress in their organizations and beyond. Shah is also a senior member of the IEEE and a fellow member of the "International Organization for Academic and Scientific Development." Through these prestigious memberships, he actively contributes to mentorship initiatives and advancements in the fields of engineering and research, further solidifying his influence within the global technology community.
As Shah reflects, "The most rewarding part of my career is seeing the ripple effects of my work, whether it is a new technology, a solution to a tough problem, or a colleague achieving their full potential."
