Sameer Punde initially joined Goldman Sachs in Bengaluru in 2004 as an analyst in Equities Technology, developing and supporting Core Trading systems. In 2016, he left the firm after 12 years to step into a new environment and broaden his experience. Having seen GS Bengaluru built from the ground up, Sameer ultimately returned in 2022 as Mobile Platform lead and now serves as Managing Director in Engineering and Global Head of Application Programming Interface (API) Platform.
Sameer says returning to the firm after six years away felt like “gṛham punaḥ āgamanam”—which means coming home again in Sanskrit.
Tell us about the first time you worked at GS in 2004. What were you focused on, how long were you here and what was your experience like?
I first joined Goldman Sachs in Bengaluru in 2004, when the office was initially set up. I was focused on developing and supporting Core Trading systems – the backbone of our low latency electronic trading platform (GSET today) and one delta trading applications.
The key drivers for my decision to join the firm were getting first-hand experience in building systems driving transformation in the financial markets and being part of Goldman Sachs’ growth journey in Bengaluru right from inception.
I spent nearly 12 years at Goldman Sachs, beginning my journey as an Analyst and gradually advancing to leadership roles within the organization. During this period, I had the opportunity to lead engineering teams that supported various functions across global markets, the firm’s institutional portal, and core engineering platforms. The experience proved truly inspiring, as it provided opportunities to deepen both technical and domain expertise. Working alongside exceptional colleagues, I was able to participate in exciting projects that enriched my professional growth. I also take pride in my contributions made during the early days, which played a role in building the Bengaluru office from the ground up.
What led you to the decision to leave GS after 12 years? What did you leave to pursue and how did the firm prepare you for that endeavor?
After years of leading platforms and teams at Goldman Sachs, I was presented with an opportunity to step into a completely new environment. This move allowed me to broaden my experience and further enhance my leadership skills by immersing myself in different organizational cultures.
Taking on this challenge was not just about leading engineering teams—it was about building the function from the ground up and transforming it into a high-scale delivery-focused organization. The skills and experience I gained during my time at GS proved invaluable in helping me succeed in these roles.
My time away from GS was not about leaving something behind; rather, it was a journey to gather new perspectives and capabilities. These experiences ultimately enriched my contributions and broadened my outlook when I returned to the firm.
How has your second round at the firm been after 6 years away and what excites you most about being back?
After I spent some time leading global markets engineering functions outside of GS, Balaji Sivasubramanian, who managed and mentored me earlier in my career at GS, asked me to consider returning to the firm. He encouraged me to have conversations to see if the opportunity set at the firm might match my aspirations.
I got connected to Rohan Deshpande, who has remarkable experience in building and delivering products at scale. Rohan explained the vision in Core Engineering, including the focus on driving a best-in-class developer experience. Knowing the culture and reflecting on the relationships I had at the firm, I rejoined as Mobile Platform lead in early 2022. Returning felt like “gṛham punaḥ āgamanam”—which means coming home again in Sanskrit.
I am serving as global head for API Platform in the Engineering division – the function offers firm-approved products to mediate secure API traffic management for the firm’s engineers.
I also represent the Engineering AI workstreams within Developer Productivity for the India Engineering organization, including driving adoption of AI coding assistants.
Coming back to Bengaluru specifically, it’s also wonderful to see the growth. From inception, GS Bengaluru has been built like any other Goldman Sachs office, always operating with excellence and role modeling our culture through collaboration and teamwork.
Thanks to our center head – Gunjan Samtani – and our people across Bengaluru and Hyderabad, our offices continue to elevate the operating model, driving forward the firm’s flagship initiatives, including those focused on the AI revolution.
What advice do you have for our alumni who are considering returning to the firm?
My advice for alumni thinking about rejoining Goldman Sachs is to leverage the relationships and network that you have cultivated over the years at the firm. The connections built during your tenure here can be instrumental in your continued growth and success.
Working at Goldman Sachs is a privilege as you are surrounded by the best talent in the industry. The environment here fosters excellence and offers unique opportunities for personal and professional development.
Having been part of the GS Bengaluru office since its inception in 2004, I am especially proud of how our office has grown both in the breadth and depth of its offerings. We have remained steadfast in upholding the culture and principles that have defined our success. I am so proud to be a part of the firm again.