About

Somesh Arora

I'm a Member of Technical Staff, iOS at Microsoft AI, where I build and ship features on the Copilot iOS app to millions of users worldwide. My career has taken me from building BLE medical device apps at Abbott, to shipping fitness features at Garmin, to leading a team of 5 iOS engineers across Microsoft's ecosystem, and now to the frontier of AI-powered mobile experiences.

The Journey

I started building software that matters in 2017 at Abbott Laboratories, working on a Bluetooth Low Energy app for medical device prototyping. Seeing my code used by firmware teams across continents showed me the impact software can have beyond screens.

After graduating from UT Arlington in 2018, I joined Garmin, contributing to the Garmin Connect app used by millions. I built strong foundations in UIKit, BLE systems, and Protobuf, and won Most Creative Project at Garmin's hackathon for an ARKit prototype.

In 2020, I joined Microsoft as part of the Flipgrid team. Over the next few years, I focused on scale and inclusion, shipping Flipgrid's first mobile admin features, driving the app to Microsoft's Accessibility Gold Medal, and winning multiple internal hackathons.

I was promoted to Senior Software Engineering Manager in 2022, leading a team of five iOS engineers across Bing, MSN, Skype, and Teams. During this time, I architected PlaybackKit, a cross-Microsoft video SDK, scaled MSN Watch by 15x, cut app load times by over 50%, and significantly improved App Store quality ratings.

In 2025, I chose to return to the IC path at a higher level, joining Microsoft AI as a Member of Technical Staff. Today, I work on Copilot iOS, shipping flagship features like Deep Research Mode, leading education experiences, and architecting cross-platform systems adopted across iOS, Windows, and GroupMe. I regularly present early engineering prototypes to Microsoft AI leadership, helping shape Copilot at global scale.

What Drives Me

  1. Build first, convince through demonstration. I don't wait for specs. I prototype, present, and build conviction. The best way to align stakeholders is to show them a working product.
  2. Accessibility is non-negotiable. I drove an app from a "C" rating to a Gold Medal. VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and inclusive design are part of the spec, not an afterthought.
  3. Performance is UX. I've reduced app load times by 50%+ and maintained 99.8%+ crash-free rates while shipping at high velocity. Every dropped frame is a broken promise.

Education

The University of Texas at Arlington

B.S. in Computer Science

2014–2018

Impact by the Numbers

6

Features Shipped

Launched to GA as Education squad DRI

15x

DAU Growth

MSN Watch immersive video experience

680%

Rating Increase

5-star App Store ratings

8x

Engagement Lift

Onboarding redesign impact

99.8%

Crash-Free Rate

While shipping at high velocity

50%+

Faster Launch

App load time reduction

Awards & Recognition

Microsoft Accessibility Gold Medal

Microsoft · 2021

Drove Flipgrid iOS from a 'C' accessibility rating to Gold Medal, achieved by only 5.6% of Engineering + Devices org teams.

Dual Microsoft Hackathon Awards

Microsoft · 2021

Won People's Choice and Runner Up for 'Reimagining Flipgrid Comments'. Features were adopted into the official product roadmap.

Most Inclusive Project, Fix Hack Learn

Microsoft · 2020

Built a real-time language translation prototype using Azure Cognitive Services, breaking language barriers for global education.

Most Creative Project, Garmin Hackathon

Garmin · 2019

Won for an ARKit prototype exploring augmented reality applications for fitness and outdoor activities.

Technical Skills

Languages & Frameworks

SwiftSwiftUIUIKitObjective-CCombineSwift ConcurrencyPython

Apple Frameworks

Core DataCore BluetoothCore AnimationCore LocationAVFoundationWidgetKitApp IntentsMapKitARKit

Architecture & Patterns

MVVMClean ArchitectureModular ArchitectureProtocol-Oriented ProgrammingServer-Driven UISDK DesignSPMCocoaPods

Testing & Tools

XCTestSwift TestingUI TestingSnapshot TestingInstrumentsCharles ProxyCrashlyticsTestFlightAzure DevOpsGit

Platforms & Services

Azure OpenAIAzure Cognitive ServicesBLEProtobufRESTful APIsFirebase

Leadership

Engineering ManagementTeam LeadershipCross-Functional CollaborationProduct Thinking0-to-1 DevelopmentAccessibility / Inclusive Design

Want to work together?

I'm open to staff-level iOS roles, AI collaborations, and high-impact engineering challenges.

Get in Touch