.webp)
In this episode, Lucas Hendrich talks with Eashwer Srinivasan, CTO at Sonny’s Car Wash, about what happens when software stops being a product and becomes operational infrastructure. The conversation spans Eashwer’s early experience at NASA, the realities of scaling platforms before cloud computing, and why industries that appear simple on the surface often require the most complex systems behind the scenes.
“Working at NASA is a humbling experience because tech is like electricity.”
At NASA, technology teams existed to support the mission, not to be the focus of it. Scientists and astronauts cared about whether systems worked reliably, not what platform was built. That environment shaped a mindset where reliability and delivery mattered more than architectural elegance.
“We went live around midnight… six o’clock in the morning, Columbia crashed… the site stood there and took hundreds of millions of hits.”
A platform launch was immediately tested by a real-world crisis. The public rushed to NASA’s site for information, and the system had to scale instantly, without cloud infrastructure. It became a defining lesson in operational readiness and resilience.
“Use AI to assist, to help, not just to fully write.”
At Sonny’s, generative AI is used in the software development lifecycle, particularly for generating test cases and improving testing coverage. The team saw efficiency gains but also learned that fully AI-generated code created maintenance challenges, reinforcing the need for human oversight.
“You walk into most car washes and the point-of-sale system has probably been there for 20 years. It works.”
Legacy systems persist in operational businesses because reliability matters more than novelty. Modernization requires integrating new capabilities: customer engagement, reporting, and automation, without disrupting existing operations.
“Think about predictive maintenance… vibrations, water pressure… and computer vision so cars don’t collide.”
Modern car wash operations rely on software controlling real-world processes. Systems monitor equipment health, guide maintenance decisions, and ensure safety inside automated tunnels.
“As part of onboarding, you go to the Car Wash College: entire tunnels set up to learn how everything works.”
Understanding the physical environment is essential. Engineers working on the platform must understand machinery, operators, and workflows because the software directly interacts with real-world equipment and customers.
Stay tuned for more conversations with technology leaders on CTO2CTO.