A Q&A with Preet Singh, Lead Frontend Engineer
Cornerstone AI is publishing a series of Q&As with team members to provide more information and context on their role at Cornerstone AI, as well as their professional background. This is the tenth post of the series. Visit our blog to see previous posts in the series.
Your background is in web development and software engineering—can you tell me a little about why you chose to go into that field in the first place?
Honestly, it happened by accident. I originally started out as a pre-med major in college, but I was also really into PC gaming. I played semi-competitively and was part of a few e-sports teams. For those teams, I’d create HTML/CSS websites and design forum signatures using Photoshop—just because I enjoyed the creative side of building things.
Around that time, my cousin, who worked as a product manager at Samsung, saw what I was doing and encouraged me to explore web development more seriously. She said, “You’re already pretty good at this without any formal education,” so I decided to give it a shot one summer—and I was hooked. I started with HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript, then moved into React, Node, and Express for the back end. There was just so much to learn, and it kept me motivated.
Eventually, I built a small resume to see if I could land a job—and I did, pretty quickly. Since then, I’ve never looked back. The field is constantly evolving with new technology, which makes it exciting and keeps me inspired to keep learning and growing.
You worked with companies including Chowly, Prometheum, and PNC before coming to Cornerstone AI—was there anything in particular that compelled you to make this change?
Definitely. Early in my career, I worked at larger companies like Home Depot, USAA, and PNC Bank. While those were great learning experiences, I eventually gravitated toward startups. I wanted to have a more tangible impact—not just on the product, but also on company culture and direction.
At bigger companies, roles are typically very defined. As a developer, you're mostly just writing code. You're often not part of the design conversations or the broader decision-making process. I wanted more creative involvement and the chance to wear multiple hats. I felt like I had more to offer and wanted to contribute in a more meaningful way.
When I joined Chowly, they didn’t have a front-end product at all. That challenge excited me. They were forming a new team, and I got to lead the front-end efforts and help build the product and team from the ground up. It was one of the most significant milestones in my career. Over time, the company grew through acquisitions and expansion, and the front end became a core part of their product offering. Once things were well-established, I felt like it was time for the next adventure—another opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up.
On a day-to-day basis, what does your work look like? What drives you to continue the work each day?
Right now, I’m doing what I love most—developing and building products. Every day is a mix of creativity and technical problem-solving. Sometimes I approach things from a design standpoint, other times from an architectural perspective, thinking about scalability and long-term sustainability. My day-to-day is mostly hands-on development, but I also support the team however I can.
I’m surrounded by incredibly talented people here, and I’m constantly learning from them while also trying to make their work easier. Although I focus on the front end, I’ve been trying to learn more about the algorithmic side of things at Cornerstone AI. There's a steep learning curve, but it’s exciting. I’ve only been here a few months, so I’m still ramping up—but I’m thrilled to be contributing to building the front end for such impactful products.
What does the future hold for Cornerstone AI?
From what I’ve seen so far, I think the future is incredibly promising. The engineering team is doing a great job thinking ahead—whether it's planning for scalability, supporting rapid growth, or building out infrastructure to accommodate new services and features.
There’s a real sense of momentum here. The response we’re getting to our current offerings is already very positive, and I’m especially excited to see how the features I’ve been working on will be received. Ultimately, the goal is always the same: solve real problems and let the product speak for itself. As an engineer, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing something you helped build actually improve people’s workflows or solve a pain point.
What are you most proud of in your professional and/or personal life?
Professionally, I’m most proud of the leadership role I stepped into at Chowly. It was the first time I wasn’t just writing code—I was also helping to architect the product, build the team, and shape the culture. I didn’t walk into it with all the answers, but I took on the challenge and grew into the role. We went from having no front-end at all to delivering a core product that drove the business.
One of the more complex and exciting challenges came after an acquisition. I helped integrate a newly acquired company’s technology into our systems, which required solving a lot of technical and organizational problems. It was deeply rewarding to figure all of that out and see it come together successfully.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
A few things! I still love basketball—even in its current state. I think the early 2000s to 2010s were the golden era, but I still follow players like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Steph Curry. They’re amazing to watch.
I’m also passionate about travel, especially to tropical places. As engineers, we’re always problem-solving—even off the clock—so I’ve learned how important it is to truly disconnect. Getting away to an island or a beach helps me recharge and reset. Saint Martin is one of my favorite places—I’ve been there several times, and it never gets old. It’s my go-to escape when I need to unwind.