Pratik Pandey, an Indian American and Microsoft software engineer, was found dead in California. He had gone to work on the evening of Aug. 19, and his family reported that he was discovered deceased early the following morning. He was found in the company’s Silicon Valley campus.
Police said there were no signs of “suspicious activity,” and the cause of death is still being determined by the Santa Clara County medical examiner. A viewing is planned in the Bay Area this week, as his family arranges to bring his body back to India. “A joyful soul with a radiant smile, Pratik loved playing soccer, great son & friend,” says an announcement for a viewing service in the Bay Area, as per Mint.
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Pandey, remembered as a “hardworking professional” and “a joyful soul with a radiant smile,” was a father to a son and is survived by family members in India, as per Bloomberg.
With close to ten years of professional experience, he spent more than five years at Microsoft as a software engineer, contributing to the Microsoft Fabric and Synapse products. The 35-year-old worked on Microsoft’s Fabric platform, a data analytics tool that competes with products from firms like Snowflake Inc. He reported directly to Scott Guthrie, Microsoft’s executive vice president in charge of cloud and AI. While a family member mentioned that he used to work for late hours, according to media reports.
Pandey joined Microsoft in 2020, after beginning his career in India with Newgen Software in Noida and later at John Deere in Pune. Before moving to Microsoft, he gained experience at several tech companies, including Apple, Illumina, and Walmart Labs. Known for his expertise in micro frontend architecture and data-driven applications, he worked across a range of technologies including Java, TypeScript, React, Angular, RxJS, and cloud-based systems.
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Pandey held a special place in the community, with social media filling up with tributes following news of his passing went public. Satish, a Santa Clara City Council candidate, wrote on Instagram, “Pratik was more than a colleague and a neighbor,” adding that he represented the community’s spirit in “grief and solidarity,” The Financial Express quoted. Microsoft has not issued any statement regarding the incident.
Recently, the tech giant dismissed two employees after a protest inside the office of company president Brad Smith over Israel’s conflict in Gaza. The demonstration was carried out by members of the activist group No Azure for Apartheid at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on Tuesday. The group had said that police detained seven people, including current and former employees.