In the heart of Greater Philadelphia, where history meets innovation, Comcast Software Engineer Jaylen Sanders embodies the region’s signature spirit of innovation, imagination, genuineness, and grit. 

Sanders is “Philly homegrown” as he says it.  He started his career in technology at Comcast, an investor in the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia (the Chamber), in 2015 as a software engineering intern and is currently employed there as a full-time Software Engineer. Sanders said working at Comcast is a natural fit for him, as he shares the company’s goal “to create incredible innovation, and its core value of “fostering an environment where everyone is welcomed and supported.”  

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Sanders’ LinkedIn profile highlights those skills and attributes in words and action, where he labels himself as a “Creative Engineer & Culture Builder” and shares culture-building, impromptu, word-on-the-street-style video interviews with his colleagues at Comcast as they arrive at work. 

Comcast’s Impact

Sanders said Comcast excels at creating a creative and inclusive workplace “where employees can see their ideas flow from the bottom up, all the way through to production.” 

Comcast has been recognized as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the region for the 11th consecutive year. In 2024, it was honored as part of The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia, an initiative led by the Chamber in partnership with the globally recognized nonprofit Points of Light. 

Greater Philadelphia’s Thriving Tech Talent Industry

According to a recent report by The Philadelphia Inquirer based on new data from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the region’s number of tech jobs is expected to grow by 1% in the coming year, which would add more than 1,200 new jobs. 

Sanders said he is inspired by this news – “It seems like the buds of the flowers are starting to pop,” and he is also on a personal mission to make sure those projections come true. 

His game plan: to demystify technology. While some tech professionals cloak their work in jargon, Jaylen believes in accessibility. He works to make complex concepts approachable and to empower people to see that everyone is creative. 

Jaylen said mentorship is vital to this effort – “I’m a kid from the city with a city build and when I see kids that look like me, I make it my business to help them see their creativity and unlock their talents.” 

He credits his father for being that person for him. “When my dad came home from work, we would talk about innovations while he made dinner. We would discuss pain points and how the world would be different if this new business or technology existed. It was our way of connecting, and it was a space where we communicated freely. If I had an idea throughout the day, I would keep it top of mind until my dad got home and we were in the kitchen getting ready for dinner,” Sanders said.

Philly Area Tech Scene’s Signature Scent

As a software engineer, Sanders understands that all technology reflects its creators. Unlike cookie-cutter tech hubs, he said the Greater Philadelphia tech scene has a regional aroma, with notes of authenticity and grit. 

 “It’s a Philly thing. We don’t follow trends, we set them,” he said. 

To explore career opportunities in technology in the Greater Philadelphia region and join Jaylen Sanders and thousands of others in the mission to demystify technology, visit Select Greater Philadelphia’s new job search tool here.

To learn more about what it means to live and work in Greater Philadelphia, watch more of our “Discovery Starts with Me” series here.