From classroom problem-solving to powering innovation at one of the world’s biggest tech giants, Lalindra (Lali) Jayatilleke is now shaping the future of technology as a senior product manager at Amazon.
Jayatilleke works at the new location and specializes in global procurement, working alongside various Amazon teams to develop tools that power the company's vast order fulfillment network. Additionally, Jayatilleke has made notable contributions to enhancing the smart TV experience, including launching Alexa smart home capabilities on Samsung and LG TVs and bringing Alexa to Fossil smartwatches.
“I have had an opportunity to understand the business and technical elements that go into a product,” he said. “Our goal is to build products that customers love to use, working backward from what they need.”
Jayatilleke loves addressing customer problems, and his ability to connect the dots between technical solutions and user needs has been a hallmark of his career.
"I try to understand customer pain points and how to build a lovable product by breaking down technical requirements.”
Born in Sri Lanka and raised in the Fiji Islands, Jayatilleke is a 2012 magna cum laude graduate at UDC with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has remained committed to giving back to his alma mater.
Since 2022, he has been the chair of UDC's Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board, advising faculty on curriculum and industry trends and helping shape the next generation of engineers. Reflecting on his journey, Jayatilleke believes that his time at UDC prepared him for success in a competitive field.
"I want to help the school as much as I can,” he said. “I am happy to continue to participate and give back my time in any way I can to the university to try to attract potential students to the great engineering programs we have.”
Jayatilleke credits UDC as a place where was free to explore opportunities and grow.
“At my first job after graduating, my colleagues included graduates from schools such as Cornell and MIT. I realized that the name of the school you attend does not determine your career trajectory; what matters is what you do with the opportunities your school gives you."
While at UDC, Jayatilleke was an active member of the Men's Tennis Team and the Robotics Club, which led to an internship and an .
Jayatilleke's diverse career also includes prior roles at Texas Instruments and Deloitte. With experience in applications engineering, robotics, and product marketing, he is a versatile engineer with a passion for innovation.
“I enjoyed my time at UDC,” he said. “Overall, it provided a place for me to be motivated and I became a better engineer. I appreciated the faculty for the support and mentorship that I received. We have ABET-accredited engineering programs, and alumni are graduating and doing well.”