June 01, 2023
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Welcome to our blog series "Behind the Screens"! This is where we dive into the real-life at AOE. We regularly give our employees the chance to share their stories, providing you with insights into their work and passions. Whether you're looking to kick-start your own career in the IT industry or simply curious, get ready for some cool stories and exciting insights. Stay tuned!
In today's spotlight: Fabian. At AOE, better known as Fabi. As a Backend Developer, he is the engine behind the scenes. The 30-year-old constructs the backend systems that serve as the "brain" behind the overall applications. He has high expectations for AI development and knows that GenZ will significantly influence the technology. Here, you will learn more about the person "behind the screen."
As a backend developer, my job in my previous projects has been to connect the frontend, which the client sees, with the technical backend systems of the clients. I essentially establish the "connection." I take care of adapting, processing, and preparing the data and make it available to other consumers. The design and architecture of the backend systems play an exciting and important role in this process. The priority here is long-term usability and performance, which makes it quite exciting because problem-solving involves designing scalable, long-term solutions rather than just finding quick fixes.
A typical day in my job looks like this: I start the workday with our daily stand-up meeting to get on the same page with my team. Then, it's usually time for development! I work on the code and translate the functional requirements into functional code. Of course, I'm also in constant communication with my teammates and clients to ensure that everything runs smoothly. As the workday slowly comes to an end, I take some notes to be prepared for the next daily meeting, and then it's time to wrap up and head home.
Of course, I prefer modern technologies that have "solved" issues of old programming languages. Java with "null" is a nightmare, to be honest. Instead, I'm a big fan of Scala, Kotlin, and Python. During my study years, Python was great - fast and simple. But for larger projects, I now prefer strongly typed languages like JVM languages (Java, Kotlin, Scala).
In my previous projects, the biggest challenge has been dealing with "old and not-so-well-designed" APIs or systems from clients. Fortunately, we build nicer "facades" for these systems so that the rest of the team doesn't have to struggle with these APIs. Instead, they can utilize our cleaner APIs.
And when it comes to challenges, we are professionals in sparring. We gather in pairs or groups of three, discuss the problem, and brainstorm together. This way, we find the best and most suitable solution for us or the client.
GenZ is definitely less tolerant of statements like "that's just how it has evolved historically and that's how it is now." They are more focused on change and pushing for the improvement of things that may not be so elegant. And that's nice! Because when we confront those issues and make them better, the entire industry benefits, and hopefully, we make a huge leap forward in digitalization.
In my free time, I try to balance between gaming in the dark and being out in nature under the sun. Apart from that, I enjoy chilling with friends: having a cozy drink, chatting, and enjoying our time together. Parties and excitement are not as appealing to me as they used to be. Relaxing after work and enjoying life describes my leisure activities quite well.
In IT, it is extremely important to always stay up to date and not cling to outdated technologies. That's why we regularly attend conferences or other events (using our training budget) to further educate ourselves. There, we not only have exciting sessions and delicious food, but it also gives us the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and discover new places. It's always a great experience!
What is currently being hyped: ChatGPT and generative AIs. They are already highly developed and will surely become even more capable in the coming years. Once a proper "AGI" (Artificial General Intelligence) is in place, which can essentially do "everything", we can expect significant changes in the world of technology and IT. It will undoubtedly have a profound impact on our interaction with technology and reshape our relationship with it.
If a buddy were to ask me what makes AOE special to me, I would say: The people I work with on a daily basis are probably the biggest motivation for me to get up every morning. Additionally, I have the freedom to work here the way I want, without any restrictions. And if there are ever any issues, I can directly talk to the people who can help me - be it IT, HR, or management. And let's not forget about the food, drinks, and snacks. All the little extras are definitely a plus - you can always win me over with good food and snacks!
Curious? We're always on the lookout for talents!
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