Team Spotlight—Get to Know Stefan

What does the fact that computing used to be a profession that people did before the emergence of what we now call the machine, an addiction to coffee and the ability to manipulate time all have in common? Well, they all characterise our software developer Stefan! He tells us about his job, what it’s like working at Tapkey and answers some very *important* questions such as what he’d choose as a superpower.

What does your job entail?

As a developer, my job is to keep the infrastructure working as well as design and develop new features. Being an embedded engineer, I mostly work on the lower end and close to the “bare metal” of things.

What do you like most about your job?

In a small team you often have to get out of your comfort zone. What might seem scary at first feels really rewarding in the end. You don’t feel like a small unimportant part of a giant machine. I generally like learning about new technologies and Tapkey has it all: from web and GUI development to firmware and driver development.

What is the toughest part of your job?

Due to the nature of our business, branch security and quality are among the most important properties of our software. There is no work-hardening: most things need not only to be done, but be done right the first time.

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?

If a problem is worth solving, then…

…somebody already solved it; or
…there are people working on solving it.

Always do your research; in most cases, solutions that build on the solutions of others will be better than a novel and original idea (and if they’re not good enough, you can still come up with something new).

What separates Tapkey from other employers?

We’re a small team, so we have a flat hierarchy. But it also requires flexibility, as daily business is not as static as in other companies. We also have a really broad technology stack, starting with firmware development reaching all up to UI- and web development.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Hiking, Biking, Gaming, DIY

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

I love learning new skills, and I’m full of useless fun facts.

Do you have a motto or personal mantra?

If you don’t reach up for the stars, you won’t ever touch the moon.

Meaning: Whatever you do, always try to aim high, as you can always lower your expectations. If you aim low, that’s all you will ever achieve.

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Alan Turing and Nikola Tesla, two of the most brilliant minds, yet at the same time humble and down to earth.

Three words to best describe you.

Calm, Nerdy, Curious

What is the one thing you can’t live without?