Why did you choose for the role of a DevOps engineer?
I actually started as a software engineer. Though, with only software, I could not deliver the whole product. I always needed an Operation Engineer to finish the project.
As I did a lot of programming, the challenge was gone to only focus on programming the software. I wanted to build the whole product, not just a part.
So, I started to learn more about the operations side and now as a DevOps engineer, I have the capacity to build the whole project from development to operations. I can do both Dev and Ops.
How does your current way of working in a team look like?
In my current project my team consists of three DevOps engineers, all with a different background. One with a background in testing, one in operations and myself with a background as a software engineer. In this triangle of expertise, we can work together efficiently and learn a lot from each other. Most importantly we build a complete solution from start to finish with the three of us.
In what aspect makes The Factory a difference for you?
So, I started to work at The Factory. I would like to get the chance to work on different projects. From the beginning I noticed that the owners of The Factory, Mike and Joep, are really listening to us. When someone was working for a customer for a while, and wanted to learn more, they really looked for a solution, at the same or a different customer.
Therefore, they are looking for a customer who really suits your expertise!
My first project was for a customer who created their own IT landscape on premises. They asked us to migrate the IT landscape to the Cloud. My assignment was to create an overview of all the software and infrastructure, so thereafter we could migrate to the cloud. This was an assignment perfectly for me, as both my software and infrastructure knowledge were needed, in other words DevOps engineers were needed to be able to make this assignment a success!
What is your passion in non-working life?
I like to be outside in nature. This year, just like last year, I went to Corsica again. Inspired by the documentary series 'dwars door de Middellandse zee' we went to Corsica and motivated by 2 friends to hike the most challenging trail in Europe; the GR20. The schedule was tight, 12 days instead of the regular 16, and the weather appeared to be variable. Although we have chosen this month because of the most sun, this year turned out to be completely different. The first week we often had thunderstorms in the afternoon which puts enormous pressure, and brings uncertainty, to get over the mountain tops before the showers. The 2nd week has another challenge, namely the temperatures of 30-35 degrees. All this also adds to the adventure: the views changed every day, and the terrain slowly became less alpine and, as a rule, less climbing and jumping. It will certainly not be for everyone, but at least we enjoyed everything we were able to see and the challenge that this adventure brought.
Besides some impressive hikes, do you challenge yourself in other activities?
Most of the days I do some sports, like cycling and hiking in good weather and bouldering on cloudily days
I’m definitely not the only one at The Factory who is up for some nice activities. Sometimes I boulder with my colleagues, and last year we went on ‘wintersport’ with the whole The Factory team in Austria! But that’s a story for another time ;-)
I also like to be creative. For example, I built some prefab wooden houses! So not only sports for me.