From customer to code: the job of Software Engineer

A software engineer works on all aspects of building software. Not just code, but design and analysis too. And it all starts with what the customer needs. Because a software engineer is (so much) more than a developer. Three young Sparklink software engineers talk about their jobs and backgrounds. “I’m involved with every part of the process.”

1. What do you do? And for which customer?

Lander: “I code the solution, but I also come up with it. Customers have demands and requirements, which we then need to fulfil. Right now, I’m working for Foodbag, a supplier of meal boxes. I make sure the backend works as expected, provide day-to-day support, and when new functionalities are required, I make that happen.”

2. What have you learned already?

“The first few weeks, you get the time to learn to work with Salesforce, the platform we base our solutions on. During that time, you’re also introduced to your colleagues and gradually brought up to speed on a project. At Sparklink I’ve learned that often, much more is possible than I initially thought, and that there are many more things waiting to be discovered. In addition, my customer-oriented communication has improved by leaps and bounds.”

3. What’s the corporate culture like at Sparklink?

What makes Sparklink special? Well, I think it’s very special to get up in the morning (all right, all right, a little before lunch, laughs) and to actually really want to get things done with your coworkers. Easy-going, free, and smart: that’s how I’d describe Sparklink in three words.”

1. What do you do? And for which customer?

Wouter: “Coding is an important part of my job. But I also take part in customer meetings during which we analyse a particular problem and then solve it. Right now, I’m mostly working on projects for concert venues Het Depot and Ancienne Belgique. We provide their internal planning and automate their marketing communications. Recently I’ve also started working for Antwerp Cold Stores, a logistics company specializing in refrigerated food. So the projects are very diverse, which is quite fun.”

2. What have you learned already?

Wouter: “What I’ve picked up most about is the Angular framework. I’d never worked with it myself, so it took some getting used to. As a software engineer, I’ve also learned to think a bit harder about the code I write and how it impacts the system as a whole. A simple bug which may seem quite harmless can wreak havoc somewhere else in the application."

3. What’s the corporate culture like at Sparklink?

Wouter: “Sparklink is a scale-up, which helps you feel appreciated rather quickly. I know everyone by name, ensuring a good rapport. It’s not a ginormous company where you’re just a number. If I had to describe Sparklink in one word? I’d opt for trust.”

1. What do you do as a software engineer? And for which customer?

Helleh: “I’m involved with every part of the process. That means getting together with the customer to discuss specific needs. Then, we need to work out the data model, which has to be sustainable and scalable. Only then do we actually start coding the app. Now, I’m working for Jacobs, an industrial cleaning company. They’ve just made the switch from their old ERP software system to a solution we developed.”

2. What have you learned already?

“I had an awful lot to learn, compared to the average developer starting work at Sparklink. I’ve really learned a lot about the tech. I had zero experience with HTML and CSS, but now I’ve got the hang of them. And carrying out a data migration was very enriching, too.”

3. What’s the corporate culture like at Sparklink?

“Human. It’s a cliché, but humans make a difference. The projects are very diverse, as well, with customers such as Ancienne Belgique and DE SINGEL or big companies specializing in logistics, like Remant, or industrial cleaning, like HCI. If I had to describe the culture at Sparklink in a single word? I’d plump for open.”