Drawn by the opportunity to learn about DevOps and different cloud technologies, Deepak joined us in March 2023. He now works on several key projects, including serving as team lead in a customer-facing role.
Please share a bit about your background and how you got into software
development?
I’m originally from Nepal and I’ve been living in Finland for almost 14 years now. I came here to study network engineering, completing my degree in the city of Turku.
During my studies I started working as a full-stack developer, mainly using Python. One of the companies I was with had an ERP system for warehouse management. I also worked on public-sector projects for different cities in Finland, developing reservation systems that
citizens could use for various purposes.
What brought you to Kumorion?
A recruiter contacted me to ask if I’d like to join a company working with DevOps and hybrid cloud technologies. I hadn’t even marked myself as looking for new opportunities, so it was a bit of a surprise when I got the message!
I had been doing software development for quite some time, but I wanted to learn more.
Kumorion was looking for Python developers with an interest in DevOps, so it seemed like the right fit. I saw it as an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with Kubernetes and other DevOps tools.
Geography was another factor in my decision. I had been in Turku for a long time, so the
idea of moving to Helsinki was appealing. We came to an agreement and I joined in March
2023.
"The working culture here is really flexible and open. No one micromanages you and there’s a lot of trust in the team."
Has the role lived up to your expectations?
Definitely! Now I have the opportunity to work both in software development and DevOps. The working culture here is really flexible and open. No one micromanages you and there’s a lot of trust in the team. It’s a small company, so communication is easy. You don’t need to worry about office politics – everyone is very supportive.
There’s also a strong culture of learning. If you’re interested in a particular technology or
want to work on something new, there’s usually a way to make it happen. You are not
expected to know everything about that technology before you start in a project. We often learn on the job, as I’ve been doing with the cloud technologies and DevOps.
Kumorion encourages us to spend some time each week on professional development. If you want to get a certain certification, the company provides the resources and pays for the course. If you pass, then you even get a cash bonus. It’s a big motivator for keeping up with new technologies and growing your skill set.
"It’s a good challenge and I’m learning a lot."
What does your team setup look like?
I actually work with several different project teams. One is focused on cluster resource
allocation, where I’m building an interface that monitors available cloud resources and allows them to be dynamically rented out.
Another project concerns a system that manages distributed storage accounts. I’m working with one of the company’s senior developers to maintain and improve the infrastructure for this large-scale system.
I’ve also started working as a team lead for a customer-facing project. This involves a lot of communication and occasionally supporting with system design. It’s a good challenge and I’m learning a lot.
What technologies and tools do you work with most frequently?
On the development side, I mainly use Python and JavaScript, along with frameworks and libraries like FastAPI, Flask and React. For DevOps and cloud work, we use Kubernetes, Prometheus, Grafana Alertmanager and lots of other open-source tools.
I’ve also started learning Go, as a lot of DevOps tools are written in it. Learning Go properly has been a goal of mine for some time. I’m now working on a project that will use it, so I have a good reason to dive in.
“This is a great place to develop your skills, as there’s a lot of flexibility to switch between projects and take on different challenges."
What advice would you give to someone considering joining Kumorion?
I would definitely say come and work with us. This is a great place to develop your skills, as there’s a lot of flexibility to switch between projects and take on different challenges. You don’t always get this kind of opportunity in a bigger company.
We have a diverse team, with colleagues from a number of different countries. This creates a great atmosphere in the office. Beyond work, the company also invests in team activities. For example, this spring we’re all going on a trip to Lapland for a few days. We have social events in the summer too.
If someone wants to learn about technologies and have a good time doing so, then Kumorion is a great place to be.