A day in the life: Aleksandar Backend Lead at heyData
Your Journey: What inspired you to join heyData, and how has your role evolved since you started?
I got recommendations that the people and culture in the company are great. Additionally, I joined heyData because I wanted to work on scalable backend systems in a high-impact field, such as data privacy. Since starting, I’ve grown from working on core APIs to leading larger projects, while also improving system performance and reliability.
Table of Contents:
A Day in Your Life
What would surprise us most about your job if we followed you around for a day?
You’d probably be surprised by how much of my ‘backend’ work isn’t just coding, like debugging a failing microservice at 3 PM, then whiteboarding a cache strategy with the team by 4 PM, and ending the day reviewing a junior dev’s PR. It’s a mix of firefighting, collaboration, and mentoring, all while keeping the system running silently in the background. And yes, there’s always a random ‘works on my machine’ moment.
Teaamwork Vibes
How do you stay connected with your team, especially in a hybrid or remote setup?
Communication is everything. I prioritize focused, intentional meetings with key collaborators but default to async tools (like Slack or email) for updates that don’t need real-time discussion. This keeps teamwork tight without unnecessary meetings.
Challenges & Wins
What’s the most rewarding project you’ve worked on at heyData? How did it challenge you, and what made it particularly fulfilling?
Designing the new document management system at heyData was a rewarding challenge, especially the migration from legacy infrastructure. It wasn’t just about moving data but laying the groundwork for faster, more flexible development down the line.
Mental Breaks
When you need to clear your mind, how do you recharge during the workday?
To recharge, I step away for quality time with family, whether it’s a quick lunch together or helping with homework. And as a sports fan, I’ll often unwind by catching highlights or debating last night’s game with colleagues. Small breaks like these keep me energized and focused.
Tech Tools You Swear By
One tool I can’t work without is Flycut. It’s a simple but game-changing clipboard manager. As a developer, I constantly reuse code snippets, commands, or error fixes, and Flycut lets me access my clipboard history instantly. No more retyping or digging through notes, just pure efficiency.
The Future
What are you most excited about in your future at heyData?
I’m really excited to contribute to the development of new compliance standards like ISO 27001 and NIS 2 at heyData. Working on these frameworks isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about building systems that make data security seamless and scalable for our customers. It’s a chance to solve hard problems while setting industry benchmarks.
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