Work-life balance done the right way.

 

Meet Magdalena, who joined our Kraków Hub as a Senior Software Development Engineer. Read about how she helps keep our stores running smoothly, while being supported to keep things running smoothly at home, and her thoughts of how the tech industry has evolved.

 

How did you get into the tech industry?

I was always interested in mathematics growing up. So when it came to choosing my field of study, I didn't hesitate to pick computer science. I started my first job in the industry during university and my adventure with technology continues to this day.

 

What brought you to Tesco?

I was attracted to the prospect of working for a well-known grocery brand and interested in getting the chance to work on the modern technology stack in a company that builds its own products. I really enjoyed the recruitment process, everybody I met was friendly and that sealed the deal. And that warm and supportive culture has continued 12 months on.

 

What’s your team is responsible for?

I work on the user interface of an internal tool we use called the Workload Management Application. Its purpose is to calculate the workload needed for each store or department. And my team is responsible for building a user-friendly interface to help end users get accurate calculations, while constantly working on delivering new features that make the process as seamless as possible.

The output helps to create the perfect work schedules, and ensure the right colleague is in the right place at the right time while at work. These calculations are extremely detail-oriented and consider various inputs such as the number of steps it takes to walk from one department to another.

 

What does your role as a Senior Software Development Engineer look like?

Day-to-day, I work on deliverables required by product management and take ownership over some parts of the system. What's important, for both me and the rest of my team, is that we constantly identify improvements that can be made to the product. We make sure our stack is up-to-date, and that any potential technical debt is addressed quickly, because in today's industry, if an application isn’t well maintained, it's very easy for it to become inefficient.

 

What keeps you here?

First and foremost, it’s the people I work with, and the atmosphere that we create together that keeps me here. Everyone’s very helpful, and we collaborate well to find solutions to any technical challenges that arise. But also, I love seeing the impact of my work, and getting regular feedback on the performance of the application. It makes me happy to know my work helps to make my colleagues lives a little better.

 

How do you think the industry has evolved?

The industry has changed so much. And tech is constantly evolving. But also, more often, teams have a flat structure and have become cross-functional. So, a software engineer is no longer just there to deliver a piece of code, they’re able to be an active contributor to the whole process. They have broader, more diverse responsibilities, like clarifying requirements, testing, developing, deploying the application, and then maintaining it on production.

In terms of being a woman in tech, it’s great to see so many more in the industry. I’d even go as far as to say it’s no longer unique to be a woman in tech. But I’ve been lucky to work in environments where people are valued for their skills and engagement, no matter who they are.

 

How would you describe the culture here?

It’s a positive environment that promotes collaboration and communication. The people who work here are all part of making that happen. And I believe that all starts during the recruitment process because not only does it pay attention to the technical skills you’ll bring to the team, but also to the soft skills you have and how you’ll add to the culture. Plus, you’re encouraged to speak up with any concerns too, and your voice will always be heard.

 

How does Tesco support you to balance your work and home life?

I feel like I can truly maintain a work-life balance at Tesco. I have a good mix of working in the office and from home. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is that I never finish work feeling stressed. I can switch off, ease seamlessly into my personal life and give my full focus to my children. I also have the flexibility, and great benefits like additional days off, so I can have more time for my family and hobbies.

 

Why would someone want to join a Technology team at Tesco?

If you’d like to work in a friendly environment where you’ll find loads of interesting challenges, and be supported to constantly develop your skills, then Tesco is the place to be.

 

 

Everyone’s welcome at Tesco. We’re there for our people, whatever life brings. So we’ll do everything we can to support you. To help make sure you always feel comfortable being yourself at work, and that you’ve got what you need to develop and grow with us.

 

So why not explore our latest Tech opportunities? Click here