Annika H. is a DevOps engineer who started at SPK as an intern in 2020. After graduating from college in 2022, she became a full-time employee. While she had some coding experience from college courses, much of her engineering knowledge is self-taught. Now, her day-to-day consists of learning new tools, developing solutions, and helping clients resolve issues.
My Role at SPK
I am a DevOps engineer, which is easy to break down into two aspects: Development and Operations. The development aspect of my job means I am often creating new software or tweaking code over time. Operations, on the other hand, includes more day-to-day maintenance and administration work. I think the best example of that would be ensuring everything runs smoothly for our clients within Jira Software.
My day-to-day changes a lot, which is enjoyable for me. A year from now, I could be working on something completely different. With that said, I do take on longer-term tasks. These longer tasks include services like providing migrations for customers or managing applications for them. Sometimes I will meet with clients on a weekly basis to check in with them. We discuss how the service is going, and I update them on any major changes. In addition to these tasks, I often have many small tasks throughout the day. These tasks include adding users to Jira or checking on the status of servers.
I learn a lot in this role, often having to teach myself how to use new applications. However, I am no stranger to self-taught work. I taught myself to code in Python during my first year as an intern. One of my first tasks was actually to develop SPK’s very own virtual CAD solution, vCAD. Though I can’t take credit for developing the entire thing, it’s cool that I got to provide the base code for the application. Many engineers have helped update the application throughout the years.
What Motivates Me
I often find myself getting wrapped up in a problem if I cannot immediately solve it. Sometimes I have to physically step away, or I will drive myself crazy trying to find a solution. I love that I get to learn so much and use my creativity to resolve issues. I don’t like leaving problems unsolved, so discovering how to piece together the proper solution certainly motivates me.
Career Advice
Some of the best advice I have ever received in this role is to not stress. I know it is way easier said than done, but sometimes problems take longer to solve, and deadlines can seem nearly impossible to meet. I’ve had to learn it’s okay to communicate my concerns with clients and coworkers to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding priorities and expectations. My managers have helped me deal with tough situations when I was under pressure both internally and externally. SPK has fostered a sense of community within the company that makes communicating concerns easy.
In addition to the advice I have received, I think others in this field may need to hear that they shouldn’t tear themselves up when things go wrong. Don’t let one small problem impact your self-confidence. Nine times out of ten, there is a solution. Just because you may not be able to find it at first doesn’t mean you should be afraid to ask for help. Your peers and managers are there to help you. Sometimes it is nice to know that everyone has asked dumb questions. Don’t be scared to ask yours.
Extracurriculars
When I’m not at work, you can find me hanging out with my cats at home or playing video games. In addition to my cats, I have a few dozen house plants and a fish tank containing frogs, snails, and shrimp. I have gotten really into the aquarium, setting it up with live plants and fun decor. This year, I have also made it a goal to find new ways to be active. I am learning how to skateboard and have gotten into rock climbing. I’ve also been taking Zumba with my roommates and have found it to be more fun than I was expecting!
Looking To The Future
Annika has grown into an incredible DevOps engineer. From teaching herself how to code to learning new applications, she is always ready to take on new tasks. Her desire to aid clients makes her a valuable member of the SPK team. We are excited to see how Annika uses her creativity to solve new problems for our clients.
