Cristian Dumitrescu
Why the Friendly Engineer?
I am easy to get along with, but my team makes it easy. They're real team players with unique personalities. I'd say we cover the full spectrum, and we thrive in diversity. I contribute by making them laugh and by ordering delicious food to fuel us through the day.
What do you actually do?
I work with loads of data. We take it from internal or external sources, clean it and work on it until it becomes actionable information for the business. So, it's crucial that it's accurate.
Disclaimers you give friends about your job?
"No, I won't search the database for your ex-girlfriend's phone number. I don't know how to make websites, but I can reinstall your operating system if you ask nicely."
How's your workload?
We all know that a team's to-do can vary. When activity is low, I like to not rush my lunch, for instance. When we have a tight deadline, I'll gladly spend a few extra hours to reach it. It balances out. Being responsible and doing your job well is what matters at the end of the day, and I'm happy to be part of a culture that sees that.
Other things that stand out for you?
Having a cool office that's easy to reach and so many fun activities to choose from – like sports, planting trees, charities, movie nights, parties – are perks I'm happy to have.
Is it rewarding to see the impact of your work?
It is, I fondly remember one project about designing a banking onboarding form for new customers. Compared to previous versions, this one would only print the pages that needed to be signed. It benefited the customer in terms of time spent on onboarding and helped save loads of paper. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment to deliver the project and see the adoption rate go up.
Was this always your dream job?
Believe it or not, I've wanted to either be a programmer or an airplane pilot since I was 5 or 6. I ended up working in IT and having a big fear of flying. So, at least one worked out well.
What do you do after hours?
I try to spend a lot of time outdoors, but if I stay in, I watch movies or play real time strategy video games. I also started to enjoy cooking but it's too soon to tell if it's going to be a hit.