Meet Tim | IT Consultant / Software Architect
“Driving that transformation is the incentive you have in a role like mine, and I enjoy doing that immensely.”
When Tim Maleska isn’t busy tackling projects at diconium, he can be found DJing in Berlin clubs or practicing CrossFit in the gym. He’s rarely seen in the office, however. Why, you may ask? Find out in our new experts interview! Beyond that, he reveals what appeals to him about his work as an IT Consultant / Software architect, how his brief foray into backend development has helped him, and what advice he has for newcomers.
Wanna get to know all the other diconium experts? Just follow up on our stories here 💜
Hi Tim, nice to meet you! Can you introduce yourself?
Hi, my name is Tim Maleska and I’ve been working at diconium for two and a half years. I started as a Backend Developer and moved into the IT Consultant role a year later — this switch was planned from the beginning. The short excursion into backend was meant for me to get to know current techniques and approaches of diconium.
That means you initially applied as an IT Consultant?
Exactly. I was hired as an ITC, but since I had previously been self-employed and had only experienced agile team structures when dealing with customers, my boss suggested that I first take a look at what we were doing in practice. Everything about designing APIs, microservices in the cloud, CI/CD and agile frameworks like SAFe, I had only heard about in theory, so it was a good idea to get practical experience first. However, the switch to the ITC role after just under a year was the right step in my development.
“I had previously been self-employed and had only experienced agile team structures when dealing with customers, my boss suggested that I first take a look at what we were doing in practice.”
Which diconium location do you work at?
Berlin but I’m almost always working from home. My project is set up in such a way that my colleagues are located all over the place: Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Hamburg, Lisbon… I’ve never had a problem with working completely remotely. I enjoy it. So, I don’t really need the office. Except to meet colleagues from time to time and to connect. We’ve also done a few workshops recently, for example in Lisbon and other locations, to get to know people.
Do you want to become a colleague of Tim at diconium? Take a look at our open positions! 💜🚀 IT & Digital Consulting / All vacancies
You joined diconium during the pandemic, right?
That’s right. I saw the office during the interview and then joined during the lockdown, so I got the laptop sent home. By default, diconium was already very well set up as a digital agency and we were used to working across locations.
“By default, diconium was already very well set up as a digital agency and we were used to working across locations.”
Since you’re mostly working remotely: Have you ever thought about doing a workation?
Yes, I have already done that. During the pandemic, I was on the Canary Islands for a few weeks. That worked out great, even with the meetings and calls, because there was only a one-hour time difference. It’s very cool that diconium has made this possible.
What does a “normal” working day look like for you? Are there any routines?
There is a certain routine in my day-to-day work in that I take part in two dailies every morning, as I’m working in two teams. After that, the days are structured in a dynamic way. Usually, my job is to advance the topics that I’m responsible for. Another thing that is always important to me is supporting my teams, i.e. making sure that everyone is provided with all the necessary things like architecture concepts and documentation. Further development of the team and the project is very important to me.
“Further development of the team and the project is very important to me.”
So do you have some sort of team leadership role?
You could call it lateral leadership. I’m as much a team member as anyone else. Through some preparation via architecture concepts that come before implementation, I have a technical influence and help at that point. That’s mentoring and supporting the team during development and testing until it goes live. I also lead some working groups for new requirements and advise and decide on the target architecture in consultation with other architects from the client or other teams.
What would you say is the most important skill to have working at diconium and specifically in your field?
What we hold in very high regard and what I really appreciate about us is the team spirit and the mindfulness. I think it’s a very pleasant and trusting way of working together.
As far as my position is concerned: communication and technical understanding are the most important things. At the same time, explaining and passing on abstract and complicated contexts as simply as possible.
I think if you work in a digital agency, you’re in the wrong place if you don’t want to transform digitally. For me, that’s something like eating and sleeping. Driving that transformation is the incentive you have in a role like mine, and I enjoy doing that immensely.
“As far as my position is concerned: communication and technical understanding are the most important things. At the same time, explaining and passing on abstract and complicated contexts as simply as possible.”
Is there a project that you would like to highlight?
The project I’m working on right now. It is a project that is larger than some medium-sized companies, measured by the number of contributors. The complexity is extremely high, as are the demands on technology and organization, knowledge and communication. I have grown very much with this project over the last few years and continue to do so — we have a lot to do and a lot on the agenda. It is very important to me to be involved in ensuring that the project continues to develop.
“I have grown very much with this project over the last few years…”
Do you want to become a colleague of Tim at diconium? Take a look at our open positions! 💜🚀 IT & Digital Consulting / All vacancies
Why did you apply to diconium and what made you stay until today?
I applied to diconium because I was looking for a role that exactly matched my skills and interests: Communication, technology, seeing the big picture. I think this role was just a very good fit. The application process was extremely straightforward, and the interviews were great. It was clear to me from the start that if diconium agreed, I would accept.
That’s also one reason why I’ve been around for so long. I have personally developed a lot in my projects and learned a lot.
Do you have any advice for newbies? What would you have liked to know earlier?
Reach out to people, even if you think they’re swamped with work. Because in the end, you want to be part of the team. You have to get used to actively approaching people you normally see in passing in the office. Remotely, you have to seek out communication yourself. But also stay calm. It takes time to get to know your product or project fully and for it to have an impact.
“Reach out to people, even if you think they’re swamped with work. Because in the end, you want to be part of the team. You have to get used to actively approaching people you normally see in passing in the office.”
Mindfulness: What do you do to unwind after an eventful day?
I love music and DJing (techno). That’s my way to distract myself my way — besides sports and meeting friends — to come down. I also do CrossFit which is a combination of cardio and strength.
WANNA GET TO KNOW ALL THE OTHER DICONIUM EXPERTS? JUST FOLLOW UP ON OUR STORIES HERE.
