Get to know DTB Tech & Data Hub
An interview with DTB Tech & Data Hub about what it’s like to be a part of their team
What problem are you currently solving and how do you accomplish this?
Our overall goal is to shape a sustainable mobility for the commercial vehicles industry. We unlock mobility patterns in big data that lead to new products for Daimler Trucks and Buses. One could say that we are the innovation spearheads for our big mother company Daimler. Our products result in global services for fleet managers, truck drivers, cities, and other stakeholders, often related to electro mobility.
What do you do that makes your product exciting and unique?
First of all, we don’t just ask the business side and the customer what they think they need or what they wish to have. We look into data patterns to explore what would really make a difference. By doing this, we not only are creating better and more sustainable products, but we are also giving a voice to our engineers and scientists. All of this is helping us to transform our mothership into a digital company.
What specific technologies are your tech employees working on?
We are always open to try out new technologies and improve our products with a new stack. Currently our engineers work a lot with Scala, Kotlin, Python, Grafana, Java, Hive, Kubernetes, Terraform, Cassandra and Azure.
Tell us about the type of tech projects that your company has developed.
Our first employee just celebrated its 6-month anniversary, so as you can tell, we are just getting started. Our first months here were a lot about understanding the business and the partners, the technologies used and the potential in it, co-creating small services. Now we are working on the electrification of fleets and the services around this.
What kind of talent are you looking for?
Bold. Creative. Driven. Savvy.
Which skills are essential for those specific tech positions you are looking to fill — who is the “ideal” candidate to fill these positions?
The tech skills are important, of course. But we also keep a close look on the cultural fit. Apart from what I mentioned above, we are looking for thoughtful and hungry colleagues who value our open, honest and communicative team environment and want to be a part of our small family. We are all driven by the same purpose, to create a sustainable future. Are you in?
Can you describe the work environment at your company?
We define ourselves as a startup within a corporate. We have the backup of a big company with all its know-how and experience. But here at the Tech & Data Hub in Lisbon you can’t feel anything of a corporate atmosphere. Life in the office is very dynamic and flexible. On our first day we had to assemble our own furniture, doesn’t sound too corporate, right? We value our open and honest environment where everyone’s voice is heard and no-one gets stuck by hierarchies or internal competition. We are one team, support each other, learn from each other and stand in for each other. Like a family.
What growth opportunities do you offer to your employees, is there anything in place for training?
We are constantly improving and developing ourselves. We train our employees not only in technologies but also in business related aspects, e.g. the ecosystem around electro mobility. We provide training experiences and workshops worldwide which is great if you want to work in an international setting. But since this is a growing company at its early stage, we are always improving based on the feedback of the team.
Do you believe that your company provides opportunities for its employees to test and showcase their skills?
Of course we do. Most of our projects are in collaboration with or for a big global company, Daimler and our work has a huge impact on their future mobility. We won’t push our employees on a stage, forcing them to talk about their achievements. But those who want to shine, will definitely be seen.
What makes you an attractive company for candidates?
First of all, our projects have a huge impact on the future of a global sustainable mobility. Apart from that, we have a great company culture which is still evolving, ideas are heard and we are constantly improving in all areas. But you are probably asking about the perks, right? We are located in the center of Lisbon with great access to public transportation and a rooftop terrace overseeing the city. We offer health insurance for our employees and their families, meal cards and free drinks/snacks. Flexibility is important for us, which means working from home or adapting working times to one’s private life’s needs is always possible. And did you always wanted to drive a Mercedes? We have an attractive employee renting program. And since we are a startup, we keep improving, always!
What’s your opinion about Lisbon’s growing tech scene? How is it influencing the environment at your company?
We chose Lisbon as our location for various reasons. Besides sunny weather, beautiful beaches and delicious coffee, Portugal attracts great tech talents and has a very open and globally known tech community. We can feel the drive of the people here to change something, to have an impact. This is what makes working here so much enriching and fun.
In your opinion, what is the future of tech careers?
Who knows? The future is tech driven. I think that we are living in an AI era, where the human input will have less and less impact in the technological world and in the world in general. If you think about mobility, for instances, think back to 2 years ago. The “boom” of electric small vehicles in the city center has been huge and no young adult living in Lisbon can think about their lives without electric bikes or Scooters like Hive. The tech guy will continue to be the one choosing his future, and we “The Tech Companies” will have to adapt.
Find them at Landing Festival Lisbon on the 28th-29th of June!
