Not Your Typical Platform Engineer: Support, Development and More

Ljubisav has been with us for almost three and a half years!
Time really flies.
Just a few days ago, I was chatting with our hiring team about this interview prep when one of them said, “Hey, he was my first interview candidate at BlueGrid!” They also remembered his calm energy, welcoming smile, and that awesome beer t-shirt.
It’s funny how the years pass, but some moments stay with us.

Today, Ljubisav is one of our amazing problem-solving platform engineers. Over the years, he’s built an impressive skill set, and as he shares below, he truly enjoys those inspiring moments of teamwork that make cutting-edge technology possible.

So, grab your favorite drink and enjoy the read!
And when you reach the end, let us know what’s another life hack (like laundry sorting) that you’d love to build using your skills? 🙂

What drew you to the field of Platform Engineering and Edge computing?

I’ve always been fascinated by the challenge of building efficient, scalable systems. This field naturally appeals to me because it combines system architecture with the innovative power of edge computing- reducing latency and improving real-time experiences. Working in this area has been an exciting opportunity to apply my skills and tackle complex challenges in a dynamic and creative environment.

Could you walk us through your typical day-to-day activities?

My day usually starts with a quick check of our monitoring dashboards to ensure everything is running smoothly on the platform. I address any alerts or issues immediately, which helps maintain a stable environment. From there, I dive into development work primarily focused on enhancing the pre-render solution while balancing support tasks. This includes troubleshooting problems, reviewing system performance, and collaborating closely with the team to implement process improvements.

This blend of proactive development and reactive support keeps the role dynamic, allowing me to contribute to both the short-term stability and long-term innovation of our systems. 

Since joining our team, what skills have you developed as a Platform Engineer that you’re particularly proud of?

Since joining the team, I’ve experienced significant growth in both my technical and problem-solving skills. I’ve become more adept at designing and maintaining scalable systems while deepening my expertise in TypeScript and Rust. Additionally, I’ve enhanced my ability to quickly analyze and troubleshoot complex issues, ensuring smooth operations and driving performance improvements.

Beyond technical expertise, what non-technical skills have proven most valuable in your role?

I’ve found that strong communication and collaboration skills are just as important as technical expertise. Clearly explaining complex issues and working closely with team members from different disciplines has enabled us to resolve challenges quickly.

Let’s talk about the daily toolkit – what technologies and tools do you work with most frequently?

On a daily basis, I work extensively with TypeScript and Rust for development, which is central to our pre-render solution. For development and deployment, I rely on Jenkins, Kubernetes, and Docker to streamline our build and release processes. On the support side, I use Zendesk, Graylog, Grafana, and StatusIQ to monitor and maintain system performance and quickly address any issues.

What about Platform Engineering surprised you when you first started? Any misconceptions you had?

I initially thought platform engineering was mostly about coding and system design. What surprised me, though, was how much it involves constant monitoring, collaboration, and quick problem-solving to keep everything running smoothly.

What’s your favorite thing about working in this role?

What I love most about this role is the constant challenge and the excitement of learning something new every day. The dynamic environment and the opportunity to collaborate with amazing people make it even more rewarding.

For those reading who might be interested in becoming a Platform Engineer, what advice would you give them?

My advice would be to set your mindset right – be open-minded and ready to learn continuously. Embrace a hands-on approach, add your personal touch, and always be willing to experiment.
Keeping things simple and clear will help you tackle complex challenges down the road.

Speaking of our team, what do you enjoy most about working in BlueGrid? Why might someone find it interesting to join this team?

I really enjoy the teamwork and creative energy at BlueGrid. It’s a place where ideas are welcomed, and everyone works together to solve problems, making it as a great environment to learn and grow.

Here’s a fun one – if you could automate one life task using your platform engineering skills, what would it be?

I’d automate the eternal battle with my laundry – imagine a system that not only washes and folds but even sorts colors perfectly. That’d be the ultimate life hack!

Finally, we’d love to know – outside of work, has your technical background influenced any of your hobbies or interests?

Yes, it definitely has! My technical side shines through in my love for gaming. Whether I’m tweaking settings for optimal performance or exploring mods, it all connects back to problem-solving and creativity.

Last one- for someone looking to grow in this field, what learning resources have you found most helpful? Any specific platforms, books, podcasts, or communities you’d recommend?

I mostly rely on online courses and books. I’m a fan of browsing through platforms like Coursera, checking out different videos, and diving into books – nothing beats learning while enjoying the journey (and a good meme now and then)!