Meet Julian Rodriguez, a Software Engineer based in Colombia who has been with us for two years!
Julian is a source of steadiness for our clients. And he has a calming influence and a unique combination of passion, skill and humility—and that humility is his superpower.
–A.J. Singh, Modularis CEO
What is your role at Modularis?
I am a software engineer and have been part of the SmartWitness team for two years. Right now, I manage the support platform and ticketing system for our customers.
What does delivering value for your customers mean to you?
Delivering value for our customers means improving their internal processes and getting them better outcomes. For example, in SmartWitness, our customers come to us when they have an issue with their platform; we work to improve their processes and their results, rather than just looking at their technologies – we want to provide a better outcome for our customers.
How long have you been at Modularis?
I have been with Modularis for two years and three months.
How did you hear about Modularis?
I worked with a company here in Colombia and Modularis was a client of theirs, so I got to know the Modularis team while working at the external company.
What made you decide to take the job at Modularis?
I have always been looking for a place where I would feel fine all the time! I tended to spend less than a year at a job before looking for something new, but in my interview with Jaime, his honesty and the values of the company really stood out for me.
Jaime asked if I would trust in him because he saw something in me, and that’s when I knew this was my place. I like the culture, the organization, and that we treat our customers the same as we treat each other. I feel very good here and it is my most long-term work so far.
What did you do before joining the team?
I started out working as a waiter and a barman; through those jobs I was able to start studying mathematics and then found different types of work in call centers, analyzing data or coordinating teams. I worked for a time in a telecom company as a data analyst, and that’s where I started to learn about software development.
A friend pushed me to learn more about software development for myself, and I did a lot of self-learning. At that point, I changed careers to become a software engineer. In college, I had a friend who gave me an opportunity to try software development, and here I am!
Julian is one of the most giving people you’ll ever meet. He always makes time for his colleagues and his clients, and he treats everyone the same.
–A.J. Singh
Where did you go to school?
I went to school for software engineering at Fundación Universitaria Inpahu (UNINPAHU) in Bogota, Colombia where I earned my bachelor’s degree in software development. Before that, I trained in database analysis and design at Fundación Universitaria Unipanamericana and completed a two-year program in technology and design of information systems at Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA).
What did you study?
I studied software development, software engineering, database, and information systems design.
What motivated you to follow a career first in mathematics, but then make the switch to software development?
I liked mathematics a lot, and I liked my career; but it’s hard to find opportunities in Colombia for these types of careers, math especially. I started down this new path because my mathematics background made learning software development easier. Because I started out in data analysis, I had already learned many of the tools I needed for software development. I started to see more opportunities in this line of work, so I changed my focus.
What is your favorite project you have worked on at Modularis?
I have a very specific role currently and it’s my favorite project so far – the release of new deployments to customer platforms. We receive the requirements from the customer, get into design, and then implement the code and test. Once it passes testing, the work needs to be delivered to the customer. This all happens at a specific time, in very specific steps, and my role is to release the new developments to SmartWitness’ platform and our customers.
He throws himself fully into everything, and he’s willing to go above and beyond to solve problems, not only for himself or what he’s working on but also at the company level. He’s fundamentally looking at ways for all of us to do better. He’s got a dedication to growing—not just himself but the people he touches and our company, and it’s something we really appreciate and respect.
–A.J. Singh
Tell us about your life outside of work. Family life? Hobbies?
I have an 11-year-old son and he’s very interested in cuisine and cooking – he’s starting to study this more and it is an interest of mine too. I have recently discovered a passion for photography and film, and enjoy playing basketball and soccer.
I like to play video games, read, and attend the cinema. It’s not just going to the cinema, but understanding cinematography, writing, and actors. I am also very interested in wine culture and gastronomics – I even have a bar in my apartment right now! I make cocktails and different types of drinks for my friends and family.
Thinking about software development and R&D management – and the many challenges that come along with it – how does Modularis help companies overcome challenges and promote actual growth?
Modularis is a company that actually wants their customers to understand their own business and necessities. We don’t build software that companies don’t need. The first part of our customer approach is working to understand the real needs of our customers.
We aren’t selling software, we’re selling solutions and new opportunities for our customers. We try to understand our customers, and understanding their needs is the most important part of our work.
What are your personal values and how do they help you in your work at Modularis?
I always put 100% into everything I do – I need to pull all my energy into something. I always try to be helpful to our team. If I can’t work on the main issue, I will tell a joke to lighten the mood, get coffee – whatever I can do to be supportive of the people working toward that main goal.
This works perfectly at Modularis because we value giving and being here for each other. It has helped me to improve my work and have better relationships with my coworkers.