Meet DevOps and System Engineer, Mandar Raut
In this interview, Mandar, our DevOps and System Engineer in Dublin, shares insights on his experience at Fire and what led him to the payments industry.
Hello, Hey Mandar! Can you start by telling us how long you've been with Fire?
I joined in July 2021, and it’s hard to believe it’s already been over three years – what a remarkable journey it’s been!
Can you tell us more about what your role involves?
I play a key role in developing the platform through Infrastructure as Code, managing releases, overseeing infrastructure changes, ensuring platform uptime, providing support, resolving incidents, and maintaining accurate documentation.
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
What I find most rewarding is the ability to directly impact the efficiency and reliability of our systems. Watching the platform improve through automation and knowing that my work helps streamline processes for the entire team makes every challenge worthwhile.
What's the most exciting challenge you've tackled so far?
It’s hard to choose just one, but automating the mobile release process was definitely the most exciting. It streamlined deployments, reduced manual errors, and significantly improved the efficiency of our development pipelines.
Can you share your background and what motivated you to join a company like Fire?
I have a background as a DevOps Engineer in India, where I specialised in automating infrastructure and optimising processes. I then moved to Dublin to pursue my master’s degree at UCD and began working at Fire during my third semester, making it my first company in Dublin.
Joining Fire was an exciting opportunity for me to be part of a forward-thinking team. I was attracted to the company’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, which enables me to leverage my skills while continually learning and growing in a dynamic environment.
How would you summarise the company culture in three words?
Fun, flexible, friendly.
What do you enjoy most about working in the payments sector?
The dynamic environment that fosters constant innovation. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of technology that directly impacts how people and businesses manage transactions.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time outside of work?
I enjoy gaming – I mean, who doesn’t love fighting pixelated monsters and slaying dragons?
I’m also an anime artist. I love bringing those characters to life, with ridiculously oversized eyes and gravity-defying hair that makes people go, ‘Wow, that’s cool!’ while secretly thinking, ‘What’s up with that hairstyle?’.
Are there any unusual or quirky skills or fears you have?
I have a quirky skill: I can beatbox! Here’s a quick tutorial if you ever want to try – just say ‘boots and cats’ repeatedly, while pretending you’re a DJ, and voilà! Instant beatboxing magic!
On the other hand, I have a fear of heights, so I prefer to slay those dragons from the safety of my gaming chair rather than attempt any real-life mountain climbing!
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