19/12/2024
Find out how this graduate made the switch to become a software engineer with IE School of Science & Technology.
Federico Barca, a graduate of the Master in Computer Science and Business Technology, is now full-steam ahead with one of the most exciting Delivery Hero careers in engineering. However, the journey to become a software engineer hasn’t been straightforward.
“My background has nothing to do with computer science or software engineering,” Federico tells us. “I was originally a Civil Engineer. I worked in construction for nearly ten years, until one day I decided I’d had enough—construction is a 24/7 job. Especially because I was working in the public sector, so we were often bothering thousands of neighbors. I didn’t want to keep doing that for the rest of my life.”
This major career shift has materialized thanks to Federico’s adaptability.
The journey to become an entry-level software engineer
“My long-term goal is to go back to the Engineering Manager path,” Federico explains when asked why he was so motivated to take on a master’s in computer science. “But I believe that to be a good manager, you first need to become an excellent engineer.”
Federico ultimately decided that a bootcamp wasn’t enough to pursue his desired career path. After much consideration, he opted for IE School of Science & Technology.
“I chose IE for various reasons. The differentiating factor was that you didn’t need a specific computer science background. There were perhaps three or four other master’s programs offering something similar, but a friend of mine had been to IE and told me that the Master in Computer Science & Business Technology really changed his career.”
Federico was particularly struck by the transformative element of his studies. “When I started the program, I was only thinking about becoming a software engineer. During the program, I learned how many opportunities there are in computer science. I was amazed at how up to date the course was when looking at current use of technology in industry.”
Becoming an entry-level software engineer through the Global Immersion Week
Soon enough, Federico had the opportunity to experience the Global Immersion Week. This optional trip brings students face-to-face with companies, providing insight into local industries and offering invaluable networking opportunities.
Federico’s cohort chose between Amsterdam and Berlin—which prompted a strategic shift from Federico. “I initially signed up for Amsterdam,” he tells us. “But then I found out there were a lot of people who’d done the same thing. I was focused on getting a job, so I wanted to have more time to speak with the companies. So, I switched to the Berlin trip as there were going to be fewer of us.”
“I didn’t have my eye on one particular company beforehand,” says Federico when discussing the trip. “I went in with an open mind, but knowing I’d like a software engineering position.” Luckily for Federico, his path crossed with the Delivery Hero careers team. “What I particularly liked about Delivery Hero was their graduate program. And it was specifically for software engineering and data roles. I was already really interested in those fields. Most of the other companies didn’t have this kind of job, or if they did, there wasn’t a graduate program to go with it.”
The importance of IE School of Science & Technology in the journey to become a software engineer
Federico’s subsequent path to employment with Delivery Hero fell into place after the Global Immersion Week. “Delivery Hero specifically mentioned the program was planned to start in September of that year,” says Federico. “But applications would be announced in March or April. I followed Delivery Hero on LinkedIn along with employees I met at Global Immersion Week. When the product program applications went live, I sent a message to one of the employees via LinkedIn. He told me to go for it. So, I applied, they called me, I did around four interviews, and then I was offered the job!”
We ask how important Federico’s education at IE School of Science & Technology was in him getting the role.
“It was key,” says Federico. “Everything that I learned about cloud and software development is instrumental to my day-to-day, because all our services run on the cloud. Understanding these details made my life easier. We also had an extra optional course to go deep into data structures and algorithms. That was vital for the two technical interviews (coding challenges) I had to pass to get the job. Pretty much everything I learned at IE is applicable to my work—I remember people groaning about having to do so many presentations. But presentation skills are very important when you’re talking with your managers or colleagues.”
Federico’s advice for both studying at IE School of Science & Technology and participating in the Global Immersion Week is worth noting: “Make the most of IE’s networking opportunities. The different job fairs, talking to people during the Global Immersion Week… that was the key to changing my career.”
“My favorite thing about the program was its diversity. I’d never studied or worked with such a broad group of people from different countries and cultures. I think that was the most enlightening part of the program.”
“And Global Immersion Week? Just try to be yourself. Enjoy it, try to talk with everyone from the companies you’re interested in. Be open to different opportunities. I remember with Palo Alto Networks, I initially didn’t think cybersecurity was my thing. But after seeing the presentation, it was like, hey, being a systems engineer sounds fun, too. So, be open. Because there might be something even better than what you’ve planned. You might not even know it exists.”
Software engineering jobs: Delivery Hero careers
Now Federico is working full-time for Delivery Hero and he’s sure he’s in the right place: “Delivery Hero is the world’s leading local delivery platform. We work with a large global ecosystem of riders, restaurants, shops and partners. I work in a platform that involves three brands as a Software Engineer in the Order Lifecycle Squad.”
We ask Federico a little about what his daily workload involves: “We work with sprints to manage our workload effectively,” he says. “We plan sprints to deliver results within two weeks. At the start of each sprint, we identify what we want to achieve by prioritizing the most urgent tasks or those aligned with the company’s OKRs. During the planning phase, we outline clear goals and break them into actionable tasks. Once the plan is set, we pick the tasks we’ll focus on and execute them efficiently.”
Finally, we want to know how Federico is growing in his role. The answer lies in continued challenges. “At the beginning with Delivery Hero, I worked on small tasks,” he says. “But I wanted to keep learning and growing, so I asked for more. Eventually, I started getting full packages to work on complete features.”
Ultimately, Federico’s career shift has been for the best. “What I really like about Delivery Hero is its values.
“We say we’re heroes because we care, we deliver solutions, and we always aim higher,” Federico explains. “And it’s true. Whenever I ask managers or senior workers what I can do to grow, they never tell me to focus on something small. They want to grow ideas to the extreme. At the beginning, I was like—‘wait, wait, step by step.’ But now I embrace it.”
