Meet Daniel, an engineer with almost 14 years of experience in the technology industry and a passion for music. At Oceans, he is a Support Engineer in a team that handles multiple projects with different applications focused on the .Net framework. He talks about his experience of working with Oceans, his accomplishments, his professional expectations, and what motivates him on a daily basis.
Who is Daniel? And what’s your role at the company?
I am Daniel Ramirez, a systems engineer with almost 14 years of experience in the technology industry. I have always been interested in technology, but I didn't realize it until I was about to choose my career. I loved music and was about to study something related to it or learn to play an instrument, but my father wisely advised me to choose a career that would ensure a good future. He suggested that I study what I liked and once working, I could pay for my music education. I remember my father introducing my family and me to the world of computers in the early 90s, when he worked at AT&T and started handling the first computers that arrived in Mexico. He bought me my first computer and I loved seeing how it worked, entering commands, and doing very basic things, but that caught my attention. I think that was when I started to become very interested in technology.
At Oceans, I am a Support Engineer in a team that handles three different projects with different applications focused on the .Net framework. Currently, I am validating the rewrite of some old applications and waiting for them to be updated to more modern technologies.
How long have you been with Oceans and what was your first impression?
I have been with Oceans for a year now. My first contact was with Stefany, and I had never worked with a team from Costa Rica before. I liked the proposal because there are many things we could have in common as neighboring countries. The payment was also attractive, as Oceans pays in dollars, which was a change from the usual payment in pesos. Another factor that appealed to me was that Oceans is a small company with few people, and you can easily know who is who and with whom you work. It feels more like a family. I have worked with larger companies where you can become just another employee, and to stand out, you have to befriend those who give recognition. In Oceans, you can focus on doing your job, and your work is recognized.
What is it like to work at Oceans?
For me, it's really cool. I have a friend from Guatemala who talks a lot about life in Central America, and now she's here in Mexico. When I told her I was going to be working on a project with people from Costa Rica, she said, "Oh, that's great! They do this, they have these customs..." She even used their terminology so I wouldn't be lost. It's really nice, and now it's not just the Costa Rican team; there are people from Argentina and more people from Mexico as well.
The onboarding process was really nice too. The CEO wrote to me, I gave references for people I knew, and it was a matter of getting used to having three managers, one for each of the three projects. Communicating with them for ticket management has been really smooth, and I'm keeping up with the pace of work in the best possible way.
Tell us about an accomplishment you’ve made while working with Oceans
One of my most rewarding experiences at Oceans was navigating a challenging situation with a colleague. When we first joined the team, we were faced with a transition from another project and lacked context and information about the application. Unfortunately, the person who could provide us with the necessary insights was negative and uncooperative, which made things even more difficult. However, my colleague and I communicated our concerns to the Oceans team and worked together to find a solution. Although the person ended up leaving, we persevered and took on the challenge of learning the application ourselves. As we began to understand the project, we were able to successfully tackle the tickets and errors that came our way. Looking back, I am proud of how we rose to the occasion and were able to deliver a successful project.
What is your professional expectation?
Well, I have two professional expectations. Firstly, in terms of technology, there are some tools I haven't explored yet, such as React and AWS, among others, that I want to start learning in order to continue growing as a developer.
Secondly, something different: as I mentioned before, when I started studying computer systems, I was also interested in music. Now I would like to explore this interest again, but perhaps not in composition or playing instruments. Recently, I had a dream where I was told to look into audio-related careers. I did some research and found that the audio engineering and audiovisual production program at a school I was interested in now has a branch in my city. I am currently working on getting the necessary certifications so that the program is valid, and I am considering pursuing a second engineering degree in this field. Not necessarily to work in it, but because I am passionate about it.
What is your main motivation on a daily basis?
My main motivation is simply the love of working with computers and constantly learning new things. I feel like this is what I enjoy and, regardless of the job, I really like being at home. I love remote work, and since the shift to remote work, my life has changed quite a bit. I no longer feel stressed or pressured by traffic, which can be a huge issue in some areas of Mexico during peak hours. The quality of life I've gained through remote work has been truly life-changing. I can now wake up early, have a leisurely meal, tend to the house and plants, take a shower, and then start working feeling fresh and stress-free. So, my motivation now is the peace of mind that remote work provides.
What do you enjoy the most about working remotely?
What I enjoy the most about working remotely is what I mentioned before, such as being able to eat at my own pace because I prefer home-cooked meals and don't like eating out much. I also value my freedom of scheduling, being able to stay in Puebla one day and then visit my mom in Mexico City the next day, even though it's a two-hour drive. Being able to work from home with my wife and dog is also something I appreciate a lot.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Well, my hobbies are music and taking care of my plants. Lately, I've been focusing more on my plants as they take up more of my time, and I've been learning a lot along the way. My wife and I love to go out and explore, whether it's trying out new cafes and restaurants or visiting "pueblos mágicos", which are towns that have a rich historical and cultural significance and are well-maintained by the government. These places have become very popular tourist destinations, and we have several of them close to our home, like Cholula and Atlixco. Atlixco is particularly famous for its plants, being at the foot of the Popocatépetl volcano, and there are lots of nurseries there, which I love to visit in search of new plants. We also enjoy going to little gardens to have a beer or some grilled meat with family, as they are very family-oriented and I love spending time with my family.
