2 months ago
Join the 1-on-1 with Moni Petkov, Pre-Sales Principal System Architect
Simeon Petkov, known as Moni, is a Pre-Sales Principal System Architect at Scalefocus, a global citizen, and an avid animal lover.
On his mission
I help the company rethink its services, making them more value-added much earlier in the software development life cycle.
About your individual and team honours
Throughout the years I have received various internal awards.
Describe yourself in just a few words
Asking the important questions.
About your professional skills
I’ve been immersed in the world of information technology from a young age. I started programming at 11, and it has remained my main professional occupation. Technologically speaking, my career has been relatively standard: from a developer, through various lead/management roles, to technical C-level positions.
My cosmopolitan nature allows me to collaborate easily with people from different geographical locations and cultures. I grew up in a German-speaking country (Austria), specialized in Spain and Ireland, and worked in numerous countries in and outside of Europe. In total, I’ve been to more than 50 countries. I am also fluent in 4 languages.
About your working routine
One of the best things about my job is that there is no set pattern in my working day. Each day runs in a different way depending on the project, phase, or role I am engaged in. Some days involve extensive travel; others are full of meetings and communication at different levels. There are also days which are devoted to more isolated and focused work on a specific case.
About your projects and challenges
My role as a Chief Architect of the company, leading the Sales Engineering team, necessitates being the first technical point of contact for new customers and projects. It is my responsibility to find conceptual solutions to new problems, choosing the right combination of technologies to achieve strong results. I also help form new teams, providing guidance to them until the gears of the new machine start functioning seamlessly.
About the programming languages
Lately, I have been using Python more frequently because of the explosion of machine learning projects we are working on. Otherwise, I have used mostly Java and JavaScript. When it comes to programming languages,. I don’t really have a strong preference; different problems require different tools.
About the choices: Android or iOS?
I’m an iOS user but don’t have an expressed preference. It’s become more of a habit to me.
About supporting the others
I often find myself in the role of a mentor. Both technologically and as part of supporting the individual development of more junior colleagues.
About being part of the company initiatives?
In addition to actively participating in the company’s external knowledge-sharing initiatives, such as the Tech Savvy Talks, I am also a regular lecturer in our company’s Architecture Community. It aims to support our more junior engineers in taking their first steps on the way to becoming end-to-end solution architects and is also a platform for sharing experiences.
About whom you are
I am open-minded and curious when starting something new. For me setting aside the ego and proactively seeking alternative perspectives are crucial for improving the decision-making process —both in a personal and in a professional context.
About your hobbies
Oh, there are many. I love motorbikes, mountain bikes, skiing, and diving. I have desperately tried to learn to play electric guitar for decades. Lately, I have developed a strong passion for analogue photography. Last but not least, I love animals very much; I own a small zoo at home (a dog the size of a sheep and two cats) and I often help various organizations dedicated to assisting homeless animals.
About fun & music
My musical taste encompasses a wide spectrum. It starts with jazz and soul, passes through hip-hop and extends to punk and hardcore. I enjoy concerts and socializing with friends.
About gaming
I am not a gamer. I have always been more interested in how the game was made behind the scenes than in playing it. It’s the same with toys. As a child, I used to dismantle them to see what’s inside.
About your style
The way I dress strongly reflects my refusal to grow up. My character is probably the same; I try not to take anything too seriously.
