A Look Into What It’s Like Being a Software Engineer at NordPass

Pavlo Mikhailidi joins us for a quick talk and shares his thoughts on being a software engineer at NordPass.

Let’s start from the beginning. Tell us how long you have been working in IT development. What’s your experience in the field?

My journey in the world of IT started a long time ago, when I was in high school. But I got my first job almost 6 years ago, when I was 19. I worked as a full-stack developer at the beginning, which means I worked on both user interface and the logic behind it. Around 4 years ago, I decided to focus only on the backend side, mainly because I found it more interesting and because my design skills are poor, truth be told.

Could you tell us about your role at NordPass and how long you’ve been working here?

I’m a backend engineer, which means I develop and maintain the part of the NordPass software that users don’t see directly. I spend most of my time at work writing application programming interfaces (APIs) — something that allows users’ applications to retrieve data from servers and send commands to be executed “under the hood” according to NordPass’s business logic. It also includes many other responsibilities, but I don’t want to bore you with all that technical stuff.

Why did you choose NordPass as your workplace? What made you decide to join?

I think the main reason why I decided to join NordPass was the product. Besides basic password management tools, NordPass has lots of other features, and there are even more to come. I was excited to participate in such a project. Also, during the interview process, I was impressed by the different people I met. They seemed to be experts who are very passionate about what they do but very easy-going at the same time. Plus, I was excited to learn Golang, which is widely used here at NordPass. In the end, it was a very easy choice to make.

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Could you tell us about your experience working at NordPass?

The product means a lot to us. Our goal is to make digital life better, easier, and, at the same time, safer. We do think a lot about it: we constantly collect ideas from our users and do brainstorming sessions where we talk about product improvements. By making digital life easier for everyone, we also make it easier for ourselves — it’s a great driving force.

Would you say that you have already improved yourself as a developer while working at NordPass?

For sure! In just 3 months, I went from an absolute Golang beginner to pushing my first big features into production. Also, because Golang is a compiled language, I had the opportunity to write the code for our desktop applications on multiple platforms, which was a first-time experience for me. Additionally, since security is our main concept, I got lots of insights about cryptography and how it all works in practice. We also get excellent workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions from time to time, and I love learning new things.

If you had to describe why this is a great place to work at in only 3 words, what would they be?

Innovation, professionalism, and fun.

Could you describe the team spirit at NordPass?

What advice would you give to someone considering joining NordPass?

If you find cybersecurity interesting, or you have the desire to master Golang and are passionate about clean code, there’s really nothing to consider — it’s time for action. I’m sure you’ll enjoy and remember this part of your career. And don’t forget to invite me for a coffee on your first day at NordPass, either virtually or in person ;)

Since you are working from Berlin, could you share the top two places to see when visiting Berlin?

This is the hardest question! I love Berlin. It’s super different, and you can find everything here, depending on what you want. If I had to limit it to only 2 things, I would say you should visit the amazing “Museum für Naturkunde” and enjoy the nightlife in the famous Kreuzberg district.

To wrap up, do you have any hobbies?

Sometimes, I think I have too many of them. In my free time, I try to understand how this beautiful universe and the phenomenon called “life” works. Reading different scientific books helps a lot. I’m in love with music and sometimes play the drums since it’s a good way to relax after a long week. I consider programming my hobby and take some time during the week to master new knowledge and skills. I’m also in love with traveling — it’s a big part of my life, so sometimes it’s hard to find me in Berlin on the weekend. The list could really go on, so I think I will just stop here.