In this interview, we talk with Gunter Rotsaert. With a background in electronic engineering, he has been working as a Systems Engineer at ICT TriOpSys for almost two decades. During this interview, he tells us more about his experiences and his current position.
Tell us something about yourself, who is Gunter?
I am Gunter Rotsaert, raised in Belgium and studied electronics engineer. Although I never worked directly in that field, I quickly ended up in software development. After my first job in Belgium, I started working at ICT TriOpSys, where I’ve now been working since 2005, with a short interruption of 11 months. I am married and we have two children. My biggest hobby is playing music; I play the trombone in a big band. I also maintain a technical blog (My Developer Planet) where I experiment and share my experiences.
You are a Systems Engineer at ICT TriOpSys, what exactly does that mean?
It’s a broad role and that’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable. On one hand, I am a software architect and requirements engineer in projects, comparable to a product owner in Agile. I draw up requirements together with the client. On the other hand, I give advice to clients. For example, I was seconded to air traffic control for a while, where I got to know the organization well. For example, I analyze whether their in-house software is well designed or perhaps needs to be rebuilt. I work on both team projects and individual assignments and that variety is what makes it so enjoyable.
“Our work truly has a purpose. Sometimes it takes years, but then you hear that something has been done with your advice. It may have taken a while, but it wasn’t wasted effort.”
What do you enjoy most about this role?
I think the diversity of the work is what matters most to me. I’m not tied to a single business unit or project. My day is very varied; I work on many different things. That’s also because of the experience I’ve gained and the fact that I’ve been at ICT TriOpSys for so long. It allows me to work on multiple assignments at the same time. I also love being able to make a difference. When you advise an organization like air traffic control, it can take years before you hear that they’ve done something with your advice. But then you know that your work truly had a purpose.
What is your experience working at ICT TriOpSys?
I really enjoy it. There was a period when I didn’t enjoy it as much and left, but the door always remained open. That’s what I like about ICT TriOpSys: the directors’ door is always open. That’s also why I was able and willing to come back. We have several
What is the craziest or most enjoyable experience you’ve ever had here?
Winning the NLJUG Innovation Award for a project at air traffic control was truly unique. But what I also found very special was the appreciation we received from a client after a particularly difficult project in 2010. We had to merge different systems during a reorganization at the client’s side. At the end, we received an empty PDA with a small screen attached to it on which they expressed their appreciation for our work. It’s still somewhere in our offices. Even though things can be very difficult at times, it’s amazing when you receive appreciation.
“The director’s door is always open. That’s one of the things I appreciate about ICT TriOpSys. It’s also the reason why I was able and willing to come back.”
How would you describe the work atmosphere and company culture?
It’s more like a family atmosphere. I know almost everyone at ICT TriOpSys. With around 100 employees, it’s not a very large company. It’s very informal and as I mentioned, the director’s door is always open. We also go on trips with project teams, just to get away from the projects for a bit. It suits me really well, much better than a huge company. Even though we’ve now been acquired by a larger company, that small-scale atmosphere remains and I really like that.
What are your ambitions at ICT TriOpSys?
I would like to continue doing what I’m doing now. I’m someone who enjoys working with new technology. Even though we work in mission-critical IT, where stability is crucial, it’s precisely the new technology that I find most exciting and enjoyable. I have the opportunity to continue working with these technologies and exploring how we can embrace new technologies more quickly. For example, with AI, which I am currently involved in. We’ve set up a technology radar and expert groups to track and implement these kinds of developments. If I can keep doing that in the future, I’ll be perfectly happy.
