Working on innovative projects with a positive impact on society is what our colleague Kevin Bixerman enjoys. As a Mid-level Integration Specialist, he builds real-time data solutions for complex IT environments. Yet he did not begin his career with a typical IT background. With a master’s degree in Astronomy, he came from a world far removed from bits and bytes. But he has certainly made a success of the transition! 

“With my background in Astronomy and no IT experience, I perhaps came from a slightly unexpected direction. Nevertheless, soon after graduating, I knew I wanted to work in IT. Initially, my job search focused more on data science, but a good friend’s recommendation and the projects with a positive impact on society drew me to AMIS Conclusion.

“My first few weeks at AMIS Conclusion were mainly about gaining knowledge and getting used to working in a team. Like other junior colleagues, I joined the junior development programme, whose various modules provide a solid foundation when you are starting out. There were also special interest groups organised by AMIS Conclusion’s professional groups. From the outset, there were plenty of opportunities to learn from others, which helped me settle in.”

“My working day revolves around connecting physical assets, such as wind and solar farms, to the virtual world. I am part of a team that acts as the link between these sites and the Eneco team responsible for controlling them. We contextualise and normalise all the data we receive from the wind and solar farms before sending it to Eneco. They use this information to decide which assets to control. They send those instructions to us, and we make sure they reach the wind and solar farms correctly.

“There are plenty of technical challenges, and solving them is what I enjoy most about my work. My colleagues describe me as analytical and meticulous: I keep working on something until it genuinely works. I have the freedom to organise my work as I see fit. As long as I plan my time efficiently and do not hold others up, I can carry out my tasks in the way and at the time that suit me best.”

“So far, I am most proud of my own development. I progressed from junior to mid-level in one year, which is quite fast for someone without an IT background. It shows how highly AMIS Conclusion values personal development. I am living proof of that.

“The organisation still gives me plenty of room to focus on my development. Every employee has a growth plan that sets out their goals, and we are given time to achieve them. Recently, it has also become easier to move between projects if you feel your current assignment no longer offers enough challenge. That does not apply to me at the moment: the Eneco project is large enough to keep me learning for a long time!”

“There is a friendly atmosphere where you can be yourself. We have an open culture, reflected in the fact that our directors work in the shared office space alongside everyone else. We work on exciting projects with a positive impact on society and also enjoy spending time together outside office hours. Colleagues often play board games during our evening drinks, and there are plenty of activities to join after work.

“There is lots of room to grow, and trust is a core value within the organisation. Colleagues at different levels of seniority work closely together to find solutions without being constantly supervised. Mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn and improve. With a mix of experienced Principal and Senior Consultants and emerging talent at junior and mid-level, there is a wealth of knowledge that is continually shared and put to use. This creates a supportive working environment where everyone can thrive.”