About the INSIDE series
After digging into the world of our mechanical engineering team, let’s take a sneak peek behind the scenes of our software development team, led by François Gélinas.
François Gélinas has a strong passion for IT, which fueled his decision to pursue software development studies at school. After graduating, he spent a decade working as a developer at an SMB. Throughout his career, he transitioned into project and team management before finding his way to CLEIO, where he is now the software development team leader. What pushed him to join the company was “the medical industry and CLEIO’s vision to make a positive impact on people,” he remembers.
Philipe, Joël and François
A team that does so much more than just writing lines of code
Designing a system from start to finish
For François, the members of his team are not just developers. They do much more than write the code requested by the client. They are full-fledged software engineers. “They help manage and mitigate risks, ensure the right technologies are used, and engage in research and development exercises,” he says. Software developers are involved from the early beginnings of a project and participate in all brainstorming stages.
Their role is to design a system by being present throughout its development and collaborating continuously with the other disciplines at CLEIO. “For example, if we need to write the code for an app that will allow a device to connect via Bluetooth, we will collaborate with the embedded software developers, but also with the user experience and user interface (UX and UI) teams,” explains François. The quality assurance team and project managers are also involved in regular follow-ups.
DragonVision
Surpassing yourself with a wide variety of projects
Projects are abundant at CLEIO. They are all different and require a lot of expertise and rigor in their execution. Currently, the software development team has seven major projects underway. “All of our projects are good challenges,” François acknowledges, “they are extremely varied.” They can be multi-disciplinary, deadline-driven, or require in-depth knowledge of various topics such as cybersecurity.
— Katia
And to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to work on a project that resonates with them, François gives his team members the freedom to choose the one they wish to be assigned to. “I believe that’s the best approach. The more motivated you are, the more efficient you become, so it’s a win-win situation. Currently, I’ve just embarked on a project focused on women’s health, and I’m truly excited,” Katia confides with enthusiasm.
Staying united while working remotely
Encouraging teamwork
Usually, several software developers collaborate on the same project and regularly conduct code reviews. “Every feature needs to be reviewed by someone else. In my opinion, this is crucial,” explains Joël, who has been on the team for a year and a half. “It helps improve the overall project, code quality and provides a fresh new perspective.” Katia shares the same point of view: “Working as a team enables us to enhance our skills and see other ways of doing things.“
Above all, there is a genuine sense of mutual support. Joël noticed this from the start, which makes a big difference for him:
— Joël
Focusing on the good ones
Each week, everyone congratulates another team member for one of his achievements. This is a way to emphasize the positive and enhance the overall atmosphere. “It can be related to a successful interaction with a customer, a task completed, help provided, or a positive word about someone’s work. Giving and receiving positive feedback is equally rewarding and motivating,” explains Joël. Everyone is free to share their expertise in a particular technology or discuss a noteworthy discovery. It’s an excellent method to continue learning and stay updated with trends.
This meeting was established almost two years ago, and Katia quickly noticed the impact: “It’s an hour where we can really talk to each other. It brings a lot of positivity, and it’s a great way to be united as a team.“
Sharing good times together
Apart from team meetings, François relies on activities outside the office to strengthen the bond within his team, and there are numerous opportunities to do so: group hikes, happy hours, lunch outings to restaurants, rock climbing, and more. “A few weeks ago, we all went curling as a team. Honestly, it was better than I could have imagined,” shares Katia.
These gatherings facilitate the integration of newcomers. “There is a friendly atmosphere at CLEIO. Everyone is open to conversations and actively participates in the activities,” says Joël.
What’s next?
Katia actively participates in recruitment interviews, and in addition to emphasizing the significance of values, she also expresses a desire to see more women in the field, stating, “I believe we definitely have a place here.” Just before the publication of this article, Diksha joined the software development team, making them now two! Girl power! 🤘
Under the spotlights
François
- Seniority at CLEIO: 3 years
- Personal interests: Travel, being in nature, camping, team sports
- What drives him: Build strong trusting relationships with people
Katia
- Seniority at CLEIO: 4 years
- Personal interests: Plants (she has hundreds) and animals (she has two dogs)
- What drives her: Challenge and change
Joël
- Seniority at CLEIO: One year and a half, preceded by an internship
- Personal interests: Geocaching, video games, TV shows and movies, cooperative board games, biking, hiking, and camping
- What drives him: The visual/UI aspect of the projects
