Staff Spotlight – Raúl Sisteré

Welcome to our Q&A series, where we provide you with an insider’s view of the exceptional individuals fuelling Sparta’s successes. In this edition, we’re delighted to introduce Raúl Sisteré, our skilled backend developer, who embarked on his journey with Sparta just recently. Despite his short time with us, Raúl has already left a positive mark on our team. Join us as we explore his unique background, professional insights, and personal aspirations.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?

I just started this week, but I made an early appearance with the company last week in Mallorca – so let’s just say it has been a great onboarding experience so far.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR ROLE

As a backend developer, my role involves coding all the business logic on the server of the application and ensuring that the business rules are effectively implemented within the application. I’d like to leverage my years of expertise as a backend developer with JVM languages to make a meaningful contribution to building a first-class product.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?/CAN YOU GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF YOUR CAREER PATH UP UNTIL THIS POINT?

I have a background in electronics and a general understanding of computers. I explored various paths in my life, but when I turned 30, I made the decision to transition into the field of development. I took it step by step, and now I find myself here. My background involved roles in public administration. However, I grew tired of the bureaucracy in that field, which ultimately led me to pursue a career in development. In my current role, I find myself facing daily challenges, utilising my skills to solve ‘puzzles,’ and continuing to learn.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR COMPANY CULTURE

What I’ve observed here is that we have an open and inclusive culture. It seems like we encourage people to connect and communicate with each other. This aspect is quite appealing to me and was one of the reasons I considered joining this start-up. I joined Sparta looking for a fast-growing company that preserves the start-up values where I could contribute with my expertise while I continue learning and growing with tech challenges.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF WORKING AT OUR COMPANY?

My favourite aspect of working at our company is the opportunity to be a part of Sparta’s innovative journey. We are actively engaged in building a cutting-edge product that empowers us to make decisions based on data, which I find extremely exciting.

In the world of commodities, we take pride in being pioneers, with dedicated teams that work tirelessly to create the best customer-centric tool. This environment of innovation and commitment, combined with the chance to be at the forefront of our industry, makes each day at our company a rewarding experience.

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT?

Maybe it is a bit surprising that I do canyoning, via-ferrata, and other mountain activities often because I love the freedom and breath-taking views they offer. Even though my town isn’t an ideal place for canyoning, I often venture to the Pyrenees where I can find high walls and waterfalls to descend and learn about knots and rescue techniques.

Oh, also, back when I was younger, I had dreadlocks.

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF

If I were to give advice to my younger self, I’d say to pursue what you truly desire and leave behind the rest. Don’t be solely led by other people’s opinions.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR JOB?

Perhaps that coding isn’t as purely scientific as people think. It’s a mix of art and craftsmanship. There is always multiple ways to write code. Each developer has their unique style and approach. I can identify my colleagues by their distinct styles. It’s not about being grey or uniform; it’s about having your own way of approaching things, and that’s what makes it so interesting. You can write a text in a legal/bureaucratic way or as a poem, telling the same thing, but one of them will be more elegant and easier to read, stamping the author’s personality.

IF YOU HAD THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

To have infinite time. To be able to teleport. To never have to worry about money.

WHAT ARE YOU GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS/YEARS?

Having a clearer vision for the long-term project is important. Perhaps I can contribute my expertise to various aspects of the product and continue to learn. In the near future, I’d like to contribute not only to coding a solution but to defining and improving the architecture and future of the product. In the far future, this may lead to becoming a project lead or something similar.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING OR READING?

I love sci-fi. Right now, I’m enjoying watching ‘Good Omens,’ based on a novel by Neil Gaiman. I’m delving into more sci-fi too; I’m currently reading a trilogy called ‘Hyperion Cantos.’ It’s pretty cool. I love to read, and I read a lot. I love sci-fi because it’s not only about the novel; it has a message and a background that makes me think and extract some reflections.

WHAT’S THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?

Before this call, I was listening to some songs, particularly ‘Goo Goo Muck’ by ‘The Cramps.’ It has gained popularity recently due to the catchy song and the associated dance choreography that appeared recently on Wednesday (a TV show). The song is from the beginning of the ’80s, and it’s become a hit with many people, thanks to its presence in the TV series.

WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

I would love to raise a child at some point in the future.

Raúl is our Backend Engineer here at Sparta and can be contacted at raul.desistere@spartacommodities.com

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Sparta is a live, market intelligence and forecasting platform that enables oil traders, refiners, banks, hedge funds and wholesalers to have access to real-time and global actionable insights to capture market opportunities before others.

To find out how Sparta can allow you to make smarter trading decisions, faster, contact us for a demonstration at sales@spartacommodites.com