Altenar has grown to be a global force in the gaming industry, and with over 500 talented individuals helping the organization to improve, it’s only right we give some of our team a moment in the spotlight.
In the latest in our series of staff interviews, we catch up with DevOps Automation Manager Alex Movergan to learn more about him, his career, and his thoughts on the future of this industry.
How long have you been a member of the Altenar team and what made you want to join the company?
Six years and nine months to be exact. I used to work at a very small company where I met Stas Silin. That role didn’t provide a clear career trajectory, so I was more than happy to join Stas on the Altenar journey.
What do you think makes you good at your job/what you do?
I’d like to think I provide common sense in most situations. My team runs all the development station environments, deployments, troubleshooting, and how our software is delivered, so common sense is key!
How does your department help the company reach its overall targets and goals?
When I started with the company I was just a development ops engineer, but that’s given me the knowledge from the ground up. I’ve helped build everything and know it inside and out, including all the legacy problems, the history, and why we've made certain changes and developments.
As I come from a technical support background, I’ve built my team to provide a professional service to other departments. Rather than just focus solely on tech, we’re here to help everyone in the company.
What are the key skills you need to be a success in your team/department?
I’d certainly pinpoint three key things that you must have to work in my team:
An engineering mindset: You might not know the tools, but your mindset will understand the system and how to build and improve them.
A sense of ownership and responsibility: The team is the last port of call for any problems and resolutions; we can’t just switch off our computers and leave everything until the next day. We have to own the issues and stay until they’re resolved.
Curiosity: We don't want people who only do what they're told to do; they need to be forward-thinking and find their own direction so they don't require man management.
How do you expect your role in this industry to change and develop in the future?
The technology won't change fundamentally, but the way it is managed should be different and how it'll be deployed. Industry-wide, I think we need to change the mindset and culture of approaching issues and make it a more scientific mindset. Rather than waiting for errors to occur before fixing them, we should use analysis in advance to prepare for when issues may arise.
Tell us about your career prior to joining Altenar?
Tech support engineer (a good one) then moved to operations. That was my introduction to iGaming where I met Stas and Konrad Pizzuto.
What did you want to do as a job/career when you were a child?
When I was a kid, I always told my mother I wanted to be rich and famous. I dropped the famous part and I’m still working on the first part.
Away from work do you have any hidden talents?
I play in a band with fellow team members. I’m a guitarist and I’ve started to dust off my violin.
What's your biggest achievement away from your work career?
My family, beautiful daughter, and a fantastic wife.
