Ten Years of Growth, Change, and Team Spirit

An interview with Djordje Mandic, Senior Technical Manager at Engineering Serbia.

In tech, reaching a 10-year milestone with the same company is rare — yet deeply meaningful. It’s a journey shaped by evolution, challenges, and a shared sense of purpose. Djordje, Senior Technical Manager at Engineering Serbia, joined the company when it was just a 20-person team and has since witnessed its growth tenfold. From mobile development to team leadership, he has played a role in building something bigger than himself, while growing alongside it.

In this conversation, Djordje reflects on the early days, the power of a united team, and the skills needed to navigate a future defined by continuous change, collaboration, and learning.

Hi Djordje, can you introduce yourself briefly? Tell us a bit about your career path and experience so far.

Hi, my name is Djordje and I’m Senior Technical Manager within the Healthcare Lab team at Engineering Serbia. Before joining the team, I was mostly freelancing, and I was focused on mobile development (Android platform) at that time. I joined Engineering as a Java developer, and very soon moved to JS/Angular as those were requirements for the initial project.

You’re celebrating your 10-year anniversary at Engineering Software Lab. What initially attracted you to the company, and how has it changed over time?

We were a small team of perhaps 20 people back when I joined. It was a completely different team dynamic, since we were a lot smaller. The main incentive to join Engineering was our determination to build something bigger. As we grew, we had to solve a lot of different things and establish procedures on the fly. Everyone knew each other, we went to lunch together, and we organized team buildings on our own.

Today, we are a team of over 250 people, and we are much bigger. As you can imagine, a lot has changed over time, and with hybrid and work from home – it's a much different picture.

What do you like the most about your team? How has Engineering impacted your career path over the last 10 years?

The sense of building something bigger is still present, as it was back when I joined. Of course, my colleagues and team members were the main reason I stayed at Engineering. While still focused on achieving the best possible results, there is a very discernable sense of camaraderie. Knowing that you can lean on your teammates when needed is very important.

At the same time, that expectation pushes everyone to work on themselves so that everyone can be the best support for each other when necessary. Also, the gratification of a job well done is assurance that whatever challenges we face are worth it.

When you are part of the company for a long time, one of the benefits is the ability to observe the growth of colleagues from greenhorn to expert levels. I really enjoy this and give my best to create an environment to support this growth.

How do you see your role in the future? What do you think staying at Engineering will bring you professionally?

We live in challenging times, defined by economic uncertainty, the rapid evolution of generative AI, and a state of constant transformation. In this environment, adaptability and continuous learning are essential to remain successful.

Staying at Engineering enables me to embrace these changes, refine workflows to accommodate the impact of generative AI, and adopt new design patterns tailored to our ever-changing environment. I hope to contribute meaningfully by guiding our team through these transformative periods while growing professionally alongside the shifts.

Continuous learning and the ability to pivot swiftly are the pillars that I believe will enable both me and the team to flourish as we face the future together.

What are key qualities that help nurture teams' long-term success and development in your opinion?

I believe that continuous learning, perseverance, collaboration, passion, and curiosity are key elements to fostering a productive and innovative work environment. These qualities not only drive individual growth but also strengthen team dynamics by creating an atmosphere where challenges are met with enthusiasm. This is a key ingredient in allowing creative solutions to flourish.

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