JUMP TO CONTENT

Leading with Innovation: Donald Lika's Journey as Engineering Team Lead at SmartRecruiters

Posting date: 10/09/2024

In this interview, Donald Lika, Engineering Team Lead, shares how his team balances innovation, teamwork, and customer impact to create seamless candidate experiences. 

Document

Your role & team

Q: Can you describe your current role at SmartRecruiters and the team you work with?

In 2022, I joined SmartRecruiters as a Senior Software Engineer on the Apply Experience team, and now I serve as the Engineering Team Lead. I lead a team of four engineers focused on delivering a seamless and scalable candidate application experience across multiple platforms, primarily through public APIs. We also focus on maintaining and improving the screening question process to further enhance the overall candidate experience.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role? Can you share three key aspects and why they stand out?

Here are some of the key aspects that make my role enjoyable:

  • Shaping the Team’s Strategic Impact: One of the most rewarding aspects of being an Engineering Team Lead is ensuring the team’s work aligns with the company’s broader goals. I enjoy guiding the team to work on projects that not only enhance our product, but also have a long-term, strategic impact on the company’s success.
  • Collaborative Problem-Solving: I actively work with engineers to brainstorm and challenge each other technically, always striving for the best possible solutions. Our team culture emphasizes transparency, open communication, and shared responsibility. Whether brainstorming potential solutions or executing plans, we do it together, celebrating wins and learning from setbacks.
  • Enhancing Customer Experiences: Leading a team that directly influences customer outcomes is incredibly fulfilling. Working closely with engineers to improve features that make the candidate application process smoother and more efficient, and hearing customer feedback, really reinforces the impact of our work.

Life at SmartRecruiters

Q: What do you appreciate most about working at SmartRecruiters?

  • People: What really caught my attention during my interview at SmartRecruiters was the genuine openness and the emphasis on people and culture. After nearly three years here, I can say that everyone genuinely values and respects each other's opinions and perspectives. This culture of listening and collaboration is at the heart of what makes SmartRecruiters successful.
  • Remote first company: SmartRecruiters’ flexible work environment is something I truly value. I work remotely from Hamburg, and when I visit my hometown, I can continue working without any issues, which gives me the perfect balance between work and personal life.

Innovation and Project Impact

Q: Can you share a project you've worked on that made a significant impact on our products or services?

  • New candidate portal: One of my key projects was leading the backend effort to replace the Old Smartr portal with a simpler candidate portal. We aimed to streamline the process by enabling easy email login without a full profile and adding one-time password (OTP) authentication. This redesign has significantly reduced maintenance costs and enhanced the user experience, with the project already showing notable benefits in production.
  • Introducing Conditional Screening Questions: One project that stands out is the introduction of Conditional Screening Questions, driven by customer feedback, to simplify the screening process. We faced architectural and product challenges while aiming for an intuitive interface. It was crucial that our public API consumers could adopt the feature at their own pace without disrupting their workflows. Ultimately, we delivered a solution that enhanced usability and allowed customers to customize their screening processes, making a significant impact on their hiring workflows.

Tips for future candidates

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering joining your team?

  • Stay curious. Curiosity drives innovation, and asking questions or exploring new ideas will help you find better solutions to complex problems.
  • Challenge assumptions and always seek answers. Don’t be afraid to question the status quo or pursue a deeper understanding; this mindset fosters growth and continuous improvement.
  • Be customer-centric. Always keep the customer in mind and think about how your work impacts their experience, as solving their problems is at the heart of everything we do.

Finding joy in solving customer problems and putting yourself in their shoes are two critical aspects of being a successful product engineer. Our team thrives on discovering innovative projects, conducting behavior analysis, and always considering how to make life easier for our users.

Tags

Posted byAlicja Spizarska
List #1

Jobs you might be interested in

Customer Success Manager

Salary

Location

Australia

Location

Australia

Department

Customer Success

Description

Having raving fans has been and will always be one of the most critical competitive advantages we have. The Customer Success Manager will be an individual contributor on a high-performing team that is

Reference

c2d9b010-7b78-41e1-af7c-6b68ad9ec491

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Read more
Read more
Part-Time Workplace Operations Coordinator (Kraków)

Salary

Location

Poland

Location

Poland

Department

Finance

Description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Workplace Operations Coordinator to maintain the organization and productivity of our Kraków office environment. In this position, you will play a cr

Reference

3c162fa1-6dac-45e0-9d32-8879d3f777b9

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Read more
Read more
Customer Success Manager

Salary

Location

Canada

Location

Poland

Department

Customer Success

Description

What you’ll deliver: Working as part of a team within the GTM organisation supporting each other to achieve joint revenue targets on all assigned customersAssume overall responsibility for product ado

Reference

58882276-fdb8-4d64-bf7b-7b01d22640e1

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Read more
Read more
Customer Success Manager

Salary

Location

Canada

Location

Canada

Department

Customer Success

Description

Having raving fans has been and will always be one of the most critical competitive advantages we have. The Customer Success Manager will be an individual contributor on a high-performing team that is

Reference

1a8072c1-9b63-466e-ab90-90dd2410799b

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Read more
Read more
List #1

Working at SmartRecruiters

Behind the Scenes with Ewa Koprowska: Continuous Improvement Manager

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

12/04/2024

Summary

Ewa brings a unique perspective to her role as Continuous Improvement Manager, blending a deep respect for structure with a passion for fostering collaboration and innovation. In this interview, she s

Teaser

Ewa brings a unique perspective to her role as Continuous Improvement Manager, blending a deep respect for structure with a passion for fostering collaboration and innovation. In this interview, she shares her journey to SmartRecruiters, what excites her about the company’s culture, and her advice for those considering joining our dynamic team.

Read more
Innovation, collaboration and impact - Sara Osama's role as a Senior Product Designer

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

08/20/2024

Summary

Explore the dynamic role of Sara Osama, a Senior Product Designer at SmartRecruiters, where every day brings new challenges, opportunities for creativity, and the chance to make a significant impact o

Teaser

xplore the dynamic role of Sara Osama, a Senior Product Designer at SmartRecruiters, where every day brings new challenges, opportunities for creativity, and the chance to make a significant impact on customers' lives. Discover what makes SmartRecruiters a unique place to work, and gain insights from Sara, who thrives in this innovative environment.

Read more
Behind the code. Insights from Jaideep Singh, Senior Software Engineer II at SmartRecruiters

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

08/02/2024

Summary

Meet Jaideep Singh, a Senior Software Engineer II at SmartRecruiters, in this feature of our 'A Day in the Life' series. We explore the nuances of his role, what makes working at SmartRecruiters uniqu

Teaser

Meet Jaideep Singh, a Senior Software Engineer II at SmartRecruiters, in this feature of our 'A Day in the Life' series. We explore the nuances of his role, what makes working at SmartRecruiters unique, and gain insights into his journey of innovation and collaboration. Discover firsthand the rewarding aspects of the job, the company culture, and valuable advice for those aspiring to join our dynamic team.

Read more
Designing the future of recruitment: Ty Fairclough, UX/Product Designer at SmartRecruiters

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/31/2024

Summary

Meet Ty Fairclough, a UX/Product designer whose creative vision and passion for improving the candidate experience are shaping the future of hiring at SmartRecruiters. From his base in Essex, Ty

Teaser

Meet Ty Fairclough, a UX/Product designer whose creative vision and passion for improving the candidate experience are shaping the future of hiring at SmartRecruiters. From his base in Essex, Ty discusses his multifaceted role, the unique culture at SmartRecruiters, and his advice for aspiring designers in this insightful interview.

Read more
Karin's Journey with SmartRecruiters' Work from Anywhere Perk

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/02/2024

Summary

Uncover the details of SmartRecruiters' "work from anywhere" policy through the eyes of Karin Philippczyk, our Customer Marketing Program Manager. With over two years at the company, Karin shares her

Teaser

Uncover the details of SmartRecruiters' "work from anywhere" policy through the eyes of Karin Philippczyk, our Customer Marketing Program Manager. With over two years at the company, Karin shares her recent adventure to Mallorca, blending work with exploration. Her story highlights the benefits and practical tips of working remotely while enjoying new experiences.

Read more
A Senior Software Engineer's Journey at SmartRecruiters

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

06/19/2024

Summary

Joining SmartRecruiters in 2021, Marcin Słowiak has advanced to the role of Senior Software Engineer II. His dedication to enhancing the candidate application experience ensures a seamless proces

Teaser

Joining SmartRecruiters in 2021, Marcin Słowiak has advanced to the role of Senior Software Engineer II and team architect. His dedication to enhancing the candidate application experience ensures a seamless process for job seekers and helps employers find ideal candidates. Here’s an insight into what makes his role both exciting and impactful.

Read more
SmartRecruiters Wins Best Leadership Teams Award by Comparably

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

06/14/2024

Summary

SmartRecruiters has earned a spot on Comparably's Best Leadership Teams list, thanks to the positive feedback from our employees. This award showcase how employees view their CEO, leadership team

Teaser

SmartRecruiters has earned a spot on Comparably's Best Leadership Teams list, thanks to the positive feedback from our dedicated employees. This award showcase how employees view their CEO, leadership teams, and direct managers. It's our ninth award in the past year, reflecting our ongoing commitment to strong leadership and a positive workplace culture.

Read more
A Day in the Life of a Customer Success Manager

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

06/11/2024

Summary

Join Wibke Koetter, our Customer Success Manager, as she takes you through a typical day at SmartRecruiters, revealing her approach to customer success, the teamwork that fuels her role, and the perso

Teaser

Join Wibke Koetter, our Customer Success Manager, as she takes you through a typical day at SmartRecruiters, revealing her approach to customer success, the teamwork that fuels her role, and the personal insights that shape her journey.

Read more
How Does Working from Anywhere Look like? Insights from Our Customer Support Team Lead

Teaser

Day in the Life

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

05/29/2024

Summary

Discover how SmartRecruiters' 'work from anywhere' policy empowers employees to balance professional responsibilities with personal adventures. Hear from Dany Brunet, our Customer Support Team Lead, a

Teaser

Discover how SmartRecruiters' 'work from anywhere' policy empowers employees to balance professional responsibilities with personal adventures. Hear from Dany Brunet, our Customer Support Team Lead, as he shares his experiences and the guiding principles behind our exceptional support services.

Read more
Together Stronger: Acknowledging IBD in Our Workplace

Teaser

Diversity & Inclusion

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

05/17/2024

Summary

For this year's World IBD Day, join us at SmartRecruiters as we shine a light on the lives of those within our own community. Our very own Smartians, Autumn Anderson and Oliver Jackson, share their pe

Teaser

For this year's World IBD Day, join us at SmartRecruiters as we shine a light on the lives of those within our own community. Our very own Smartians, Autumn Anderson and Oliver Jackson, share their personal journeys and insights, offering a deeper understanding and raising awareness about this impactful condition. Watch their stories or explore the transcription below to see how support and adaptability create a nurturing work environment for everyone.

Read more
SmartRecruiters

by

SmartRecruiters

SmartRecruiters

by

SmartRecruiters

View all
List #1

Jobs you have shown an interest in

Browse Jobs

Browse jobs by department