Lingoda’s career stories: Meet Tihomir, Engineering Lead

In our latest interview, we sit down with Tihomir Stefanov to learn about his journey at Lingoda. He went from building language learning platforms to spearheading healthcare initiatives to address the shortage of healthcare workers. Tihomir shares insights into their career path and the challenges and rewards of working on such impactful projects. Discover how Lingoda is making a difference in people’s lives. Interested in joining our team? Check out our open positions on our career page!

When did you join Lingoda and what motivated you to work at Lingoda in the first place?

I initially applied for a position at Lingoda in 2017, but it wasn’t successful. Instead of giving up, I worked on getting better and tried again in summer 2019. This time, I was thrilled to be offered the job. What really made me want to join was how much Lingoda cares about doing things right, especially with coding. We prefer to take our time to make sure everything is top-notch rather than rushing things out.

I started off as a Backend Engineer in 2019. By putting in a lot of effort, helping my teammates, and always looking at the big picture, I moved up to become an Engineering Lead in just two years. It’s been all about staying dedicated, being there for others, and focusing on what’s best for the product in the long run.

What are your current projects and how do they differ from your previous position?

Right now, we’re focusing on projects in healthcare by helping nurses to start their new lives in Germany. It’s a bit different from what I was doing before: Earlier, we were helping people learn languages to change their lives. However, with healthcare, it’s about more than just helping our students. We’re also addressing the shortage of healthcare workers in Germany, which feels like we’re making an even bigger difference.

What do you value most from being part of Lingoda?

I love several aspects of Lingoda’s culture – the honesty, how open everyone is, and my coworkers are fantastic. But as someone who loves tech, the most rewarding part is getting to work with the latest tech and having the dedicated time to create something we’re proud of. We never settle for “good enough” when it comes to our code.

For anyone interested in joining Lingoda, what are your specific recommendations to help them stand out when applying?

Be upbeat, open to new ideas, adaptable, and friendly. It really helps if you show that you’re excited about tech and committed to quality. Show them you’re a team player who’s ready to bring new ideas and thrives in a collaborative environment.

Jessica Schnase

Hailing from Germany, Jessica has swapped pretzels for scones and now lives in the UK where she works as the Senior Content Manager at Lingoda. She worked in various industries where she honed her skills in content marketing. She holds degrees in Media Studies and English Literature having studied in several countries. She uses yoga practice and singing in a choir to switch off from everyday life.