Redactie Xafax
Tell me, who are you?
My name is Arnold, I am 52 years old and I have been working at Xafax as a Senior Software Engineer for almost 27 years. My first job yet! After my HTS I started at Xafax and I have no plans to leave. Xafax is actually my second home, the atmosphere here is so friendly, it just feels good.
How has your role changed in the time you have been at Xafax?
Not very much . I made software then and I still do now. The software has changed, from embedded software to the backend of the software, such as NetPay . It is nice to see that at Xafax we now build everything ourselves, from housing to software. That's what I like most about my job, you get to build something from scratch.
What do you do at Xafax?
Well, from the start with an idea, to creating, testing, updating and expanding functionalities of the software. So very broad.
If you had to choose 1 part, what do you like most?
Especially the beginning. Making something from nothing. That first step to turn your idea into a working product. When you finally have your product in front of you, and everything works and talks to each other, that gives me energy.
What makes working at Xafax so much fun?
Mutual contacts with colleagues up to and including management are very friendly. It is truly a family business and the atmosphere in the office is pleasant.
You don't come to the office alone, who comes with you?
I come with Hunky, she is a 7 year old chihuahua. I take her in her crate in the car, or on the back of my bicycle in her basket. I've been taking her to the office for about six months now.
How does Hunky like it here at the office? And your colleagues?
I think that's absolutely fine. She runs inside in the morning to socialize with colleagues. She gets enough attention like this. When she gets tired of it again, she comes and lies in her crate next to my desk. The colleagues also find her very pleasant, so that's good.
What is a project that you look back on with great pleasure?
That was of course the project we did in Australia, where I also stayed for 2 weeks. The project was a charging point for the Australian chipknip, called Proton. We built it ourselves, had it certified in Brussels, and installed it in the Melbourne region. I remember the technician there telling us that it was “only a 3 hour journey” to the charging point. When I told him that here in the Netherlands you are already 2 countries further away, he looked at me in surprise.
I heard that you can sometimes be found at a music festival in your spare time. Where are you going?
That's for sure! TW Classic in Belgium for example. I've been going there for years. If possible, I also like to go to Indian Summer, but that fell on the same weekend this year. I also regularly go to Port Zélande for the Marillion Weekend, which is every 2 years. I missed the first one, which was still in England, but since then I have been there every time!
Finally…
