Every team member brings a unique story and skill set to Convera, shaping our culture of innovation and collaboration. Here we shine the spotlight on Carl Almeida, an EUC Engineer who’s been part of our team for three years and whose passion for problem solving and collaboration makes him an invaluable asset.
From the UAE to tech in Toronto
Carl grew up in Dubai but traded the city’s 50°C summers for Toronto’s freezing winters as an adult. He traces his love for code and computers back to a childhood immersed in anime and gaming.
“I still enjoy gaming but deep down, I’ve always been a tinkerer,” says Carl. “Studying Computer Science seemed like the perfect way to merge my interest in building cool stuff, with my love of computers and games.”
“For me, code is just a way to solve problems. It’s like working on a puzzle, and it’s great that I get to nurture this side of my personality in my work at Convera.”
A leap into payments and fintech
Carl’s journey to Convera was serendipitous, having been approached by a recruiter who thought his skillset was the perfect fit for the Engineering team.
“This happened not long after the acquisition from Western Union. When I researched Convera I felt a real sense of excitement about joining an emerging payments company in the fintech space. So much so, that I showed up to my interview a day early!”
That enthusiasm paid off, and Carl quickly found himself in a role that allows him to wear multiple hats and make a real impact.
“I find myself working on a range of projects at any given time,” Carl explains. “I cover a couple of Data Warehouse responsibilities and help with various infrastructure related projects. The variation keeps me on my toes.”
Life as an EUC Engineer
The day-to-day for Carl is dynamic and collaborative. His mornings often involve resolving any issues that have cropped up overnight, while afternoons are dedicated to working on proactive fixes.
“Each morning starts with checking my Teams messages and dealing with any challenges that come up. Problem solving is a big part of what I do. After lunch, I usually have time to focus on developing solutions for known issues, and bridging gaps between extended teams like Cyber Security, IAM, and Cloud Infrastructure.”
Carl says that these proactive projects are varied, exciting, and a chance to flex his skills. “I joined as Western Union Business Solutions was migrating over to Convera, so instantly I was immersed in a huge project that I could really sink my teeth into, which was great!”
“More recently I’ve been tackling things like a Box-to-SharePoint migration, and an Intune MDM implementation. We also completed a recent Windows 11 migration involving both physical devices and AWS workspaces, plus a new Windows Defender rollout.”
What skills are essential for success in his role? “I’ve already mentioned problem solving,” he says. “I’d also add technical aptitude, an appetite for learning, and a willingness to stretch beyond your role. I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone a lot while working here, and that’s been great for my professional growth.”
It’s all about people and innovation
For Carl, the best part of working at Convera is the people. “The experience I’ve gained is invaluable, but honestly, the icing on top is my team. I’m lucky to work with such talented, supportive colleagues across every business function, and have built great friendships along the way.”
He also loves the culture of innovation which helps add to his ever-growing set of new skills. “We’re on the bleeding edge for product development and infrastructure management, and I get to play with the newest tools and learn through monthly sessions hosted for all of P&T.”
“There’s always new things to learn at Convera, and that keeps things fresh and exciting, which I think is a really important part of any work environment,” he says.
The future is bright at Convera
Carl’s excitement about joining a fintech immersed in the world of payments has paid off, and he’s excited about what’s to come. “
“The potential for Convera is massive given where we are placed in the industry,” emphasizes Carl. “We have already made impressive leaps and bounds with migrating our inherited systems to the cloud and another exciting point will be our use of AI in current development cycles. There’s lots to look forward to.”
When wrapping things up, we ask Carl to share something that his colleagues might not know about him. “Well, this might not be surprising to my immediate colleagues since I’m always unconsciously tapping away… but I play the drums and love heavy metal,” he replies with a chuckle.
Want to be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and growth? Visit our careers page to explore opportunities at Convera
