Our Košice-based R&D team is home to an abundance of talent. One rising star is Maryna Ilcik, a software engineer originally from Ukraine, whose work focuses on ComAp’s software tool, InteliConfig. For the past two and a half years, Maryna has played a key role in the InteliConfig team, making a strong contribution to the application’s development. In addition to her work on the team, she recently earned a certification as an IT Security Architect, further expanding her expertise. We spoke to Maryna to learn more about her journey and what it takes to excel as a software engineer at ComAp.

To start off, can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background before joining ComAp? 

My name is Maryna, I’m originally from Ukraine, and I’ve been living in Slovakia for over 10 years now. Since my school days, I’ve always had a strong interest in mathematics and computer science. I studied Applied Mathematics (Bc) in Ukraine and later completed a master’s degree in Managerial Mathematics (Mgr) in Slovakia. During my studies, I began programming professionally and worked as a developer while I was still in school. Before joining ComAp, I spent several years working as a developer on a warning and notification software application for emergency situations.

What attracted you to the role of a Software Engineer at ComAp, and specifically to the InteliConfig team? 

I was looking for a new challenge where I could apply my experience while continuing to learn and grow. It’s especially important to me to work on something meaningful that makes a real impact. After the first round of interviews, I already had the feeling that this was the right place for me – it really felt like a win-win. I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to work on a desktop application and a large-scale system. I was also enthusiastic about working with modern technologies like gRPC. An added bonus was the flexibility to work from either Košice or Prague, where I have family.

For those unfamiliar with our products, what exactly is InteliConfig, and what role does it play within ComAp’s ecosystem?

InteliConfig is the configuration tool used for our controllers. In simple terms, if you want a controller to perform specific tasks, you first need to configure it. InteliConfig is an intuitive software tool that makes this possible.

What kind of technologies and tools do you work with in your day-to-day work at ComAp?

I work in Visual Studio every day, using C# with .NET 6/8, along with technologies like WPF, Telerik, WCF, and gRPC. I also regularly work with XML, XSD, Excel, and other similar tools.

What would you say are the biggest technical challenges of developing and maintaining a robust desktop application like InteliConfig?

Honestly, one of the biggest challenges is working with the legacy code that still exists in some parts of the application. Another is understanding the various technologies involved and being able to switch between them when needed. 

Collaboration is important in any R&D team. Can you describe how developers work together within the team and across departments at ComAp? 

Developers often ask each other questions and search for answers. Sometimes, we even play the role of detectives. Everyone is always willing to help one another, and the entire R&D team is built on a friendly and supportive atmosphere. So yes, successful collaboration is essential to the team’s effectiveness.

What skills or mindsets do you think are the most important for someone interested in joining the R&D team?

In terms of skills, I would say that knowledge of OOP (Object-Oriented Programming), C#, and WPF is definitely important. Another essential quality is having a technical mindset and an open-minded attitude toward exploring new things. Patience is equally important, as working on IC is not always easy.

Finally, what keeps the role interesting for you? And what do you enjoy most about working on InteliConfig at ComAp?

What I most enjoy about working with InteliConfig is tackling the challenges that come with it. Something that really drives me is the opportunity to push not only the product itself, but also myself, improving my own capabilities. In my role, I am constantly learning and developing. I also really value the team I work with and consider them to be much more than just colleagues. The training on offer at ComAp is of a very high standard, so there is no shortage of opportunities to learn, which is something I truly appreciate.

If you’d like to learn more about the different roles at ComAp or explore our current job openings, visit our careers page today.