Meet the Head of Development: Who is behind it?

Have you always been interested in the job? 
Yes, I’ve always been deeply interested in technology and its ability to create real-world impact. From my early days studying computer science in Egypt, I was fascinated by how innovation can solve meaningful problems – which is what led me to start my first company at 19. That entrepreneurial experience, along with my later roles in global companies, has only deepened my passion. While the environments and challenges have changed, the common thread has always been my interest in building technology that drives progress and shapes the future. 

What are your main tasks, also as Head of Development? 
As Head of Development, my main responsibilities include:

• Defining architecture and design for our systems and ensuring technical decisions align with business goals. 
• Coordinating and leading the development team, including task allocation, progress tracking, and high-level project estimations. 
• Driving standardization efforts across the team by establishing best practices, facilitating documentation sessions, and ensuring consistency in development processes.  

In addition to these core responsibilities, I also focus on:

• Team development & mentorship: Conducting regular one-on-one meetings to align personal goals with SMART objectives, and running a mentorship program for junior developers.
• Administrative management: Handling HR-related responsibilities in Personio, such as vacation approvals, attendance tracking, and performance goal setup.
• Recruitment & interviewing: Actively contributing to the hiring process through resume screening and technical interviews.
• Learning & development initiatives: Leading the creation of an internal learning platform to foster continuous skill-building within the company. 

Which other departments do you work closely with?   
I work closely with HR, particularly on employee-related matters such as performance reviews, goal-setting, and administrative topics. However, I have even more frequent collaboration with other departments – especially Product Development and the Infrastructure team.

What does your working day look like?   
My working day is a mix of technical leadership, software development, and team management. I usually start by by working on software development tasks in some of our company projects – especially around architecture, code reviews, and implementing key features. I also collaborate closely with the Product and Infrastructure teams to align priorities and drive standardization.

Alongside the technical work, I focus on mentorship and team development, holding one-on-one meetings, running mentorship sessions with junior developers, and supporting their growth. I also manage administrative and recruitment responsibilities, such as performance tracking, vacation approvals, and interviewing candidates. Finally, I invest time in improving my own leadership and technical skills to keep bringing value both as a developer and as Head of Development.

How would you describe the team culture at PANTOPIX?   
The team culture at PANTOPIX is very collaborative, supportive, and growth-oriented. People are always open to sharing knowledge, giving constructive feedback, and working together to find the best solutions. There’s a strong sense of trust and openness, which makes communication easy across different departments. At the same time, the company encourages continuous learning and personal development, so everyone feels motivated to grow both individually and as part of the team. Overall, it’s a culture that combines professionalism with genuine care for each other’s success. 

How does PANTOPIX support you in your personal and professional development?   
PANTOPIX has been very supportive of both my personal and professional growth. For example, the company supports me in taking German language courses, which has been a big help in integrating better both personally and professionally. I’ve also had the opportunity to attend tech conferences, which keep me up to date with the latest trends and innovations in the industry. 
Beyond that, there’s a strong culture of continuous learning, I really value the flexible working environment and healthy work-life balance, which allows me to perform at my best while still growing outside of work. Altogether, PANTOPIX creates an environment where I feel both challenged and supported in reaching my goals.

What are the biggest challenges in your area of work?   
One of the biggest challenges in my area of work is balancing strategic leadership with hands-on software development. As Head of Development, I need to stay involved in architecture and coding while also guiding the team, mentoring developers, and aligning with other departments. Another challenge is driving standardization across projects—ensuring that best practices are adopted consistently, even as we work with diverse technologies and changing requirements. Finally, like in many tech environments, keeping up with rapid technological changes is always a challenge, but also a motivating factor that pushes me and my team to continuously learn and adapt.

What developments or trends in software development are you currently observing with particular interest?    
Right now, I’m particularly interested in the rapid evolution of AI and machine learning in software development, especially since we are actively dealing with AI tools in our projects to improve testing, and code quality.  Additionally, the rise of low-code and no-code platforms and the focus on developer experience and team productivity tools are exciting trends, as they push us to innovate while maintaining efficiency and high standards across our workflows.