Introduction
My name is Rajesh Francis. I have over 25 years of experience in IT engineering, solution and delivery, having worked with major companies in retail, manufacturing, finance where I honed expertise across technical, business, and domain areas.
My career began at FICCI India, where I was instrumental in launching the Business Services Network for India - sparking my passion for IT. I then took on diverse technical and leadership roles of increasing responsibility with various organizations. This included extended onsite tenures in the UK, Japan and USA totaling 14+ years.
Throughout my career, I have successfully delivered numerous complex business solutions spanning domains like project management, business process automation, retail, logistics, finance, and learning. I also co-founded two startups focused on IT services and e-learning/ecommerce solutions. I am an IT Director for a leading Logistic and Warehouse solutions company and manage several IT initiatives for the organization. I also mentor several startups as an advisor and investor. These entrepreneurial experiences ingrained strong customer-centric and lean principles that I carry into technology delivery roles.
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and almost became a chartered accountant before pivoting into the IT industry. I knew I had strong analytical aptitudes that could translate well and took intensive training in Java and other relevant software development skills to be successful in my industry. I continue learning - recently graduating from Stanford in Project & Program Management. I also carry several IT and Project /Program Management certifications to help me learn and implement new processes across my organization.
Computer Systems Fellow
career options
Computer Systems Fellow
skills
What are the main hard skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
AWS Cloud Management entails server management, creation of instances, server setup, data security, availability and performance.
These skills play a critical role in the design and development of applications. You must have a sound working knowledge of any programming language and specifically the one which is most wanted in the industry today. You need them to develop web or mobile business applications.
Sound knowledge of data flow and their relationship is necessary to define any application. A good understanding of SQL is necessary to design and query relationships databases.
As a software engineer, it is good to have an exceptionally good understanding of data and their presentation. This skill makes me special in my industry as I can understand and relate data efficiently and effectively to all my stakeholders.
My journey to enhancing my coding skills has been diverse and comprehensive. It started with building a solid foundation in programming languages like Java, Python, and C++ during my initial years. To deepen my knowledge, I took online courses and tutorials, mastering advanced coding techniques and best practices. The most considerable progress, however, has come from regular practices and from delivering solutions.
I’ve dedicated significant time to studying open-source projects and working in collaborative coding environments, where I’ve encountered a variety of coding styles, design patterns, and implementation techniques. Actively participating in team code reviews has been particularly valuable. This experience has not only helped me grasp complex code structures but also provided insights into the thought processes and strategies of other developers. This ongoing exposure to different coding paradigms has significantly improved my ability to navigate and interpret various codebases effectively.
What are the main soft skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
My journey to improving my communication skills has been both varied and thorough. I have sought growth through formal education, taking courses on presentation skills, interpersonal communication, and written expression. These real-world interactions have sharpened my ability to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and adjust my communication style to suit different audiences. I love making notes, which helps me communicate effectively and task them easily.
By focusing on identifying the root causes of significant issues, I can implement effective problem-solving strategies. Critical thinking and adaptability form the foundation of my approach to troubleshooting.
Being open and respectful to your team members and being open to innovative ideas is what I term successful teamwork. Embracing diverse viewpoints not only enhances creativity but also allows the team to explore solutions that might not have been considered otherwise. This openness can lead to breakthroughs and improvements in our processes and drive the team's success.
Well, you will be spending almost 60% of your time on documentation. This skill really helped me a lot with my good understanding of English language. Learning how to document effectively and understanding your audience has helped me structure my writing more clearly.
Rajesh
’s personal path
Tell us about your personal journey in
Computer Systems Fellow
:
The path to building a successful career in tech is not a straight and easy one, but if you stay focused, keep learning, and never give up, you can absolutely make it happen.
When I first started my job search, I quickly realized that having a solid foundation in programming was key. So, I focused on mastering the basics - things like data structures, algorithms, software design principles, and the fundamentals of programming. Building that strong technical base was crucial because it gave me the confidence and critical coding skills to tackle any challenge.
I also spent a ton of time reading other people's code and getting involved in code reviews. It ended up being one of the most valuable learning experiences. Not only did it make me a better coder, but it also gave me incredible insights into how the industry works. Seeing how experienced developers approached problems and collaborated opened my eyes in so many ways.
This job and profession are very fulfilling, and you get to drive business goals, help organizations become more efficient, and even contribute to revenue growth. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment when you solve a complex problem or ship a successful project.
So, continue to push yourself, keep learning, and always remember the reasons that motivated you to start this journey. If you stay committed to your passion and continually develop your skills, I am confident you will become one of the most sought-after engineers in the field. While the path may present challenges, the rewards will be worth it.
What would you tell your younger you regarding building your current career?
Build your skills, learn, and read IT happenings every day. I have subscribed to various AWS articles which I read every day. Technology keeps on changing and evolving and we need to keep up the speed. Being a software engineer might seem challenging, but it is also quite fascinating. I succeeded because I was reading, and I learnt that from my seniors. You will be the best if you just focus on your skills and you would be the most wanted person.
If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, it would be this: Never give up, and always be ready to seize opportunities. Build your skills, stay hungry to learn, and immerse yourself in the industry as much as you can. Read those tech articles, take part in code reviews, network with experienced engineers and finally listen to others.
Final thoughts & tips
Being a software engineer might seem like a daunting challenge sometimes, but the truth is, it is one of the most fascinating and rewarding careers out there. Think about it - you get to be the driving force behind helping organizations and customers achieve their business goals. Whether it is boosting their efficiency or directly impacting their revenue, your work has a tangible, meaningful impact.
And that is what really motivates me the most - the ability to help others succeed. It is not just about writing code - it is about using your technical skills to solve complex problems and empower the people and businesses you work with.
The best part is, in software engineering, you do get to see the immediate results of your efforts. There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of shipping a project and seeing its positive effects firsthand. The iterative nature of our work means you are constantly learning, growing, and experiencing that rush of achievement.
Resources to dig in more
DevOpsB Practices
Understanding DevOps best practices
Guide to DevOps
A resource to learn about what DevOps actually is.
Software Engineering Principles
Software engineering principles to guide you to deliver amazing business solutions.
SDLC
An article to help you understand the application / software development life cycle.
