Innovation, Growth, and Leadership: Marvin Koschny’s Path at Mismo

Mismo thrives on the strength of its exceptional team. We provide top-tier remote software development teams that seamlessly integrate with companies worldwide, driving exceptional results. Many organizations have partnered with Mismo to augment their development capabilities and achieve their technology goals.

At the heart of these successful teams are the talented individuals who make Mismo what it is. We’re committed to celebrating our remarkable employees and their invaluable contributions to our company culture. Our employee spotlights showcase the genuine relationships we’ve forged with team members and clients, highlighting their dedication and the positive impact they have on our collaborative environment.

Meet: Marvin Koschny

Sr. Software Engineer

Country: Costa Rica

  • Tell us a little about yourself: I am a passionate Full-Stack Engineer from San Carlos, Costa Rica. I grew up in an extremely rural area without access to essential services and technologies such as electricity, television, telephone, or transportation. However, through hard work and dedication, I graduated from Tecnológico de Costa Rica in 2009. Since then, I have continued to grow professionally, largely thanks to the incredible family that is Mismo. I am happily married and the proud father of a beautiful daughter.
  • What initially attracted you to engineering and how have you found inspiration in this career? I hadn’t originally planned to become an engineer, but during my final years of high school, the option of majoring in Computer Science emerged. I applied, passed the admission exam, and decided to enroll—mainly for fun. In the end, it helped me gain a deeper understanding of what it meant to be a computer science professional, and from that moment on, I was determined to pursue this path in college.
  • What innovation or technical advancement have you been a part of that you consider to have made a milestone in your engineering field? I firmly believe that our current client has grown into a solid company largely due to the contributions of our engineering team.
  • What made you choose Mismo? I initially worked at Mismo as a contractor, which allowed me to experience its excellent work environment and professional culture. Two years later, when the opportunity to officially join the Mismo family arose, I knew it would be my home for years to come.
  • How would you describe the work environment at Mismo? Mismo is always focused on improvement in all areas, with one of the most important being ensuring a healthy and pleasant work environment.
  • What learning and development opportunities have you had at Mismo and how have you utilized these opportunities to grow as a professional? Mismo has provided me with all the necessary tools to grow professionally, and I have made the most of them. As a result, I have developed a wide range of technical skills that enable me to make a positive impact on the engineering team. Additionally, Mismo gave me the opportunity to take on a leadership role, which has significantly helped me strengthen my soft skills.
  • What aspects of working at Mismo’s engineering team make you proud and motivate you in your daily tasks? The outstanding, high-quality work we deliver every day contributes to the success of our clients.

  • How do you believe the company and engineering can positively impact the world, people’s lives, and make a difference in their respective industries? Engineering companies like Mismo play a vital role in breaking barriers and connecting top professionals with the best opportunities and companies worldwide. This synergy creates a significant positive impact on both sides.

  • What Mismo policies or practices have helped you improve your work-life balance? Remote work and PTO policies provide us with great flexibility, allowing us to improve our work-life balance.
  • What inspiring advice would you give to someone considering a career in engineering or looking to join a company like Mismo? Never stop learning. Always embrace new challenges. Strive to be as multi-skilled as possible.
  • What tools or technologies do you use most frequently in your daily work as an engineer at Mismo? Our team is responsible for several services and applications, so our daily work involves a variety of tools and technologies, including programming languages such as Java, PHP 5-7, Go, Scala, Ruby, and Python. For frontend development, we use React, Next.js, and Angular. Our databases include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, ElasticSearch, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, and ETCD. We work with message queue platforms like Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ, and Debezium. Additionally, we use tools like ChaosSearch, Rollbar, Datadog, AWS, EKS, and Apache Spark. Our 3rd party integrations include Auth0, SendGrid, SendWithUs, Semantria, and ReviewSites.

Vacancies in foreign companies offer payments in dollars to Costa Rican talent

San José (Costa Rica), January 2023. Costa Rica, due to its proximity in time zones and geographical location similar to the United States, has become an attractive destination for hundreds of foreign companies seeking qualified software developers who can quickly join their teams and take advantage of the numerous benefits of remote work. Employees under this arrangement typically receive various professional and personal growth incentives, in addition to a salary paid in dollars.

This is precisely one of the sectors that has benefited the most from the local currency’s performance against international currencies, a situation akin to that experienced by other Latin American countries facing irregular financial fluctuations, while the global strength of the US dollar persists.

According to job listings on Costa Rican job portals, IT professionals from Costa Rica who work remotely for these companies can earn up to twice as much as the national average salary without having to leave their homes. They also have access to additional perks, such as covering their internet connection expenses or setting up a home office for added convenience.

One software consulting firm that connects local talent with such opportunities, often concentrated in the rapidly growing startups of Silicon Valley, is Mismo. “We take pride in creating growth and transformation opportunities for software engineers in Latin America. At Mismo, we are fortunate to bring together ideas from different parts of the continent, fostering the creativity of each of our collaborators. This guarantees optimal and innovative solutions for the companies we partner with,” assures Forum Desai, co-founder and CEO of this renowned software consulting firm, recognized for its significant impact in recent years in connecting Latin American talent with US-based companies, primarily in San Francisco, California, as well as other parts of the United States.

In addition to the competitive US dollar-based salary, Mismo’s offerings include various benefits, such as flexible work schedules, paid time off, internet and education reimbursements, and professional development programs, among others. Because of this, Diego Gamboa, Chief Technology Officer of the company, recommends that Costa Ricans applying for these positions with such bonuses (which can be found at https://mismo.team/) should prepare for interviews in advance, refresh their knowledge of fundamentals and general knowledge areas, and highlight both technical and soft skills. It is essential to note that at least a B2 level of English proficiency is required to succeed.

“On a daily basis, we are deeply interested in understanding the needs of each person we hire, supporting them comprehensively to facilitate their development and growth in their professions,” says the executive. “In the midst of 2023 and post-pandemic, the workforce has given considerable thought to achieving a better work-life balance. That’s why, at Mismo, we constantly consider how to create growth opportunities for Costa Rican engineers through technology, educational programs, and the enhancement of both soft and technical skills, ensuring professional development aligns with the objectives of the companies we collaborate with,” says Gamboa.