Meet Mark Galvin, one of our ASP.Net Full Stack Developer, who joined us a year ago. In his role, he is providing support to the Department of the Army.
Let's get to know Mark and discuss his background and path toward Pragmatics.
Mark, can you tell us about your background and how you got into the field of software development?
Oh man, I've been building software since I was 12. My first web application was back in 1995 for R.I.T.'s Wallace Library. That was built in pure JavaScript. Classic A.S.P. didn't exist back then, and neither did any of the modern languages for that matter. The funny thing is, I was a Chemistry major. In the lab, we utilized software development for number crunching and projections. After a while, I realized that slinging code was way more rewarding. So I took time off between majors and served in the U.S. Army.
What was your journey to Pragmatics like?
I was a single dad and his primary caregiver […] I started working remotely […] Pragmatics reached out to me in late 2021. I was intrigued. […] A year later, here I am, and I'm loving it.
During the first half of my career, I worked for a large Microsoft partner and was on several of Microsoft's high-profile contracts for New York State and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. My team's primary role was to generate more opportunities by showcasing and utilizing bleeding-edge technologies to replace legacy mainframe systems.
After the birth of my son, I needed to slow things down a bit. I was a single dad and his primary caregiver. I couldn't jump on the train and head to N.Y.C. every morning. That's how I started working remotely, way before COVID.
Pragmatics reached out to me in late 2021. I was intrigued. Sort of like Goldilocks and the three bears they weren't too small, weren't too big, and had the right structure. Plus, I got to serve my country again by providing support to the Department of the Army. A year later, here I am, and I'm loving it.
What do you appreciate about your team at Pragmatics?
[…] the best team ever […] We learn from each other and have a blast. I love my team's sense of humor.
I have the best team ever. I mean it. They are such incredibly smart, talented, and down-to-earth folks. We learn from each other and have a blast. I love my team's sense of humor. Even though most of us work remotely, it still feels like we are close by.
What are the most important skills for your role and what advise do you have for people who want to pursue this career?
You must be willing to continually learn. Technology changes quickly, and to succeed in Computer Science and Software Development, you need to be a perpetual learner. Ask questions, and don't be afraid to solicit feedback. Listen to sage advice but don't be afraid to experiment. Some of the coolest things I've learned were from junior developers.
Outside work, how do you unwind yourself?
I love gardening. My wife and I grow most of our food and donate what we can to the local food pantry.
I love gardening. My wife and I grow most of our food and donate what we can to the local food pantry. I'm especially proud of my hot peppers. I haven't perfected my hot sauce yet, but I keep trying. We own a small farm, and there's always something that needs fixing. I also tinker and often have a few experiments going on. My current experiment is making a solar water heater.