1. Introduce us to your team - how many specialists are you, and what do you do?
Simeon Mechkov: We are Team Squid, part of VSG Bulgaria. We develop banking software for financial institutions in various US states, mainly focused on loan application processes and their management. The solution facilitates the daily work of bank employees – it helps them to make inquiries, process and store data faster. We do not have a strictly limited domain: we take on a variety of functionalities and integrations and work closely with the rest of the project teams. Team Squid is a friendly, cohesive, and open team. We communicate directly, give everyone the opportunity to be heard, and are not afraid to say what we think. Humor is an important part of our daily lives, but behind the casual atmosphere are trust and responsibility. Our name has become a symbol of our flexibility – we adapt to different environments and take on tasks from all domains.
Simeon Mechkov, Team Lead and Scrum Master
My name is Simeon Mechkov. I have a Bachelor's degree in Software Technologies and Design and a Master's degree in Pedagogy of Informatics and Information Technology Education from the University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski". My interest in IT began in 10th grade at NTG-Plovdiv. My computer science classes and my encounters with JavaScript and C++ showed me that with programming I can solve real problems and automate repetitive actions. After my first year at the university in 2016, I received an invitation for an internship, and this is how my professional path began.
I have been with VSG Bulgaria for five years, and today I am a team lead and Scrum Master of Team Squid. I participate in planning, distribute work, monitor progress, and hold individual meetings. It is important not only that the tasks are going but also that everyone feels good and is heard. If necessary, I help technically, mostly with front-end cases, relying on my experience as a full-stack developer. At the beginning of my career, the most interesting thing was programming, and today the greatest satisfaction comes from working with people – to understand team dynamics and to see how, with my support, colleagues develop as specialists and personalities. Team Squid is a fun, cohesive, and real team: we talk openly, we have no intrigue, and we trust each other without micromanagement.
Outside of work, I love sports – fitness, volleyball, tennis, and mountain hiking. I relax with video games and 3D printing. I am also interested in social psychology, which helps me better understand people and their relationships.
2. What project(s) are you working on?
Stoyan Kisyov: Our team is working on several related projects in the field of banking software. The main one is a large-scale system for financial institutions in the United States, according to which we maintain and develop several functional areas. We also participate in the development of a portal – a separate application through which customers can apply for a loan and attach the necessary documents.
Another part of our job is to connect the new internal systems to the main product. To do this, we use separate services that check and process requests, control access, and help to detect and solve errors more easily.
The team is also developing two separate Vue modules that provide a more modern and user-friendly user interface.
Stoyan Kisyov, Software Engineer
I graduated from a high school of science and mathematics with a profile in mathematics, computer science, and English, where we programmed in C++. After that, I studied dentistry for four years, but I realized that this was not my professional path, and I returned to my original interest – programming. I prepared on my own under the mentorship of a programmer with many years of experience. I started an internship at VSG, which grew into a permanent position, and to date I have two years of professional experience. I am currently studying software technology and design. Programming inspires me with the ability to create different solutions through code and constantly work on new and interesting problems.
I work as a software engineer on the Squid team, mainly in backend development with .NET. I am responsible for development and release processes, as well as support for pilot tests and communication with other teams. Our team consists of seven people, and we work in a very good atmosphere, with mutual support and shared responsibility for tasks.
In my free time, I like to watch TV shows, play video games, and walk in nature. I play tennis on an amateur court. I continue to develop outside of my day-to-day work, deepening my knowledge in front-end development with Angular and in the field of cloud technologies in Azure.
3. What technologies do you use?
Simeon Mechkov: The main technologies in the project are C# and React. Since the product has gone through many stages of development, F#, AngularJS, jQuery, and Kendo UI are also found in it. For databases, we use Microsoft SQL Server, and our infrastructure is in Google Cloud Platform. CI/CD processes are built through GitHub, and we also rely on DevOps colleagues to support deployments and integrations. Our QA specialists use Playwright and Selenium for automated testing, as well as manual test plans. We organize our work in Jira, and we rely on Microsoft Teams and Slack for daily communication. We plan and coordinate tasks according to the SAFe model. We also use AI tools such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Codex – both to analyze and formulate functional cases, as well as to understand more complex logic.
4. How do you currently work (office, home, or hybrid) and how often do you get together in the office?
Ivomir Tolev: We have the freedom to choose how we feel best and find the right balance between working from the office and from home. The hybrid model is our preferred one, and we usually gather in the office once or twice a week.
Ivomir Tolev, Technical Business Analyst
My name is Ivomir Tolev and I am a technical business analyst at VSG Bulgaria. I have a bachelor's degree in software technologies and design and a master's degree in software technologies with a specialization in software architectures and tools at the University of Plovdiv. I have always had an interest in technology, and this is what directed me to the IT field.
As a technical business analyst, my role is to be the link between the product and dev team. One of the main challenges we face is to find the easiest and at the same time effective way to implement and develop software requirements so as to combine a good user experience with clean and reliable code.
Outside of work, I like to travel, preferring mostly sea destinations in the summer. I also really like different sports – both playing and watching. Another topic of interest to me is the world of blockchain technologies, which I like to learn more about in my free time.
5. How does a typical working day go in the team?
Ivomir Tolev: We start the day with coffee and a daily, then we take up our tasks. If we are in the office, we usually go to lunch together. In the afternoon we continue with work, and when we need a short break, we relax in the games room or in the kitchen with a quick afternoon snack.
6. Which other departments/teams do you work with most often?
Teodora Mileva: At Team Squid, we most often collaborate with our colleagues from the United States. They are the key link between the developers and end users of the product, so communication with them is an essential part of our daily work. We regularly hold meetings and discussions where we solve problems, plan new functionalities, and discuss upgrading existing ones so that they meet the needs of customers as much as possible. When developing larger functionalities, we also interact with other teams to ensure good coordination and seamless integration of changes. We also maintain constant communication with the DevOps team to troubleshoot configuration difficulties and investigate critical issues in production environments.
Teodora Mileva, Software Engineer
My name is Teodora Mileva and I am 24 years old. I have been part of VSG for almost two years. I started as an intern and subsequently took the position of junior backend developer, which I still hold today.
My interest in mathematics was born in junior high school, which led me to study at a mathematical high school with a profile in mathematics and informatics. Naturally, I continued my education at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", specialty "Software Technologies and Design". In parallel with my bachelor's degree, I also acquired an additional qualification as a teacher of informatics and information technology and then completed a master's degree as a teacher of mathematics.
Shortly after graduation, I started an internship at VSG, which gave me the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge gained during my studies and continue to develop professionally. My work is interesting, dynamic, and full of challenges, and most of all I appreciate the atmosphere in the company. At Team Squid, professionalism and a friendly environment go hand in hand, which motivates me to give my best every day.
In my free time, I like to travel, go on mountain hikes, and visit Orthodox churches in Bulgaria and abroad.
7. Say something that your team is proud of.
Stoyan Kisyov: We are most proud of our cohesion. We don't just see ourselves as colleagues gathered to work on common tasks but as friends who spend time together in and outside the office. This trust has a direct impact on our work.
When a problem arises, it quickly becomes a common priority – depending on the case, we get involved with discussion, code review, pair programming, or a joint search for a solution. There is no internal competition in the team, and everyone can safely ask questions or admit that they need help. The combination of backend, frontend, automation, and manual QA experience allows us to look at cases from different perspectives and react quickly even in tense situations.
8. What do you like to do together outside of working hours?
Yasen Kurtev: Outside of work, we like to spend time together in a variety of ways. Some of my colleagues and I play sports together – we play tennis or football. When we get the chance, we organize weekends at a villa in the mountains, where the atmosphere is a little different from everyday life in front of the computer. One of the most memorable adventures so far was the trip to the island of Crete, where we managed to meet our colleague from the team, who is American and was on vacation there. What all these moments have in common is that they bring us even closer together and give us the opportunity to create memories, which then inevitably turn into inner jokes and stories that we recall with a smile.
Yasen Kurtev, Software Engineer
Hello! My name is Yasen Kurtev. I have a Bachelor's degree in Software Technologies and Design and a Master's degree in Pedagogy of Informatics and Information Technology Education at the University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski". My interest in computers and technology began at an early age – I have always been interested in "tinkering" with hardware and understanding how different components work. This is what initially directed me to the Technical University of Plovdiv with the idea of developing as an engineer, but after the first semester I realized that my place is more in the world of software and programming. This is also my first job in the IT field – I started as an intern and then became part of Team Squid. Our team is close-knit, open and with a very good sense of humor. We get along well with each other, which makes everyday work more enjoyable and helps us solve challenges calmly and efficiently. We try to always have a positive atmosphere, and I believe that people are one of the team's strengths.
Outside of work, sport occupies a large part of my daily life. I play football, train with weights, and run, and in winter I like to ski. I am a big fan of football and Formula 1, and I regularly follow them on TV. I love to travel, often combining my trips with attending football matches. I also like mountain hikes and walks, and photography is one of the hobbies with which I like to capture interesting moments.
9. What unites your team?
Yasen Kurtev: What unites us the most is good communication and trust between us. For us, it is not limited to work tasks – it is important to be able to rely on each other, share ideas, help each other and have fun together. Over time, we managed to get closer, and I would say that today, in addition to colleagues, we are also good friends. Perhaps one of our greatest strengths is our similar sense of humor, which often helps even in more tense moments. We strongly believe that a close-knit team is built not only by good professionals but also by people who understand each other and feel comfortable together.
10. How do new people fit into your team?
Vanessa Ilieva: The most valuable thing in our team is the true friendships we have built both at work and outside of it. We often spend time together over coffee or lunch, which further unites the team. This closeness is felt from day one and helps new colleagues quickly feel part of the team. Thanks to the supportive atmosphere and everyone's willingness to help, the initial worry quickly disappears, and the adaptation takes place naturally and with ease.
Vanessa Ilieva, QA Engineer
Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.
Well, I found my place as a QA at VSG three years ago after making a 180-degree turn from my position as a systems engineer in the field of energy. Luckily for me, I found myself in the funniest and friendliest team, with whom we have solved countless difficult cases and drunk even more cups of coffee. This is a place where you can always count on support, but also on a good joke when the day gets busier.
I have recently completed my engineering education and am already considering my next challenge. Outside of work, I like to spend time with my loved ones, my talking parrot, and my puppy. And sometimes – with everyone together, until I get tired of the noise and run along a forest path or book another trip.
11. How would you answer the question: "If you are..., welcome to our team!"?
Maria Merkoa: If you are looking for a place where you will be part of something more than a team, if you love to learn, share ideas and achieve success together with people you can rely on – welcome to VSG Bulgaria!
Maria Merkova, Senior Automation QA
My name is Maria Merkova and I am a Senior Automation QA at VSG Bulgaria. I have a Master's degree in bioinformatics, where I studied programming, databases, and software development. Already during my studies, I started developing my own projects from scratch, because I believe that the best way to learn is through practice. Over the years, I have upgraded my knowledge with certifications such as ISTQB, Java, and automation.
Initially, I had focused on Java development, but a teacher turned me on to quality assurance. That's how I found a profession that combines analytical thinking, programming, and the pursuit of quality. For five years now, I have been part of VSG Bulgaria, where automation is my greatest professional passion. What is even more valuable to me, however, is that at Team Squid we are not just colleagues – over time, we have become friends who support each other, share knowledge, and can always rely on each other.
Outside of work, my biggest passion is fitness. He taught me that limitations often exist only in our minds and that with perseverance and discipline we can achieve much more than we imagined. I follow the same philosophy in my professional path – every day is a new opportunity to develop and become a better version of myself.
12. Finally, how would you describe your team yourself?
Maria Merkova: Team Squid is proof that the best teams are built not only by excellent professionals but also by people who respect each other, support each other, and can call themselves friends. We work with a common goal, celebrate every victory together and believe that when you have fun with the people around you, success comes naturally.
