Name: Aril Spetalen
Job Title: Senior QA Engineer
Education: I studied at the University of Oslo, Blindern campus. My degree is in physics, specializing in measurement techniques, electronics, and programming.
Professional background: I've worked almost exclusively with programming and software. For nine years, I worked at NRK with test-driven development (TDD) and automation.
When did you first hear about reMarkable?
I first heard about reMarkable a couple of years ago. A former colleague showed off one of her fancy new gadgets. It was right after reMarkable launched their first device, and it was instantly a talking point. It created a buzz around the office. Since then, I have seen a lot of articles and media coverage on reMarkable and its employees.
Last year, I noticed a colleague quit her job at NRK and started at reMarkable. I remember thinking that was both cool and encouraging.
What made you choose reMarkable?
I worked for nine years at the same place because I didn't want to leave. NRK was a great employer. I felt both seen and heard there, but when reMarkable sent me a message, it was hard to look the other way.
I think it's astonishing that this Norwegian tech company creates everything itself. It's not just another solution for the web, not just another simple application or service any company can come up with in a short time. They have done the whole shebang, from hardware to software to applications. That’s incredibly impressive, and it means people have to be both skilled and creative there. It's pretty motivating and inspiring having those people as my colleagues and on my team.
What’s the most significant difference between reMarkable and your previous employer?
The most obvious difference is that NRK is a state-owned company, not a commercial one. Besides that, I don't think the differences are that immense. NRK is an ambitious company and always strives to be the best. However, reMarkable as an organization is much less top-heavy and has fewer middlemen with strong opinions, making work processes more efficient.
As a young tech scaleup, you have to make it. This creates a more ambitious and energetic culture.
Finally, what's something you're looking forward to at reMarkable?
I like the vision statement, “Better thinking through technology,” personally. I probably need it too. In a world where we are more and more digitally distracted, this kind of approach is crucial. It's also full of challenges and limitations, which will be fun and unique to test and qualify.
