Meet Sinisa Milanovic, who is working as a Software Developer at TTTech Aerospace. He focuses on aviation software for machines like planes, drones, and helicopters. In this interview, he tells us more about his career path, what he likes about his team, and what makes working in the aviation and space sectors at TTTech so attractive, not just for software developers.
Sinisa, tell us a little bit about your career path so far.
I studied Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at TU Vienna and later did my Master’s in Embedded Systems. I joined TTTech about a year ago and before that I worked in various tech companies in different industries, including my own startup where we developed sensor systems for vineyards.
So you’re a former entrepreneur? Do you think this experience is helping you in your current role?
Definitely! I think as a founder, you soon realize that it’s not just technical skills that are important to run a company. You learn to see the business as a whole – you need customer acquisition, sales, marketing, etc. And you are driven by your own passion that helps you juggle all these different tasks. So, I learned a lot about working with people, effective time management, and focusing on what’s important.
When did you first get interested in software?
My father was my role model. When I was a kid, he was a professor of electrical engineering at a university in Croatia. I started writing software at the age of around 14. I went to a technical high school, but mostly I taught myself coding as a hobby. For example, I developed my own home automation system with cheap microcontrollers I bought at the hardware store. At 16 I developed an app that could open the front door of our house. That was one of my proudest moments. Of course, you can simply buy such systems, but where’s the fun in that (laughs)?
What does your typical day look like?
We can choose where we work from, but I prefer to come to the office. I like to drink my morning coffee with my colleagues and then check my to-dos for the day – I’m very organized. My job is mostly desk work, with a few meetings here and there, but it’s a good balance.
What are the skills a software developer needs?
I think you need a logical mindset, analytical and mathematical skills to be able to consider all implications of the software you’re developing.
What attracted you to the aerospace industry? What’s the difference to other industries you’ve worked in?
I love to learn new things and to challenge myself. It’s just so abstract and complex. The main difference to other industries I’ve worked in is mostly that you need a lot of preparation, and need to follow many procedures for certification, verification, etc. We have the highest standards for our products, they need to be extremely safe. Also, it’s a cool thing to be able to say that you’re working in aerospace. It makes you feel proud to see how impressed people are (laughs).
What do you like most about your team?
The team at TTTech Aerospace is really special. People here are really self-motivated and driven to improve things. You can feel a real sense of ownership – people are proud of the products they’re working on. I’ve made some great friends here. We also meet on the weekends, do sports together, go out for drinks after work, etc.
What has been your highlight at TTTech so far?
Apart from the good friends that I’ve made, maybe the NASA Artemis launch last year. It was great to see a major spacecraft with our products on board. Everyone was glued to their screens during the launch, even people who weren’t working on the project. My boss did an interview on TV explaining the technology and employees would get calls from their parents, who happened to be watching the program, asking “isn’t this the company where you work?”. It was a really connecting experience.
Who would you say a job at TTTech is for?
I think there’s a place for everybody. There are so many different nationalities, personalities, and roles. You are expected to work hard, but there is a lot of support and gratitude for that. People see you and your efforts. There are also lots of benefits like a lunch ticket, workcation, and team events. I think everyone who is driven and wants to improve something is welcome here.
