He started as a high-potential graduate, but now he’s part of our team as a System Engineer as if he’s always been here. Of course, I’m talking about… Aaron! In this blog, I’d like to introduce him to you.

Can you tell us something about yourself?

I’m Aaron, living in Hengelo. My hobbies include ‘hack the box’, solving crypto puzzles, gaming, and that kind of thing. I love playing board games with my girlfriend and friends.

How did you end up at Shock Media?

For my IDS (Infrastructure Design & Security) studies, I was looking for a suitable graduation internship. I approached many very large companies but received little response. So I kept searching for a company as eager to collaborate as I was. That’s when I came across Shock Media through a job site at my school. During the first interview, there was an immediate great connection, so the choice was quickly made. My graduation period went so well for both myself and my colleagues at Shock Media that I was offered a contract to stay at Shock after graduation!

What exactly is your role at Shock Media and what does it entail?

At the moment, my official title is System Engineer. As a (Linux) System Engineer at Shock Media, you and your colleagues are responsible for designing, setting up, maintaining, and optimizing high-quality and complex hosting and server solutions. I’m now learning the ropes of this challenging position thanks to the help of all the experienced colleagues around me, who are always available for questions. I also learn a lot by performing support tasks. This exposes you to Shock Media’s entire managed environment, allowing you to quickly pick up and learn various things, all with the aim of further growing in your role. This is something that’s highly encouraged at Shock Media.

What is the secret to being a good System Engineer?

Being really good at Googling, haha. It’s very important to stay curious. The moment you think you know everything and always stick to your old ways, you’ll get stuck. Everything around you changes and develops rapidly, especially in our industry. So you really have to make an effort to keep up with all the changes.

What does a day at Shock Media look like for you?

When I arrive, I usually start with a cup of coffee or tea with my colleagues and we catch up a bit. Then it’s time to get to work. First, I check what’s on my agenda so I have an idea of what to expect that day. I start with some updates, then open our ticket box to see what’s pending. I usually try to handle the quick tickets first, to create some overview in the ticket system. As the day goes on, I get caught up in the work and before I know it, it’s time for a break. We take a break with the whole office team at the same time, which makes for a pleasant atmosphere during lunch. I enjoy challenging my colleagues to a game of table tennis or darts during the break. After the break, I resume my work, which is different every day. Sometimes I answer calls, other times I’m researching new technologies or working on a solution to a problem, etc. In short, I never get bored.

What do you like most about your job?

It might sound cliché, but my colleagues. Of course, my heart lies with the technical side, but the Shock Media team makes the work even more enjoyable. There’s a culture where you can really learn from each other, help one another, and keep challenging each other.

Where does your passion for Linux come from?

My passion for Linux comes from hacking and solving (Linux) puzzles in my spare time. If you want to do this well, you really have to master Linux to use all the tools properly. Also, in the field of security—which I find very interesting—I noticed that you can do so much more with Linux.

What is the coolest thing you’ve done at Shock Media so far?

That would definitely be my graduation project that I was able to do here. Especially because it’s going to be implemented in the company and my experienced colleagues will also take a look at it. That’s pretty exciting. My project was about collecting and analyzing logs on a large scale. Just a log analysis tool isn’t enough due to the huge amounts of data. What I tried to do was separate data collection and data analysis by setting up an Event Streaming platform. This way, the independence of producer and consumer can be realized. For example, you can use OpenSearch, but you can also add an Apache Spark platform for machine learning. The great thing is that we not only thought about the solution, but also how to start working with it and ensure the project’s success.

Which (technical) skill would you still like to master and why?

I’d really like to obtain the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification. For me, this would mean not only mastering Linux but also being able to apply the analytical mindset of a security researcher to my daily tasks.

Why should people apply for a job at Shock Media?

That’s actually a very easy question. It’s a great place to work. I go to work every day with pleasure and learn so much every day. I get a lot of energy from that. The work is varied and challenging, the colleagues are fun, and the atmosphere is excellent.

Do you have any wisdom to share with your future colleagues?

My colleague and team lead Dave always says: “Don’t worry.” No matter how difficult a problem seems, we always figure it out. There is so much knowledge here at Shock Media; there is always someone who knows the solution.

Do you see yourself working at Shock Media? Check out our vacancy page or send an email to hr@shockmedia.nl. Curious about our other colleagues? Then read our other blogs.