Test Engineer

Test Engineer

There’s nothing you like more than the puzzle that is Test Engineer, and you are always looking to improve and optimize every program you write to make sure any software you test is of the highest quality.

You are also looking to work with US-based clients with a team distributed all over LATAM, at one of the Best Place to Code companies that values collaboration, learning, and experience above everything else. Interested? Then the following vacancy might be just for you!

What you have:

You are a documentation-oriented person that values collaboration and teamwork, able to communicate with developers and report roadblocks. Also, you master both English and Spanish (written and spoken) and are always eager to learn. On a more technical side you also have:

  • 2+ year on a QA role.
  • Experience in test cases creation & maintenance.
  • Manual testing execution and reporting. 
  • Defect reporting & tracking. 
  • Mobile Automation Experience with one of: Espresso, Appium, XCUI Test. 
  • Cypress Experience – or strong Selenium Experience.
  • Javascript Experience.
  • Precise attention to detail.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
  • Self-starter & demonstrated ability to initiate and drive continuous improvement.
  • Basic Technical Skills.

And feel free to tell us anything else we might find interesting! We like to collaborate with people with all kinds of experience and backgrounds.

The journey:

We know your time is valuable, so know the whole process will take about 2 weeks. There will be 4 interviews total (an initial one with Human Capital, a technical skill one, one with an Account Manager, and probably one with the client at the end), possibly with a technical test, if necessary.

We will keep you regularly updated about your application, but you can also get in touch with us to ask about its status or anything else you might want to know. Just have fun! If you are a good match for Scio, we will give you a formal job offer and ask you to get the pre-hiring requirements to us within 5 days at most, so preparedness is key.

Does this seem like a position designed just for you? We’ll love to check your resume. Please send it in English to humancapital@sciodev.com and we’ll get back ASAP. Thanks for reading!

Freelance Developers: Friend or Foe for Your Next Tech Project?

Freelance Developers: Friend or Foe for Your Next Tech Project?

Tech companies face a looming crisis: a staggering 1.2 million software developer shortage is predicted by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This talent gap is forcing them to explore creative solutions beyond traditional hiring to build and maintain their development teams. While freelance engineers offer a tempting cost-effective option, it’s crucial to weigh the potential risks before making a decision.

With over 20 years of experience helping tech companies build successful development teams, we understand the complexities involved. In this article, we’ll present some risks we have seen associated with hiring freelance software engineers and provide alternative solutions for businesses.

1. Quality and Consistency:

  • Freelancers come with varying levels of experience and expertise. Evaluating their skills and ensuring they possess the specific technical knowledge required for your project can be challenging.
  • Maintaining consistent code quality and development processes across different freelance developers can be difficult, leading to potential integration and maintenance issues down the road.

2. Communication and Collaboration:

  • Effective communication is fundamental to project success. With freelancers working remotely, establishing clear and consistent communication channels can be challenging, leading to misunderstandings and delays.
  • Collaboration is essential for efficient problem-solving and knowledge sharing. The lack of a dedicated team environment can hinder collaboration and slow down progress.

3. Project Management and Control:

  • Managing multiple freelance developers can be time-consuming and complex. Assigning tasks, monitoring progress, and ensuring deliverables meet deadlines require significant effort, taking away focus from core business activities.
  • Freelancers may not be readily available to address unexpected issues or adapt to changing project requirements. This can lead to delays and impact your project’s overall timeline and budget.

4. Intellectual Property (IP) and Security:

  • Protecting your intellectual property rights can be a concern. Ensuring that freelancers understand and adhere to your company’s IP policies requires careful consideration and legal agreements.
  • Maintaining data security is crucial. Freelancers working remotely introduce additional security risks that need to be mitigated through robust security protocols and access controls.
Alternatives to Consider

Alternatives to Consider

While freelance software engineers can be a valuable resource for specific tasks, they may not always be the optimal solution for building and managing long-term development projects. Scio offers an alternative approach:

  • Dedicated Nearshore Development Teams: We provide experienced and vetted software engineers who work seamlessly as an extension of your in-house team, ensuring consistent quality, efficient communication, and project control.
  • Reduced Risks and Improved Control: Scio takes care of recruiting, onboarding, managing, and overseeing your dedicated nearshore team, allowing you to focus on your core business strategies.
  • Cost-Effectiveness and Flexibility: Nearshoring offers cost benefits compared to onshore development while maintaining the advantages of a dedicated team environment and cultural compatibility.
Building Reliable Teams for Long-Term Success

Building Reliable Teams for Long-Term Success

Hiring freelance software engineers can provide temporary support, but it’s vital to weigh the potential risks against your long-term project needs. By considering the challenges associated with quality, communication, project management, and security, CTOs, and tech leaders can make informed decisions.

For building reliable and high-performing development teams, a dedicated nearshore solution from Scio can be a strategic choice, offering both cost-effectiveness and reduced risk compared to relying solely on freelance resources.

Contact Scio today to discuss your specific needs and learn how we can help you achieve your software development goals.

Cultivating Customer Understanding: Why Established Tech Companies Need Customer Discovery

Cultivating Customer Understanding: Why Established Tech Companies Need Customer Discovery

Remember Blackberry? Once a dominant force in mobile phones, they failed to adapt to changing customer needs and were ultimately surpassed by Apple and Android. This cautionary tale highlights the importance of customer discovery, even for established tech companies.  A study by Gartner reveals that acquiring a new customer can cost 5 times more than retaining an existing one.  Customer discovery is an investment that can pay off in spades by ensuring your product remains relevant and keeps your existing customers happy.

What is Customer Discovery (and Why Do You Still Need It?)

Customer discovery is more than just a fancy term for market research. It’s about fostering an ongoing conversation with your customers to understand their evolving needs and frustrations.  Here’s why it’s crucial even for companies that have been around for a while:

  • The Customer Churn Challenge: Did you know that according to bain, even a 5% churn rate can significantly impact your bottom line? Customer discovery helps you identify potential churn risks and proactively address customer concerns.
  • Staying Ahead of the Curve: Technology and customer expectations are constantly evolving. Customer discovery allows you to identify new trends and opportunities before your competitors.

Planting New Seeds: Real-World Examples

Here’s how some established tech companies used customer discovery to adapt and thrive during the pandemic:

  • Intuit (TurboTax):  Intuit didn’t just use customer discovery to improve tax filing features. They also focused on user experience.  In response to feedback about complexity, they introduced a simplified filing option.  During the pandemic, this focus on user experience proved critical as they catered to a broader audience filing for unemployment and stimulus checks for the first time.
  • Airbnb:  Airbnb leveraged customer research to understand the changing travel landscape during the pandemic. This led them to introduce “flexible search” and “longer stays” features, catering to the rise of remote work and domestic travel.
  • Dropbox:  Dropbox recognized the need for enhanced collaboration features through customer discovery methods like user interviews.  They responded by developing integrations with popular productivity tools, making Dropbox an essential tool for the remote work revolution.
  • Zoom:  Zoom’s constant focus on customer feedback allowed them to identify features critical for the remote work environment. Based on user needs, they prioritized video call security, ease of use, and integrations with popular calendar applications.  This data-driven approach kept Zoom ahead of the curve during a time of massive user behavior shifts.
The Customer Discovery Toolkit for Established Tech Companies

The Customer Discovery Toolkit for Established Tech Companies

Ready to breathe new life into your tech company? Here are some actionable tools to get you started:

  • User Interviews:  Have in-depth conversations with your customers to understand their current frustrations and unmet needs.  Focus on addressing their specific pain points related to your product or service. Ask questions like: “What are your biggest challenges using our product?” or “What features do you wish our product had?”
  • Customer Surveys:  Gather broader customer insights through surveys with a mix of open-ended and closed-ended questions.  Tailor your survey questions to address common challenges faced by established tech companies.  For example, you could ask questions about customer satisfaction with your current product roadmap or their openness to new features.
  • A/B Testing:  Test different product features and marketing messages to see what resonates best with your current audience.  Use A/B testing to validate your customer discovery findings and measure the impact of changes based on customer feedback.

Bloom Again: Make Customer Discovery a Priority

Customer discovery is a continuous process, not a one-time fix.  By regularly assessing your customer landscape and planting new seeds based on their needs, you can ensure your tech company flourishes for years to come.

Leading from Both Sides of the Keyboard: When CTOs Hold the Purse Strings

Leading from Both Sides of the Keyboard: When CTOs Hold the Purse Strings

For most software leaders, navigating the world of technology is already a demanding feat. But for a select few, the challenge extends beyond lines of code and elegant algorithms. These are the CTOs who also wear the CEO hat, balancing technical vision with the realities of financial stewardship. They’re a rare breed, and their unique perspective offers valuable insights for both aspiring leaders and those seeking the right nearshore development partner.

For a CTO-CEO, it’s a constant dance between two worlds. Their days are a blend of crafting robust architectures and scrutinizing budgets. Imagine building the future one algorithm at a time, while keeping a keen eye on the bottom line. It’s a high-wire act, demanding both meticulous planning and a healthy dose of calculated risk.

But when done right, the synergy is undeniable. Technical agility meets financial prudence in a potent mix. Decisions become laser-focused, aligning development goals with budgetary constraints. The CEO’s deep understanding of technology fosters empathy with teams, leading to a collaborative and efficient environment. Innovation flourishes when the architect of the code also holds the keys to the castle.

Think of Microsoft’s remarkable resurgence under Satya Nadella’s leadership. His ascent from software engineer to CEO wasn’t just a climb up the corporate ladder; it was a strategic move that fueled Microsoft’s transformation. Nadella’s fluency in both code and commerce allowed him to see the immense potential of cloud computing and AI, guiding the company to refocus its efforts and reclaim its position as a tech leader. His story is a testament to the power of having a CEO who speaks the language of both engineers and investors.

Collaborative Efficiency

Collaborative Efficiency

Imagine software development teams where code whispers directly to the CEO’s ear, where budgets aren’t just spreadsheets but blueprints for innovation. Companies with Brain CTO-CEOs, according to industry reports and internal case studies, report a remarkable 30% increase in employee engagement among engineering teams. Why? Improved communication bridges the gap between developers and leadership, fostering mutual understanding and trust. It’s like having a translator who speaks both the language of code and the dialect of the boardroom, ensuring everyone is on the same page throughout the development journey. This enhanced collaboration reduces friction, quicker decision-making, and a shared sense of purpose, ultimately leading to a happier, more productive workforce.

Faster Time-to-Market

In today’s hyper-competitive landscape, speed is king. Studies like the Harvard Business Review study highlight the advantage of dual-focused leadership. Companies with leaders who juggle code and cash are 45% more likely to successfully launch new products on time and within budget. No more missed deadlines or ballooning costs! The CTO-CEO’s understanding of both technical feasibility and financial constraints becomes a potent weapon, guiding teams to hit the market not just with groundbreaking ideas, but also with optimal timing and financial prudence.

Navigating the Challenges

Navigating the Challenges

The journey for CTO-CEOs is one of constant balancing. They must keep pushing for innovation while ensuring financial stability. It’s not always smooth sailing, and there are tough decisions to be made along the way.

For example, investing in tomorrow’s AI breakthrough might conflict with the need to optimize existing infrastructure today. And while exciting new technologies are tempting, staying within budget and resource constraints is crucial. Finding the right balance can be challenging, requiring careful consideration to avoid prioritizing innovation at the expense of financial responsibility.

Here are some specific balancing acts CTO-CEOs face:

  • Avoiding “shiny object syndrome”: It’s important to evaluate if the latest tech trend aligns with long-term goals before pursuing it.
  • Making smart “build vs. buy” decisions: Choosing between internal development and external solutions requires careful weighing of cost and benefits.
  • Embracing the “innovation paradox”: Breakthroughs are important, but so are stability and reliability in existing systems.
  • Solving the “people puzzle”: Finding talent with both cutting-edge skills and operational efficiency is key.

These are just a few of the challenges CTO-CEOs navigate. Understanding these complexities is crucial for steering their companies toward sustainable growth.

Scio: Partnering for Sustainable Growth with a CEO-CTO Mindset

Scio Partnering for Sustainable Growth with a CEO-CTO Mindset

We understand the unique challenges of navigating technology and business as a CTO-CEO. That’s because our leadership embodies this very perspective. Our CEO, Luis Aburto, is not just a seasoned executive; he’s also a passionate engineer at heart.

This dual perspective is the cornerstone of Scio’s approach. We’ve seen firsthand how combining technical brilliance with strategic financial foresight unlocks the potential for stable growth, smart innovation, and empowered teams. We’re not about quick fixes or fleeting trends; we’re about building long-lasting success alongside you.

Luis Aburto’s passion for both software development and entrepreneurship is woven into the very fabric of Scio. He built this company with a singular mission: to empower tech companies to bring their software ideas to life, faster and better. This deep understanding of your world informs everything we do.

That means:

  • Finding the right talent: We handpick top-tier tech professionals in Mexico and Latin America, meticulously vetted for both technical excellence and cultural fit.
  • Managing costs effectively: We leverage our experience and global resources to optimize your project pipelines and maximize your budget impact.
  • Creating a thriving tech environment: We foster a collaborative culture where your teams feel empowered to innovate and build amazing things.

Scio isn’t just a team of consultants; we’re your strategic partner, guided by the CEO-CTO mindset of Luis Aburto. We walk alongside you, understanding your unique needs, budget realities, and vision for the future. Together, we’ll turn your passion for technology into sustainable growth, one line of code at a time.

Together We Build: The CTO-CEO’s Collaborative Journey

Together We Build The CTO-CEO's Collaborative Journey

The journey of the CTO-CEO is rarely a solo endeavor. It’s a shared journey fueled by the combined efforts of engineers, developers, and countless others. It’s a reminder that even the sharpest minds need a team to translate ideas into reality. And perhaps that’s the true strength of the CTO-CEO: to foster an environment where diverse skills come together in a collaborative dance, building something bigger than themselves.

As Nicholas Negroponte wisely said, “Technology alone solves nothing. It’s the way we use it that matters.” The CTO-CEO understands this deeply. In their hands, technology isn’t just lines of code; it’s a bridge connecting people, a springboard for growth, and a canvas for shaping a better future. Their legacy isn’t just the product they deliver, but the way they unite a group of talented individuals towards a shared goal.

Moving forward, let’s remember that the key to unlocking technology’s true potential lies not just in individual brilliance, but in working together. Let’s be inspired by the CTO-CEO who encourages collaboration, not competition, and celebrates the harmony that arises when diverse voices join forces. Together, we can build a brighter future, united in strategy, and empowered to achieve.

The Ultimate Framework Cheat Sheet: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Use Cases for Popular Tools

The Ultimate Framework Cheat Sheet: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Use Cases for Popular Tools

Feeling overwhelmed by the ever-expanding realm of development frameworks? You’re not alone. Every day, a new contender emerges, promising the secret sauce to code nirvana. But before you get lost in the acronym soup, take a deep breath and grab this handy cheat sheet. We’ll break down the top contenders across front-end, back-end, and mobile domains, giving you the lowdown on their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.

Front-End Framework Showdown

React stands tall as the JavaScript darling, commanding a remarkable 42% share of the JavaScript framework market, as revealed by the State of JS 2022 Survey. Its supremacy is attributed to the ability to craft dynamic, single-page apps adorned with modular components that effortlessly follow your coding rhythm. The framework’s strength lies in its flexibility and the vibrancy of its community. However, it’s essential to acknowledge the steeper learning curve, recognized by 35% of developers as a notable challenge. Despite this, React remains the go-to choice for those aiming to construct complex web apps, single-page applications, and dynamic user interfaces. Its component-based architecture and the promise of reusable components make it a powerhouse in JavaScript frameworks.

Angular: The seasoned veteran, offering stability and control. Strengths: Robust features, TypeScript integration, ideal for enterprise applications. Weaknesses: Structured nature can feel restrictive, larger learning curve. Ideal for: Large-scale projects, data-driven applications, teams with TypeScript experience. However, its structured nature can feel a bit rigid for smaller projects, with 20% of developers finding it less suitable for personal projects, as reported by the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023.

Vue.js: The rising star, praised for its lightweight design and elegant APIs. Strengths: Beginner-friendly, easy to learn and integrate, small footprint. Weaknesses: Smaller community compared to React and Angular, limited enterprise features. Ideal for: Prototyping, smaller web apps, beginners looking for a gentle entry point.

Back-End Battlefield

Back-End Battlefield

Node.js: The JavaScript runtime environment redefining server-side development. Strengths: Asynchronous I/O, single language for front-end and back-end, a large ecosystem of modules. Weaknesses: Can be error-prone, and requires strong asynchronous programming skills. Ideal for: Real-time applications, APIs, and microservices architecture.

Django: The Python champion, renowned for its rapid development and security features. Strengths: Batteries-included approach, fast development cycles, excellent built-in security. Weaknesses: Can be opinionated with its architecture, not ideal for highly customized projects. Ideal for: Web applications with deadlines, projects needing robust security, and teams fluent in Python.

Spring: The Java juggernaut, dominating the enterprise space with its modularity and scalability. Strengths: Scalable architecture, comprehensive features, mature security framework. Weaknesses: Steep learning curve, complex configuration for smaller projects. Ideal for: Enterprise applications, mission-critical projects, and teams with Java expertise.

Mobile App Arena

Flutter: The cross-platform maestro, building native-looking apps for Android and iOS. Strengths: Write once, run anywhere, fast performance, beautiful UIs. Weaknesses: Flutter-specific features might be limited, and larger app size compared to native development. Ideal for: Cross-platform mobile apps, teams looking for rapid development and shared codebase.

React Native: Another cross-platform contender, leveraging React expertise for mobile development. Strengths: Reusable components, large React community, familiar syntax for React developers. Weaknesses: Performance can be slightly slower than Flutter, and there is limited access to native APIs. Ideal for: Teams with React knowledge, projects needing fast development with shared web and mobile codebase.

Swift: The native iOS champion, offering unparalleled performance and tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem. Strengths: Excellent performance, native look and feel, and access to all iOS features. Weaknesses: Only works for iOS, steeper learning curve for non-Apple developers. Ideal for: High-performance iOS apps, and projects requiring deep integration with Apple features.

Mobile App Arena

Remember: This is just a starting point. The “perfect” framework depends on your project requirements, team skills, and long-term goals. Do your research, compare features, and test-drive frameworks before making your final decision.

Bonus Tip: Stay updated! The framework landscape is constantly evolving. Keep an eye on rising stars and emerging trends to ensure you’re always using the best tools for the job.

With this cheat sheet, you can confidently navigate the framework jungle and choose the perfect tool to build your next software masterpiece. Happy coding!

And don’t forget to share your experiences and preferences in the comments below!