We caught up with Argiris Gerogiannis, Senior Full Stack Engineer in Cegeka’s Engineering Studio team, to talk about his experience joining the company, his approach to software engineering, and what keeps him motivated in the ever-evolving tech world. From day-one wins to kitchen experiments, here’s what he shared with us.
The constant opportunity to learn and improve, both in terms of tech and teamwork - that's what keeps me motivated.
Argiris Gerogiannis, Senior Full Stack Engineer
Hi Argiris! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm a software engineer with a strong focus on backend development and a keen interest in clean architecture, cloud platforms, and building maintainable, scalable systems. I have hands-on experience with both AWS and Azure, and I enjoy tackling complex challenges by creating simple and reliable solutions.
I’m based in Athens, where I live with my wife and our 8-year-old daughter. Working mostly from home allows me to strike a good balance between deep focus and quality time with my family. Outside of work, I enjoy experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, going cycling, and sharing good food and conversation with friends.
Looking back, what helped you ramp up the fastest during your first few weeks at Cegeka?
The biggest factor was the trust and support I received from the team right from the start. During my first week — including a few days on-site in Hasselt — I immediately felt welcomed. We connected through team activities, worked side by side, and formed meaningful relationships.
I asked to dive straight into production issues to learn by doing, and the team didn’t hesitate to give me that responsibility. Their openness and willingness to help made a big difference in my onboarding experience.
What was your first real “win” on the team, and how did it feel?
My first real “win” wasn’t a single moment - it was a series of worthwhile contributions. I supported the redesign of a newly acquired customer-facing website, implemented features requested by a third-party partner, resolved a good number of bugs, and contributed to improvements in our Azure infrastructure.
One highlight was introducing and implementing our first reusable web component: an image/video slider. Working with TDD and sharing ideas on how to move faster or improve code quality felt very natural and was well received. Seeing those early contributions bring value made me feel like I truly belonged.
How has your understanding of the codebase and system architecture evolved since joining?
Initially, I focused on delivering features and understanding the system at a functional level. Over time, I started recognizing the architectural patterns of how services communicate, where performance bottlenecks might be, and how domain logic is layered. Now, I have a clearer view of the trade-offs made in the past, where technical debt exists, and which parts are more complex. This understanding helps me make better decisions and contribute more thoughtfully to discussions around scalability and maintainability.
You have a background in AWS and microservices. How does this influence your work in Azure-based environments?
Coming from an AWS and microservices-heavy background, I naturally think in terms of loose coupling, fail-fast design, and automation principles that translate well to Azure, even though they sometimes require more effort to implement. To be honest, AWS often feels like it was “made by developers for developers.” Azure can occasionally feel like it takes a few extra clicks… and maybe a little prayer. 😄
If you had to choose AWS or Azure, which one would you take with you to a desert island (with Wi-Fi of course)?
I’d choose AWS. It’s more flexible, offers a smoother developer experience, and its infrastructure-as-code support is more mature. That said, working in Azure has taught me a lot especially around patience and adaptability.
What part of Cegeka’s engineering culture or workflow stood out to you — either in a good or surprising way?
People genuinely take the time to help each other whether it’s reviewing code, sharing knowledge, or unblocking someone. Cegeka truly has a culture of collaboration.
There’s also a strong focus on quality and continuous improvement. We respectfully challenge each other and push for better solutions, rather than just settling for “it works.” It’s a professional, yet very human environment, the kind where you can grow fast and enjoy the process.
Would you like to share some advice with the next developer joining our team?
I’d say: ask questions early, even if they feel minor. The team is very supportive, and getting clarity quickly can save you a lot of time. Also, take the time to understand the “why” behind what we build not just the code, but the business context, too. That insight helps with smarter decision-making and quicker improvements. And don’t be afraid to suggest changes, just do it with respect and curiosity. That’s how we keep evolving together.
Curiosity really seems to be a driving force for you.
It really is! Curiosity, along with the constant opportunity to learn and improve - both in terms of tech and teamwork - that's what keeps me motivated. I enjoy solving real problems with clean, thoughtful solutions. There’s real satisfaction in building something that works well and is easy for others to understand and maintain.
I also find energy in mentoring, exchanging ideas, and pushing for better ways of working whether it’s through process, architecture, or just cleaner code. Tech is always evolving and that’s exactly what makes it fun.
