14 Nov Matthias, our newest addition to the OSS developers team
Meet Matthias Swiggers – Our Newest Team Member
We’re thrilled to welcome Matthias Swiggers to the Mind team, led by Bram Soete!
At 28, Matthias is a passionate electrical engineer who graduated in 2019 from KU Leuven. With a strong background in electronics—both hardware and software—he’s always eager to explore new technological innovations.
After five years of studies in Leuven, Matthias has now settled in Mechelen, but his connection to Leuven remains strong. His expertise in chip design, combined with hands-on experience, makes him a great fit for our team.
Matthias is excited to contribute his technical knowledge and enthusiasm for innovation to Mind, where he will collaborate closely with our talented team. We look forward to seeing the impact he’ll make as we continue to deliver cutting-edge solutions.
Welcome aboard, Matthias!
– Can you tell us a bit about your responsibilities?
Matthias: At Mind, I work as an embedded software engineer, where my role involves supporting our clients in the development, deployment, and maintenance of their embedded software. This can cover a wide range of tasks, from bare-metal applications to more complex embedded Linux systems. Recently, I’ve primarily focused on embedded Linux, working with tools like Yocto and Buildroot.
One of the key projects I’ve been involved in is addressing the rollover problem that is expected to affect embedded systems in 2038. My work in this area involves discovering the software components that may be impacted by this issue and assessing the potential risks to their systems.
– What’s the best thing about your job?
Matthias : The best part of my job is that I’m always learning. Each project brings its own set of challenges and new things to explore. Working across different projects exposes me to a variety of environments, and I get to see a wide range of concepts and ideas in action. Some work really well, while others may not work as well.
– What are the biggest challenges in your work?
Matthias: The hardest part is closely tied to what I find most interesting: the constant need to learn new things. There’s never really a “routine.” As you gain experience, you start to recognize certain problems sooner, but with each new challenge, you always bump into new ones.
– Which things are on your bucket list – what do you absolutely want to have done?
Matthias: On a professional level, as I’m still early in my career, I have many goals ahead. One of my aspirations is to contribute to a large (open source) project. I’m also very interested in compilers and the more ‘mathematical’ aspects of software, so I would love to get involved in that area as well.
Outside of work, my latest hobby is renovating my home, and I’m excited to move in once it’s ready. I’m quite adventurous, and this summer, I cycled all the way to Norway. I’d love to do more trips like that in the future. I tend to prefer sporty, northern destinations over exotic ones, as they’re not only better suited for cycling but also offer breath-taking views.
– What do you do in your free time?
Matthias: In my spare time, you’ll often find me cycling or working with wood. I’m passionate about hands-on activities, and I’ve even taken a woodworking course in Syntra to further develop my skills. In the near future, I’ll probably spend many of my future weekends renovating my house, because I like to get my hands dirty. I also enjoy spending time with friends, whether it’s going out or attending annual festivals and concerts!