When Sigurd joined Grunt in October 2022 as a Junior Software Developer, he was still early in his career. Coming from a background in programming and indie game development, he was passionate about learning as much as possible about software development and developing his skills. What he found at Grunt was not only an exciting product and talented team but also a wealth of complex technical challenges that have given him continuous growth opportunities.

From Generalist to Specialist

Sigurd was initially hired as a versatile “potet-utvikler” (a jack-of-all-trades developer) with his experience in C#, but he had the flexibility to explore different aspects of Grunt’s technology and product. He quickly found himself drawn to charting and rendering—the parts of the system responsible for visualizing data. With a strong foundation in vector mathematics and C# programming from his gaming background, he quickly saw parallels between game development and Grunt’s technology.

"I quickly learned that many of the things I found compelling in game development transfer pretty cleanly to Grunt’s problem space - mostly in that I get to do a lot of vector math."

Over time, this evolved into a more defined area of responsibility. While he came in with a strong foundation, this opportunity allowed him to dive deeper into debugging, troubleshooting, and understanding the full tech stack of a growing SaaS company.

"When I was looking for a job, I was basically looking for an apprenticeship in software engineering. I wanted to sit next to some really smart developers and learn everything I could from them. That’s exactly what I found at Grunt."

An Environment for Learning and Ownership

One of the things Sigurd values most about Grunt is the level of responsibility given from day one. There’s a culture of trust—if you have skills in a particular area, you’re encouraged to take ownership and drive improvements.

"One of the great things about the tech team at Grunt is that you’re given a lot of responsibility in your part of the codebase. You can pick out a part you’re interested in and run with it.”

But it’s not just about independence—Grunt’s culture is built on collaboration. Everyone, from developers to product managers, is involved in discussions about how to improve the product. The team dynamic fosters growth—technical discussions are always encouraged, and everyone takes the time to help each other. You don’t have to ask for permission to do something, you have the trust and backing from the team to take initiative to become great at something you’re interested in.

Working closely with the product team also makes the work more engaging; developers aren’t just executing requests or handed tasks, but actively sparring on ideas from the early concept stage. This direct impact on customer value makes the job both rewarding and exciting.

A Culture That Makes Work Exciting

Beyond the technical aspects, the culture at Grunt is a major reason why Sigurd enjoys coming to work every day. The team is filled with talented people who are not only great at what they do but also excited about what they’re building.

“Everyone cares about the product, and we all contribute ideas to make it better. It’s something we’re all invested in."

This energy, combined with a flat structure and a shared willingness to help each other, creates an environment where learning happens naturally.

"Everyone is super available. People take the time to have good technical discussions, help each other out, and brainstorm solutions together.”

And while the work is challenging, the atmosphere is supportive and fun.

"We take our work seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. There’s a great balance of focus and humor—it makes even tough problems fun to solve."

Advice for Future Developers at Grunt

Reflecting on his journey so far, Sigurd emphasizes how interesting and complex the technical challenges at Grunt have been, and how much he has learned.

His advice for new developers considering joining?

"Just jump in—Grunt is a great place to work on some truly exciting technical challenges with great people.”