Maide Oğul Bektaş has gone from strength to strength as a senior software engineer at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Her journey into development began with a fascination for technology’s impact on the world and has taken her all the way from Turkey to Czechia in pursuit of the latest developments. Oracle’s cloud technology lured her into her next adventure, joining the company as a cloud newcomer three years ago with a supportive team by her side.
We caught up with Maide to learn more about her career path so far, what the future holds, and what she loves most about life at Oracle.
Thanks for chatting with us today, Maide. Can you tell us how you got into software development and what attracted you to Oracle?
I’ve always been fascinated by how technology shapes the world around us. We’re living in an age where innovation moves so fast, and it’s exciting to know that, even though my role may be a small part of the big picture, I’m contributing to it. After college, I got my start as an Android developer at a startup in Istanbul. I was lucky to have amazing mentors who made me love what I do instead of feeling overwhelmed.
Then, I moved to Prague and became a mainframe developer, diving into z/OS, COBOL, and Assembler—completely different from what I’m doing now in cloud. It was a challenge, but it taught me a lot. One day, a recruiter from Oracle reached out about a role at OCI. I wasn’t job hunting, but the idea of working in cloud tech at Oracle was way too exciting to pass up. Fast forward three years, and I’m still here, loving the journey!
That was a stroke of luck. Tell us more about your time at Oracle—what was it like starting out here, and how has it affected your career?
When I first joined OCI, I had zero cloud experience—and I’ll admit, it was tough. But I was lucky to have a supportive team which made the transition easier. Over time, I’ve not only grown as a developer, I’ve also learned a lot about cloud infrastructure, networking, and security—things I never thought I’d dive into. The opportunity to broaden my skill set has been a game changer for my career path.
The opportunity to grow skills quickly with OCI is something that employees mention a lot. What else excites you most about working here?
For me, it’s the projects. They’re never boring—always interesting, challenging, and pushing me to grow. And the tech stack is on point: Java, Micronaut Framework, Kubernetes, Terraform, NoSQL databases… We get to work with all the latest, cutting-edge tools. It’s an environment that really keeps me excited about what’s coming next.
The thing about an effective stack is that it allows developers to really get stuck in and implement change. What kind of impact are you and your team having?
That’s true. I’ve had the chance to work on three different teams here at OCI, each with its own set of challenges and rewards. In OCI Multicloud, we built a service that makes it easier for customers to move from AWS to OCI. Then, in EU Sovereign Cloud, I worked on automation projects that simplified life for ops engineers working with disconnected realms. Now, in OCI Media, we’re helping movie studios with cloud solutions that make their workflows smoother.
The common thread across all these projects is the problem-solving. Each project presented unique challenges—improving cloud migrations, automating workflows, or optimizing media workloads—but the sense of accomplishment in solving problems and seeing results makes it all worth it.
We always hear a lot about the positive culture that makes these kinds of projects possible at OCI. What do you like about it?
What I really love about the culture at OCI is how collaborative and inclusive it is. There’s always room to learn and grow, and the team is super supportive. Plus, there’s a huge emphasis on innovation, and everyone is encouraged to bring new ideas to the table. It’s a very dynamic place to work—there’s always something fresh.
What role does work-life balance play in all of that?
Balancing work and life isn’t always easy, but sticking to a routine helps a lot. I start my day with focused work time, blocking out distractions. This helps me stay productive and when the day ends, I make sure to switch off and recharge!
You’ve listed a lot of positives already, but what do you think are the main reasons people should join OCI?
I’d encourage anyone in tech to join my team because it’s a place where innovation flourishes, and everyone’s encouraged to bring their ideas to the table. We’re working on exciting, impactful projects, and there’s always room to grow—both technically and professionally. It’s the kind of environment where you can make a difference while advancing your career.
Set yourself up for a thriving career at the forefront of cloud innovation like Maide. Explore our latest career opportunities in the Czech Republic now and join the Oracle Talent Network for advice, insights, and more.