Our Engineering Culture
At Katalyst, we're passionate about creating bespoke applications that solve real-world problems. Our engineering culture is the backbone of our success, fostering an environment where innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning are at the forefront. Our team thrives on tackling complex challenges and making a social impact through our work.
Our Engineering Philosophy
We believe that engineering is more than just writing code—it's about using our expertise to make things that matter. We take pride in taking on challenging briefs and delivering practical solutions to the real-world problems that our clients experience. We value mastery—learning deeply, contributing back to open source, and championing early adoption to keep our tools sharp and our projects up to date.
Core Technologies and Practices
Full-Stack Development
Our full-stack engineering culture means that our team members are versatile, working across both frontend and backend technologies. We utilise the Hotwire stimulus framework and Sass for frontend development, while our backend is powered by Ruby on Rails. Additionally, our DevOps practices are grounded in engineering practices—code review, commit history, semantic versioning—ensuring robust and scalable deployments using Terraform and AWS ECS.
Best Practices
We adhere to industry best practices to maintain the highest standards of quality and efficiency in our work:
- Pair Programming: Encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, skills development, and immediate code review.
- Test-Driven Development (TDD): Ensures code is testable and tests are written, improves reliability for clients, and ensures we can upgrade with confidence.
- DevOps Culture: We work as a single team from planning through to BAU, with all team members encouraged to contribute to automation and process improvements.
- Trunk-Based Development: Simplifies planning and integration and lets our team focus on delivering value.
Innovation and Exploration
Current Focus Areas
To stay ahead in the ever-evolving tech landscape, we continuously improve our processes and technologies. Our current focus areas include:
- Developing Internal Frameworks: Enhancing our ability to support rapid prototyping, enabling us to quickly bring new ideas to life.
- Improving DevOps Stack: Refining our DevOps practices to better serve clients with regulatory requirements, such as those in the banking or government sectors.
Exploration Areas
We also explore cutting-edge technologies to push the boundaries of what's possible:
- Turbo Native: Investigating ways to deliver compelling native app experiences.
- Generative AI: Leveraging AI to improve user experiences and break down usability barriers.
Work Environment
Work-Life Balance and Flexibility
We understand the importance of work-life balance and strive to create an environment where our team can thrive both professionally and personally. We don’t expect our employees to work outside of regular hours unless there's a specific reason, and in those cases, we provide paid overtime. Flexibility is key, with most of our team working from home three or more days per week. For those who prefer a change of scenery, we have a collaborative workspace near the city.
Support for Learning and Development
Continuous learning is a cornerstone of our culture. We allocate 10% of our work week to internal team-directed investment projects, allowing our engineers to explore new ideas, improve their skills, and contribute to the company's growth. We also support attendance at conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities.
Career Growth and Development
Skill Development and Promotion Track Record
We have a strong track record of developing our team’s skills, which often leads to promotions. Most of our team members are currently at senior levels, but we also focus on hiring and upskilling juniors and intermediates. This ensures a balanced team with diverse experiences and perspectives.
Mentoring and Peer Feedback
Mentoring and peer feedback are integral to our culture. New team members are paired with experienced mentors who guide them through their initial projects and help them grow within the company. Regular peer reviews and feedback sessions foster a culture of continuous improvement and mutual support.
