About

HELLO!

I am Marek Setnicka

About

I have been a software professional for almost two decades.

I have worked for small companies of less than 10 employees to international organisations employing thousands of people across the world, for the UK government, local government, charities, and commercial organisations.

Where most people lose their patience, I get driven by my tenacity and enthusiasm to make things happen.

I am a strong believer in building upon other people’s experience. I also believe that it is important to pay attention to detail. In the software world in particular, the devil really is in the detail.

 

In my heart, what matters to me is getting things right. As a designer and developer, I can make sure that the technical details are right. As an architect, I can make sure that the right solution is chosen for the given problem.

 

I am a father, a husband, a friend, a keen beekeeper and a paraglider pilot. I try to live my life to the best of my abilities to make the most of it.

 

My long-term favourite quote is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an educator and a poet:

It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong.

20
Years of focused IT experience
40
Software technologies (in excess of)
16
Computer languages

Skills

Programming in multiple languages90%
HTML / CSS70%
Software Solution Design and Architecture90%

I have worked on a large variety of projects that required different skills of me. Some technologies live longer than others. Sometimes I move to a different area. Therefore certain skills are fresher and stored deeper than others.

Experience

Design and Architecture

On some projects, I acted solely in a position of an Architect – Solutions or Information. I have been formally an architect since 2008 when I worked for Capgemini for HMRC on projects concerning Child Benefit and Child Trust Fund. Since then, I have been worked as an Architect for a large housing association – Anchor – where I was responsible for all internally-developed software solutions. In 2016, I was contracted to help kick-start Enterprise Information Management in Leeds City Council.

On a different level, I keep enjoying getting my hands dirty – actually making software using the many tools I have collected over the years that I spent working in the IT trade.

Software solutions development

Working as an Architect for a number of years hasn’t diminished the passion and sense of achievement that I experience when I actually create software solutions – across all phases, from gathering requirements and building an understanding of the customer’s needs, through design, development and testing, to seeing that the customer is happy with the resulting solution.

I will continue with this as long as I enjoy learning new things, applying my skills, and working with people who appreciate what I have to offer.

Testimonials

Our company has had a working relationship with Marek since 2003 and for all that time, Marek has been delivering high quality services. Answers to our questions are quick and reliable. Marek has also delivered a number of applications, and we're very happy with their development and consequent support.- Pavel Jenc, Schenker, a logistical branch of Deutsche Bahn, a multi-billion-Euro company
Marek and Adam at Rising Kite worked with Sanderson on a software development project to automate integration between Sanderson's award-winning retail system Elucid and eBay and Amazon sales channels, using .NET, MS SQL Angular.JS and node.js technologies. Marek and Adam made sure that they understood the goals of the project as well as the ecosystem in which the project ran, and worked closely with the Sanderson team on the project in a professional and friendly way.- Jason Ayres, Sanderson, supplier of software solutions to multi-channel retail and manufacturing businesses
I worked with Marek for a number of years and can thoroughly recommend him. He is very professional in his approach to the work he does and very committed to getting it right.- Michael Stewart, Anchor, largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people
Marek is a highly-skilled, creative, and knowledgeable IT consultant. He has the kind of inquisitive mind that grasps IT issues quickly, yet -- amazingly -- he can explain procedures and solutions in a way that non-IT people can understand. In addition, he responds to questions quickly; has incredible patience; deep integrity; and is willing to keep working to find solutions ('Gosh, I don't know' is not an answer, for him). I highly recommend Marek Setnicka.- Mary Matz, an editor
... 'My greatest thanks however goes to Marek Setnicka, who has worked so incredibly hard with me, on almost a daily basis, helping to build the site and ensure it is fully operational on both the front end and back end.' - words from Rebecca's blog- Rebecca Evans, director of Local Horse Help, Ltd.