Tech gonzo blog post — My first 3 months at Biotz

When Asier asked me to write about my first three months on the job, I wasn’t sure where to begin, but I knew I was going to find a way to work in the fact that from the moment I met everyone at Biotz, I knew that this was going to be a time nexus — a focal point in my life.

Starting any new job can be overwhelming, especially after an 8 month hiatus, and this one was no exception. Working remotely added its own challenges, but I appreciated the flexibility: being able to tailor my work environment to suit my needs is a huge plus, and every one at Biotz is all about it. There are downsides to working remotely, of course, but we balance out the isolation and missing spontaneity with weekly Friday learning sessions and our team book club provided great opportunities to connect, share knowledge, and even have a bit of fun.
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Harmony and Eurofragance — the projects I’ve been working on —have plenty of moving parts. The frontend relies on re-frame and reagent, while the backend is shared with Symphony, another project for Eurofragance. Working on a full-stack feature meant implementing frontend functionality in re-frame and making changes to the shared backend. Re-frame, with its functional approach to state management, has been a learning curve. It’s elegant once you get the hang of it, but it demands careful thought about how data flows through the application.

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Visiting the office in the Basque Country was a highlight — it gave me a sense of the team’s culture. They have been a major source of inspiration. Everyone is highly skilled and knowledgeable, especially with Clojure. Watching how they approach problems has been one of the best learning experiences. Their ability to explain ideas and break down challenges has made a huge difference for me.
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As time moved on, I felt more at home. I started to feel more comfortable contributing, and my understanding of the projects and tools improved significantly. With each task, I gained confidence in navigating the codebase and solving problems. My remote setup felt natural, and collaboration with the team became smoother. I started pairing more often on tasks, which was incredibly helpful for learning and improving my approach. I also started to appreciate the balance in our work culture. The Friday learning sessions and book club aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re opportunities to grow and think more deeply about our profession.

The past three months have been rewarding. I’ve learned a lot about Clojure and full-stack development. Harmony and Eurofragance still present challenges, but I now approach them with more confidence and a clearer perspective. More importantly, I have the chance to work with a supportive team that will help me grow.

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