Can you describe your role as a Senior Software Architect?
As a Senior Software Architect, my role is to connect technology with purpose. I design solutions that are secure, scalable, and aligned with both business goals and regulatory needs. A big part of my work involves integrating AI capabilities into our products and guiding teams through the complexities of cloud, data, and security.
I also act as a bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders. That means turning big ideas into practical designs, helping teams build with confidence, and making sure what we deliver is not just functional, but sustainable.
How has AI changed the way you work?
AI has changed both the way I design systems and the way I approach my daily work. From an architecture perspective, it has opened up new ways to build intelligent features directly into products, from smart assistants to automated reasoning tools.
On a personal level, AI has become part of my creative process. I use it to explore design options, test ideas, and speed up repetitive tasks like documentation. It allows me to focus more on strategy and innovation and less on routine work.
Most importantly, it has shifted the mindset. Instead of just asking how we can build something, I now also ask how we can make it learn and adapt over time.
What challenges do you encounter with AI in your work?
In my work, the biggest challenge is finding the balance between innovation and responsibility. In banking, every AI initiative starts with one question: how do we make this secure and compliant from day one? I spend a lot of time designing systems that protect data, respect privacy, and still allow us to move fast enough to innovate.
Another challenge comes from understanding how AI makes its decisions. It is not enough for a model to provide the right output; I need to be confident about the reasoning behind it. That is especially important when building Retrieval-Augmented Generation systems or integrating LLMs (Large Language Models) into enterprise products, where every answer can have real business impact.
And then there is the challenge of scaling AI in production. It is one thing to build a working prototype, and another to make it stable, reliable, and ready for thousands of users. This is where architecture really matters.
These moments are where I feel most engaged, because they remind me that AI is not just about building smarter systems. It is about building systems people can trust.
Do you have a memorable anecdote to share about AI?
One moment that stands out happened during a late testing session with a couple of teammates. We were checking how the AI assistant handled complex queries and one of us asked a question that usually needed several systems to answer. Within seconds, it produced the exact response, clear and accurate.
We looked at each other, a bit surprised, then smiled. It felt like a quiet victory. That moment showed how months of design, tuning and data work had turned into something real and useful. It reminded me how powerful it is when technology finally clicks and starts solving problems the way you imagined.
Of all the projects you’ve worked on, which has fascinated you the most?
I am part of the team building a core banking platform where we are advancing AI-powered features within a secure architecture. My focus is on bringing intelligence into the product through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and LLM integrations, so clients can gain faster, smarter insights from their data. The most fascinating part has been building a RAG system from the ground up. It brought together everything I enjoy about architecture: solving complex problems, designing data pipelines, and shaping how information flows across systems.
What made it truly special was seeing how it transformed the way people accessed knowledge: instead of spending hours searching through documents, they could simply ask a question and get a trusted, contextual answer. Watching that shift happen in real time reminded me why I love this field.
Where does your passion for technology come from?
Well, it all started when I was 13 with a Commodore 64. That old machine connected to the TV with a cassette player: you had to load the programs onto it. I began building my own applications, then taught myself Turbo Pascal, C++, and Assembly. Back then, there was no internet in Turkey, so I’d spend hours at the library looking for programming books.
For me, it was pure fun: I even developed a small game. Later, when I was around 16, I discovered the internet and started creating websites for local factories, even selling email systems and guestbooks. That’s when I realized I could turn my passion into a career.
So, studying computer science at the University of Helsinki felt like a natural step. It wasn’t just about education, it was about following something I’d been passionate about since I was a teenager.
Do you still have time for side projects alongside your career?
Sure! Beyond my daily work, I enjoy sharing knowledge through writing, mentoring and contributing to the community. Whether it is about Generative AI, cloud architecture or cybersecurity, I like helping others see how these technologies come together to create real value.
Do you have examples of how you’ve helped the community outside of work?
I’m one of the contributors to Microsoft’s open-source .NET platform, and I also keep several public repositories on GitHub. In my spare time, I’ve developed AI projects like speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and NLP analysis systems, which I share with the community. I’ve built a solid following there, and I also publish articles on Medium from time to time.
For me, it’s a way to give back to the community that has given me so much. Most software today is built on open source, so sharing my work on GitHub or Medium feels like contributing to that ecosystem. It also helps me grow: I get honest feedback, sometimes brutal, but it makes me better. And of course, it boosts my visibility: in interviews, I can just point to my GitHub and it often speaks louder than a résumé.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in your career?
The biggest lesson I have learned is that architecture is as much about people as it is about technology. A great design means nothing if it is not understood, trusted and supported by the people who use it and build it.
Listening carefully, communicating clearly and designing with empathy are just as important as mastering the latest tools or frameworks. And in a world that changes as fast as ours, staying curious and adaptable is what keeps everything moving forward.
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