AN INTERVIEW WITH
Felin Amitha Castelino
Software Engineer II, joined NCR in 2019
AN INTERVIEW WITH
Felin Amitha Castelino
Software Engineer II, joined NCR in 2019
Tell us a little about your career journey. What is your role at NCR and what led you here?
I come from a small village called Pilar in Udupi, India. I never thought I would one day be a software developer. My parents supported and motivated me through every step of my journey, even when I considered dropping the idea of becoming an engineer.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering in computer science, I started my career as a junior software developer in a start-up company, where I worked for almost two years. One day, a recruiter from Cardtronics reached out to me about an open position for a software developer role. I was excited about this new opportunity, so I went through the recruitment and hiring process and started my journey with Cardtronics in 2019. Initially, I worked mainly on the settlement systems.
In 2021 Cardtronics announced that it would be acquired by NCR, prompting concern about the job and new work culture. I am happy to say the transition went very smoothly.
Today, I’m very excited about the opportunities that resulted from the combination of Cardtronics and NCR.
“I’m very excited about the opportunities that resulted from the combination of Cardtronics and NCR.”
What advice would you give young professionals as they are in early stages of their career?
As the saying goes, if you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know how to get there? I have some recommendations! Make a list of professional objectives for yourself. In your current position, look for methods to strengthen abilities that are relevant to your long-term ambitions. Set specific objectives to help you achieve your goals. Lastly, identify favorite components of your career and concentrate on them during free time; then build skills connected to those jobs because the happier you are at work, the greater your chances of advancement.
What is one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had while working at NCR?
The Fun Thursdays that we celebrate every month are memorable. We get a chance to communicate and collaborate with each other, and with leaders across the company. The preparations that we make together helps in understanding our colleague better.
Another memorable experience was the Hackathon event. We were a team of six people who worked for two days to come up with something innovative and then had a chance to review other participants’ inventive ideas. It was a great experience for me to be a part of this event.
What new skills are you looking forward to learning this year (to help NCR shift perception)?
I try to keep current with new technologies that I can incorporate into my work to improve the processes at NCR. This year, I’m excited to learn more about cloud computing.
“I try to keep current with new technologies that I can incorporate into my work to improve the processes at NCR.”
When you’re not working, what do you do if your free time?
Outside of work, I like exploring new places with my friends and family, watching movies, playing sports and cooking new recipes. I also enjoy spending time with my husband and visiting my parents on the weekends.
How are you helping NCR to transform, connect and run the business in your role?
I currently work with critical systems such as settlement and back-office applications. Our team ensures the transactions are reconciled and settled against all parties, delivering the financial statements and reports to our clients within the service level agreement (SLA).