Employee Spotlight: Front-end Tech Lead Edvinas Beniušis

Welcome back to another edition of Employee Spotlight, where we interview the talented professionals who make Atlas VPN a success. Today, we are pleased to present  Edvinas Beniušis, Atlas VPN's Front-end Tech Lead. Edvinas has been here for several years and has played a critical role in developing our products.

We discussed Edvinas' journey to becoming a Front-end Tech Lead, his work at Atlas VPN, and a little about his life outside of work. Let's get started!

Can you tell us about your background and how you became a Front-end Tech Lead at Atlas VPN?

Before joining the Atlas VPN team, I used to work at one of the largest banks in Lithuania. However, after spending 3 years in a corporation, I lacked new challenges and passion. Atlas VPN allowed me to start everything from scratch. As the first web developer, I could not only build, maintain, and oversee various web-based projects but also handpick and build my team. Through this experience, I gained valuable insights and enhanced my developer and people manager skills.

What are the key responsibilities of your role, and what does a typical day look like for you?

My role involves several important responsibilities that require me to utilize unwavering focus and dedication. This includes attending multiple meetings, troubleshooting various problems, conducting thorough MR reviews, fostering a positive and productive work culture, and constantly exploring ways to improve our work processes. Despite the challenges, I take great pride in my work and strive to fulfill my responsibilities to the best of my abilities while remaining humble and open to learning from others.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role, and how do you overcome them?

People, I guess. I wouldn’t say I struggle to work with people, and actually, sometimes, I think this is the only thing I'm doing well. Jokes aside, since my role involves leading a team, I strive to create a pleasant and motivating atmosphere for my colleagues. This includes maintaining effective communication with other teams and departments while juggling multiple tasks, and sometimes that might get quite challenging. Despite that, I believe a supportive and pleasant work environment is crucial to achieving our collective goals.

What are some of the most exciting projects that you've worked on during your time at Atlas VPN?

If I had to distinguish one, I believe it would be the Page builder. In other words, a tool that allows people without technical knowledge to build various pages easily and efficiently without direct web team input. This project was highly beneficial to our team, as it helped us reduce and stabilize our workload, so now my team can focus on more complex and advanced issues.

What do you find the most enjoyable about working at Atlas VPN?

One aspect that I find truly rewarding about working at Atlas VPN is the level of trust and autonomy given to me by the company. I'm grateful for the flexibility and freedom to make decisions that benefit my work and my team. This allows me to work more effectively and efficiently while fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture. However, above all else, what I value the most about working at Atlas VPN is the incredible team. I appreciate their dedication, hard work, and the atmosphere they create.

What advice would you give someone just starting in front-end development?

Ensure you have a strong desire and commitment to follow through with it or don’t start it in the first place.

What's one thing on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish in the next few years?

From the professional side, I wish to acquire solid knowledge about web3 technology and AI incorporation in web technology. Regarding my personal goals, I plan to travel around Indonesia and perhaps even have a chance to live there for a while.

What hobbies or interests do you have outside of work?

I’m interested in everything related to board sports: snowboarding, surfing, or kitesurfing — you name it. Besides that, solo travels are my new passion.

What would you do in life if you weren't a front-end developer?

Probably, I would be a car mechanic or a truck driver. I find these jobs very romantic, as driving is one of my biggest passions.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

There's only one correct answer to this question. It's teleportation. You can overcome all other superpowers with this ability.