Meet DeepL: How I grew into a Senior Engineering role

In the fast-paced world of tech, career growth often comes through a mix of curiosity, initiative, and a strong support system. For Emiliia Kibenko, that journey unfolded naturally at DeepL—starting with meaningful challenges, collaborative problem-solving, and a steady build-up of responsibilities that led to her recent promotion to Senior Software Engineer.

In this conversation, we explore what Emiliia’s path at DeepL looked like, what has helped her grow, and what she would share with those looking to follow a similar path.

Emiliia, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your role at DeepL?

Hi! I’m Emiliia, a Senior Software Engineer working on backend services at DeepL.

What has your journey at DeepL looked like so far?

I joined DeepL one year ago as a Software Engineer, and it already feels like a small lifetime. After onboarding, I worked across two different services within the same team. More recently, I’ve transitioned into a new team, which is an exciting next step.

That variety of experience and responsibility helped me grow quickly and organically. In April of this year, I was promoted to Senior Software Engineer.

What helped you grow into your current role?

For me, it’s really been a combination of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning. DeepL offers endless opportunities to grow, with new challenges pushing you forward every day. 

At the same time, whenever you need support, your colleagues are always ready to share their knowledge and experience. That balance between challenge and support has made a big difference to my development.

Was there a moment when you realized you were ready for the next step?

It wasn’t a single moment of realization, but rather a gradual process. Day by day, I found myself picking up increasingly complex tasks, many of which overlapped with other teams.

Eventually, I looked back and realized I was contributing to larger projects, driving progress at a broader scale, and making decisions that impacted more than just my immediate scope.

What excites you most about your work now?

Definitely the fact that I get to be both a developer and a user of the product we’re building. There’s something uniquely satisfying about interacting with a feature that you, or a colleague, actually developed.

On top of that, DeepL strikes a really nice balance between speed and quality. There is this steady momentum that drives you forward, while still allowing space for thoughtful, long-term solutions.

How would you describe DeepL’s approach to career growth?

When I joined DeepL, the growth mindset was one of the first things I heard about, and it really is embedded in the culture.

The company encourages initiative, open feedback, and learning from mistakes. It provides a safe space to take risks, while also making sure that hard work and impact are recognized.

It’s a very supportive environment for anyone who’s eager to grow.

What advice would you give to someone joining DeepL who wants to grow their career?

Stay curious and open to collaboration. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, lots of them! And take every opportunity to learn from your colleagues.

DeepL is full of incredibly talented people. Being engaged and curious here will help you grow faster than you think.

This story beautifully captures how growth can happen in small, steady moments by staying curious, taking on new challenges, and learning alongside others. Emiliia’s journey is a reflection of what’s possible when you’re trusted, supported, and encouraged to take the next step.

At DeepL, we believe every career path is unique and that, with the right environment, growth becomes not just possible, but inevitable. If Emiliia’s story resonates with you and you’re thinking about what’s next in your own journey, we invite you to explore the opportunities waiting for you at DeepL.

Visit our Careers page to learn more, and connect with us on LinkedIn to discover the people and stories behind DeepL.