From Construction Engineering to Software Development

Martijn started his career in the construction industry, spent his free time programming, and even built and sold his own Revit plugin. What began as a hobby eventually turned into a career. Today, he has been working for almost five years as a Senior Software Engineer in BIMcollab’s Prism team.

For Martijn, the job is about more than just building software. It is about solving complex technical puzzles, collaborating with smart colleagues, and continuously learning new things.

It actually started as a hobby

My background is in construction engineering. After graduating, I worked in real estate development, focusing on feasibility studies, business cases, and project development. It was interesting work, but I quickly realised that my interests were heading in a different direction. What always attracted me was the technical side of BIM. And, if I'm honest, software development as well.

Outside of work, I spent a lot of time programming. Not because I had to, but because I genuinely enjoyed it. At one point, I even built a plugin for Revit and sold it for several years before similar functionality became part of other software solutions.That was when I started asking myself: why not turn my hobby into my profession?

Applying without a software degree

Once that idea was in my head, I immediately knew where I wanted to apply. I already knew KUBUS from the construction industry. The company I worked for attended training courses through KUBUS, so I had a good impression of the organisation.

In the end, I simply picked up the phone. My story was straightforward: I did not have a software degree, but I did have a construction background and I knew how to code. Fortunately, they saw the potential. That is how I started as a Junior Software Engineer in the Prism team.

A technical puzzle that is never finished

I work in the Prism team, the team behind BIMcollab Zoom and the BCF Managers. What I enjoy most is that the software is far more complex than it appears on the surface. We work on support for new model types, cloud integrations, performance challenges, and features that users rely on every day. Most projects start with a technical problem that needs solving.

How do you ensure different systems work together seamlessly?

How do you make large models perform faster?

How do you introduce new functionality without disrupting existing workflows?

Those are the kinds of questions that make the work interesting. As a developer, you're essentially solving puzzles all the time.

From junior to senior

Over the years, I have grown from junior to senior developer. For me, that growth is not only about technical knowledge. You become more involved in design decisions, make architectural choices, and collaborate more closely with other teams.

I also spent some time taking on additional responsibilities within the team structure. In the end, I discovered that certain aspects suited me better than others. That is something I appreciate about BIMcollab: you get the opportunity to try things and discover where your strengths and interests really lie.

Smart people, without complicated hierarchy

What might be even more important to me than the technology is the culture. When I first applied, I received a fairly extensive employee handbook. My first thought was honestly: am I about to join a very formal organisation?

The reality turned out to be completely different. The atmosphere is informal and approachable. Whether someone is a developer, manager, or director, you can simply reach out, send a message, or discuss an idea. I have never felt that hierarchy gets in the way. That makes collaboration much easier.

Learning never stops

One thing I really value is the opportunity to keep developing yourself. We attend training courses, visit conferences, and can request books or education that help us grow in our field. I never went back to complete a formal software degree after joining BIMcollab. Most of what I learned came from doing the work itself. But that combination of hands-on experience and development opportunities has allowed me to grow throughout my career.

When will you feel at home here?

I think BIMcollab is particularly interesting for people who enjoy intellectual challenges. People who are not simply looking for a job, but for technical problems to solve. You need to be curious. You need to enjoy learning. And you need to like collaborating with other engineers on software that is used daily by professionals around the world. If that sounds like you, this is a great place to be.