Stability and reliability are at the center of every trustworthy experience at NinjaOne. From product innovation to customer success and everywhere in between, our customers and teams count on our platform to be there, performing as expected, every single day.
One of the Ninjas making that possible is Mikael Oja, a Senior Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) on our Platform Engineering team. A runner, avid reader, and devoted notebook-and-pen enthusiast, Mikael is helping lay the groundwork for the future of NinjaOne engineering. We sat down with him to learn what drew him to the SRE team, what he’s learned about working across the organization, and how he keeps a healthy work/life balance while on call.
Let’s get to know Mikael!
Tell us about yourself. What do you do at NinjaOne?
I’m a Senior Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) at NinjaOne. The SRE team is responsible for all things reliability for our infrastructure. This includes driving observability, automating away toil, and acting as incident responders for our on-call rotation.
What originally attracted you to NinjaOne, and what’s kept you excited since you joined?
One of the biggest things that attracted me to NinjaOne was the SRE team itself. The leadership in the Platform Engineering organization has a clear roadmap, a drive to grow the SRE team, and has established some really solid SRE and DevOps foundations over the years. On the SRE team, we define our own destiny as we grow. There’s something really special about getting to be a part of that mission, and laying the groundwork for a bright future for all of NinjaOne engineering.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned at NinjaOne so far?
I think the most important thing I’ve learned at NinjaOne so far is that we’re all rowing in the same direction and playing for the same team. Working in SRE involves a lot of cross-functional teamwork. The conversations I’ve had across the organization have always been collaborative and productive. And I’ve found most Ninjas to be really welcoming and always willing to help when it comes to ensuring our organization’s goals are met.
What are you passionate about outside of your career?
Outside of NinjaOne, I’m passionate about running and reading. I have a monthly book club with a few of my friends from college. It helps us keep in touch and stay active in each other’s lives as we’ve moved to different parts of the country. With running, I find it to be really meditative. It clears my mind and helps me disconnect as I focus on my workout, my pace, and my breathing.
What’s a tech tool, habit, or shortcut you couldn’t live without?
I couldn’t live without a notebook at my desk. I find the tactile experience of writing my notes down by hand helps to make important notes and ideas really stick. I also find it less distracting than writing notes on my computer, and it helps me keep track of my to-dos during a busy workday.
What’s a team tradition or favorite memory you’d want to share?
The weekly Platform Engineering sync. Every Friday, the various teams in Platform Engineering gather together to pick each other’s brains, discuss upcoming projects or initiatives that concern our teams, and build camaraderie. It’s a great hour out of a busy week to touch base with one another and connect on a more personal level.
What’s the best advice you’d give someone considering a career in SRE or IT infrastructure?
Prioritizing your well-being and finding a good work/life balance is incredibly important. Especially while working remote and on-call, it is easy to let your work life bleed into your personal life. I’ve found what really has helped me succeed and keep myself sane is to always keep that balance in mind and have hobbies in your life that help you de-stress and connect with your friends and family.
That’s a wrap on this edition of Be the One! If you care about reliability, love automating the hard stuff, and want to build strong foundations alongside great people, we’d love to hear from you. Explore our open roles: www.ninjaone.com/careers
