Técnico Alumni is a platform that allows former students of Instituto Superior Técnico to reconnect, relive, and reminisce their time at Técnico through access to a network of contacts with other Alumni. It is within the context of this platform’s activities that this interview with Gonçalo Montalvão Marques, a former student of DEI (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), originally took place, and is now being republished in full.  

To learn more about Técnico Alumni and join the network, click HERE.

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Gonçalo Montalvão Marques completed his Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico in 2018, specializing in Software Engineering and Enterprise Information Systems. He attended his undergraduate studies at the Taguspark campus and the Master’s program at Alameda. He is currently a Software Engineer at Mercedes-Benz.io, focused on backend development. Since 2021, he has led the backend community of practice — bringing together more than 80 engineers across Lisbon, Braga, Berlin, and Stuttgart. He has also taken on responsibilities as coordinator for Open Source topics within the Mercedes-Benz group. Gonçalo regularly participates as a speaker at university fairs, tech events, and meetups, and has been involved in several editions of the Técnico Alumni Mentoring Program, where he mentors and guides various students. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, following the world of sports, building Legos, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

• Why Técnico?

I always associated Engineering with Técnico and recognized its reputation for excellence, both nationally and internationally. So, it ended up being a natural choice.

• Can you tell us a bit about your studies at Técnico?

I did my undergraduate degree at the Taguspark campus and my Master’s at Alameda. I got the best of both worlds — the more familiar and focused environment of Taguspark, which almost resembled the high school setting, with a very close relationship with the faculty and a smaller community. It’s a newer campus, with excellent facilities, from lecture halls to computer labs and the library. At Alameda, I found a different scale — more diversity, more programs, more people — a true university life experience.

• What was studying at Técnico like?

It was demanding, but extremely rewarding. Técnico taught me to be resilient, to stay focused, and to seek solutions with structured thinking. Of course, there were difficult moments, but also a strong sense of growth and achievement.

• What is your best memory from Técnico?

Without a doubt, the various Santa Sebenta parties, the barbecues, and the many editions of the Técnico festivals, each one with unique memories and moments. One of the most special was coming back as an alumnus and participating with a booth at the festival with my friends — a fun and symbolic experience.

• What’s your favorite place at Técnico and why?

It’s hard to pick just one, but maybe the Taguspark library. I always thought it was a great place to study — calm atmosphere, good conditions, and well-equipped. I even had friends from other universities who would choose that library to study during exams.

• How did you get into your current professional area?

It was entirely thanks to Técnico and SINFO. Mercedes-Benz.io was present at the 2018 edition of SINFO, with a booth staffed by Técnico alumni. We ended up chatting and immediately connected, which motivated me to apply to the company’s technical challenge. The process went well, and I managed to land a job during my final semester of the Master’s. Interestingly, some of my frontend colleagues also joined the company the same way — and they’re still there today, and we remain close.

• What’s a typical day like for you now?

My day is split between team meetings, development work, and moments for technical idea exchange. In my parallel role as head of the backend community of practice, the tasks vary widely, but the focus is on promoting knowledge-sharing initiatives and empowering engineers. I collaborate with several areas of the company, supporting processes such as recruitment, onboarding of new colleagues, annual evaluations, and defining and sharing technical best practices. I always try to maintain a balance between product-focused work and continuous development of the technical community I’m part of.

• What have been the major challenges in your career?

Computer Engineering is an extremely dynamic field and requires constant learning, attention to new technologies, and an open mind. The fast pace of change demands continuous adaptation. One of the biggest challenges today is understanding how Artificial Intelligence will shape our professional future — and preparing for it.

• What advice would you give to current students?

Make the most of your time at Técnico. Get involved in fairs, student groups, events, parties... in everything that sparks your curiosity. It’s a demanding phase, but also full of opportunities, learning, and lifelong memories. Try things outside your comfort zone — that’s often where the most valuable learning happens.

• Do you have a favorite quote or phrase?

I really like the Kaizen philosophy — the idea that small, consistent improvements lead to big changes over time, both in processes and in personal life. One of my favorite quotes is from Taiichi Ohno, father of the Toyota Production System:

“Knowledge is something you buy with money. Wisdom is something you acquire by doing it.”

(original image: Gonçalo Montalvão Marques)