When Finn joined PHARMASEAL, it wasn’t the result of a recruiter’s call or a job board listing, it was the continuation of a friendship and a shared vision. “I became friends with Dal during our time learning to program at the WeGotCoders bootcamp,” he explains. “Back then, he told me about his plans for PHARMASEAL and the purpose behind CTMS technology. That stuck with me.”

Five years and one well-timed opportunity later, Finn left his previous role and officially joined the team.

What he discovered was a work environment unlike any he’d encountered before. “It sounds cliché,” he admits, “but PHARMASEAL genuinely felt like a group of friends or family. The atmosphere was completely different from my previous jobs, it was welcoming, open, and supportive.”

That openness has had a transformative effect on how he views his role as a software engineer. “Before, I saw myself as just a coder - take the requirements and implement them. But here, because of the small team and flat hierarchy, I realized my role could be much broader.” Rather than waiting for direction, he now takes an active role in shaping business requirements and designing solutions. “Sometimes I come up with ideas a product manager might not have thought of. That’s incredibly rewarding.”

One of his proudest contributions is an example of that mindset: the Single File Storage solution for the eTMF feature. “It’s a method of storing files so they can be shared flexibly across the app,” he explains. “That seamless connection between modules makes the user experience much more intuitive.”

One of his most memorable experiences, however, didn’t involve code at all, it came from a conversation. Early on, he raised the bar for code reviews, a move that initially stirred some tension. “I was a lot more thorough than the other developers,” he admits. “I’d reject changes I thought were unnecessary or poorly thought out, and some people weren’t thrilled about that at first.” But over time, his approach proved its value. “After a couple of years, another colleague came to me and said she was so glad I’d joined the company. She told me my reviews had helped her become a better developer and that she wanted to start reviewing in a similar way. That meant a lot to me.”

It’s moments like these that highlight PHARMASEAL’s culture of growth and respect. “My favorite part of working here is that anyone, regardless of experience or title, is encouraged to contribute, challenge ideas, and be part of the conversation. It’s open, flexible, and friendly. That’s not just a tagline - it’s our reality.”

That culture extends to flexibility, too. Whether adjusting hours, working from home, or taking time off for personal matters, he’s always felt supported. “There’s a real understanding here that life happens. No hoops to jump through, just trust.”

Since joining, he’s also honed one skill in particular: communication. Whether translating complex technical ideas for non-technical teammates, mentoring junior developers, or coordinating across departments, he’s developed a fluency in cross-functional collaboration that goes beyond code.

His advice to others considering a role in clinical trial technology? “Spend time thinking about the big picture. CTMS software is huge and complex and you need to constantly revisit the overall architecture to make sure everything stays cohesive.”

Before companies adopt a CTMS, they often rely on spreadsheets and sometimes expect their software to look and act the same. But Finn believes the real opportunity lies in rethinking that entirely. “But we need to move beyond just storing rows of data and start creating user-friendly, intuitive experiences that actually reduce time spent filling out forms and scrolling through tables” he explains.

Looking back at our conversation with Finn, what stands out most about PHARMASEAL is that great ideas aren’t reserved for job titles. They grow out of trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to shaping a better future for clinical research. It’s also a place where growth happens in unexpected ways. “Management always supports my development. I’m proactive, and I’ve almost never been turned down when I’ve asked for something that will help me grow professionally.”