Name: Bjørnar Lintvedt
Role/title: Senior Network Engineer
Where do you live (city): Stavanger
Originally from: Kongsberg

You originally come from Bluetree, which has just merged with Sicra. What do you think about the merger, and what expectations do you have for the transition from Bluetree to Sicra?

I see the merger very positively. Bluetree and Sicra complement each other well, both technologically and culturally. I’m looking forward to a larger professional environment, more exciting customers, and even better opportunities to work on complex and interesting projects.

What do you work with, and which technologies do you use in your job today?

I primarily work with networking, network security, and network automation. I’m educated in programming, but my first job was in networking, and that’s where I’ve stayed. At the same time, I’ve always tried to use my programming knowledge to automate network tasks and network operations.

The technologies I use in my job today are many, and much of it is within Cisco’s product portfolio, such as Secure Firewall, ISE, Catalyst Center, SD-WAN, ACI, and Splunk. In addition, there’s a good amount of Python and Ansible.

What does your typical workday look like?

No two days are exactly the same – and that’s exactly what I like. It can be anything from troubleshooting complex networks, designing new solutions, automating manual processes, to documentation and collaboration with customers and teams. A large part of the day is also about improving operations through structure, code, and good routines.

You write a lot and share learning with others through blogging. Can you say something about this?

I use blogging as a tool to learn better myself, and to share experiences with others. When you write, you’re forced to really understand things. The blogs are very practical and hands-on, and often deal with real problems I encounter at work or in studies. The goal is to show that advanced technology can be broken down and learned step by step.

Check out the Sicra blog >

In a blog series about CCIE Automation, you talk about building an application (Nautix) along the way. What are you trying to achieve with it, and what have been the biggest lessons so far?

Nautix is an attempt to gather everything I’m learning into one holistic platform – a real application, not just standalone scripts. The goal is to build something that reflects how modern network automation is actually used in production.
The biggest lesson so far is that architecture, structure, and documentation are at least as important as the code itself.

Which topic in the blog series has given you the biggest “aha moment” so far?

The biggest aha moment is how much impact small, targeted scripts can have. With a bit of code, you can automate tasks that would otherwise be both time-consuming and complex to do manually – while at the same time improving quality and traceability.

What is success for you in a professional context?

Success is when solutions work stably over time and actually make everyday work easier. Leaving behind something that is robust, documented, and improves the way we work. In addition, there are some personal aspects, such as a sense of mastery and simply having fun and being social with good colleagues.

What motivates you in your workday? What do you find most rewarding to work on?

I’m motivated by learning new things, solving complex problems, and seeing concrete improvements in systems and processes. What’s most rewarding is when technology goes from being complicated to becoming elegant and automated.

What are you most looking forward to in the time ahead?

I’m looking forward to seeing how the road ahead with Sicra develops. I have strong faith in the merger and in the potential we have to build something even better together.

In addition, I’m looking forward to continuing my professional development, especially within automation and modern network solutions, and applying this in real customer projects.

Which app or tool (can be anything) do you use the most in your daily life, and why?

If I set aside the web browser, email, and communication platforms, it’s currently VS Code and Visio. VS Code for programming and automation. Visio to visualize and brainstorm ideas, and of course for documentation.

Do you have a favorite quote?

I’ve never really had a favorite quote, but after a bit of research I liked: “You don’t really understand something until you can build it.”

Do you have a favorite podcast or a book you’d like to recommend?

I like the comedy podcast Enkel Servering, and I grew up with Radioresepsjonen (now Papaya). So it’s mostly comedy when it comes to podcasts.

What do you like to spend time on when you’re not working?

I have two small children aged 0 and 2, so I naturally like to spend time with my family. Other than that, it’s music, football, and hiking in the mountains.

What do you prefer?

Working from home or the office? The office

Biometrics or code? Biometrics

Face ID or Touch ID? Face ID

Vipps or cash? Vipps

Gaming or TV? Gaming

Book or podcast? Podcast in everyday life, book on vacation

Vacation in Norway or abroad? Very difficult, but I go for traveling abroad