Datahouse Diaries: Heitor Borba

Some developers start with a keyboard in hand. Some begin with blueprints.

Meet Heitor, a Brazilian-born civil engineer turned software developer, who traded concrete structures for clean architecture and set off for Portugal in early 2025 to build something new in his career, his code, and his life.

New Country, New Codebase

“After four years at the same company in Brazil, I was ready for something different. I wanted a challenge.”

That challenge came with a passport stamp. Moving from Brazil to Portugal, Heitor was looking for more than just a job—he wanted a new environment, new technologies, and the chance to lead. At Datahouse, he found all three.

“What attracted me was the mix: an international team, modern tech, and meaningful problems to solve. It felt like the right next step.”

Remote but Never Distant

What surprised Heitor most wasn’t the tech stack. It was the tight-knit team spirit, even when working across borders.

A Success Worth Celebrating

In just five months, Heitor and his team managed to completely refactor the core of their Sustainability application. This is a win that significantly boosted performance and unblocked large-scale usage.

“It was a big one. We removed the bottlenecks that were holding it back and made it future-ready.”

From Motorcycles to Miradouros

When he’s not debugging, Heitor’s off exploring: either by motorcycle or by foot.

“I love to ride to random places I find on Google Maps. Or experiment with new recipes.”

Vacations? Not the lazy kind.

“I probably walked over 100km in Switzerland last month. I love to just walk, get lost, and stumble onto cool places.”

Career Pivots and Big Dreams

Heitor’s path to tech wasn’t linear.

“I have a degree in Civil Engineering. But by the time I graduated, I knew it wasn’t for me. So I taught myself to code and jumped in head first.”

Since then, he hasn’t looked back.

“One thing I love about solving technical challenges is that there’s always a new way to improve how we do things. The learning never really stops.”

On Lisbon, Food, and the Art of the Sunset

Ask him what makes Lisbon special, and you’ll get a two-part answer: food and sunsets.

“Portugal’s food scene is incredible. Seafood here is on another level—arroz de mariscos, cod, roasted fish… it’s paradise.”

For visitors from Zurich?

“Dinner with a view. The city’s rooftops and miradouros offer some of the best sunsets you’ll ever see.”

The Power of a Simple Conversation

One lesson Heitor didn’t expect to learn so quickly at Datahouse?

“Never underestimate how helpful it is to just talk to someone. Even if they’re not on your project, they might have dealt with something similar before. And here, people are always happy to help.”That said, he’s getting the itch to explore more in the future.

Final Thought: Build Boldly, Ask Often

Heitor’s story is a reminder that great careers aren’t always planned—sometimes, they’re chosen. With curiosity, courage, and the right people around you, every step becomes a building block for something bigger.

Whether he’s restructuring code or exploring cobblestone streets, Heitor brings the same mindset: start curious, stay open, and don’t be afraid to go off the map.

Ready to join us? Explore our opportunities and become part of a team that values growth, culture, and community.