Meet the Asteroidians: Dean Clatworthy, Senior Software Engineer, in tech since 2007

Culture

Oct 1

Asteroid is building an inspiring workplace for experienced software engineers, and helping businesses and society level up their digital game. Every Asteroidian is a co-owner of the company and this blog series introduces them one by one.

“If people are paying me for this, I must be good at it,” thought Dean as a teen

Many experienced developers admit they started coding very young – often around the age of ten. Senior consultant Dean Clatworthy reckons his interest took hold at thirteen. Or perhaps it was more than just an interest: before long, he was being paid to do it.

From teenage tinkerer to paid developer

“My father worked as a systems analyst, and we always had a computer at home – for as long as I can remember,” Clatworthy says. “So, becoming a developer myself as a teenager felt like a pretty natural step.”

Clatworthy’s first software projects weren’t hard-nosed business assignments; they were more about helping people. “I’d taught myself what you could do by modifying forums – quite a lot, as it turned out – so I started helping other forum owners and putting my knowledge to good use. When they wanted to pay me, I realised I might actually be good at this. That was hugely rewarding.”

One thing led to another, and he found himself studying Computer Science at Aston University in Birmingham. “That’s how it went. But I soon understood that university wasn’t really for me. By then, I was more interested in doing real work – I already had a taste of it. So as soon as I got my bachelor’s degree, I left and started my professional career,” Clatworthy explains.

Communication before code

You could say that career has already been quite a journey. Alongside roles in several IT companies, Clatworthy spent eight years at the legendary advertising agency Hasan & Partners, where his digital expertise was put to work for many major Finnish brands, including Fazer and Veikkaus. “It was an extremely challenging and interesting time for me – professionally and socially,” says Clatworthy. “By that point, I’d already learnt that technical skills always come second. First comes communication – the relationships between people.”

After Hasan & Partners, Clatworthy was persuaded to join two more IT companies before finding his true home at Asteroid. “Those companies were absolutely fine – no complaints. It’s always a great moment when you meet a new client and earn their trust. That’s what a consultant must do,” he stresses. “But it’s not just that. You also need to feel that the values and cultural foundation are something you can trust and share.”

Asteroid’s summer party, Villa Vuosanta, 2024

Choosing Asteroid: rigor over rush

When he started looking for a new role, Clatworthy went through a couple of interview processes with different companies and found them all somewhat interesting. “But I chose Asteroid, and let me explain why.” We let him.

“In one company, they did the technical interview with me in fifteen minutes and were ready to hire me,” he recalls. “What? You can’t evaluate a person’s skills and knowledge in fifteen minutes, can you? If they make decisions that quickly, how can I trust that the other employees are truly competent? In the end, they’re the people I’ll be working with and relying on when the going gets tough.”

“At Asteroid, they really put me to the test – they pushed me hard. I thought, if I get through this, I can trust that the other developers here are capable and competent too,” Clatworthy says with a smile. “Myself included. We also discussed at length what it means to be a consultant – how essential it is to have strong communication skills and the ability to act as a bridge between different kinds of people and personalities.”

Equal pay, meaningful work – and a life beyond code

Fair pay, along with the nature of the work, makes it feel meaningful. “I think that one of the strongest and most interesting parts of Asteroid’s operating model is that pay equality is baked in – everyone is paid the same market-leading compensation. No matter who you are or where you come from, you'll be compensated the same as everyone else. No more salary discussions, or performance-related bonuses”, says Clatworthy.

Like any expert, Clatworthy knows learning never ends. “There’s so much I still want to develop in my skill set,” he says. “In every new project, I look forward to moving forward and becoming a slightly better consultant and a slightly better person every day.”

In his spare time, the British-born Clatworthy does what many Finns do: he goes to the sauna, meets friends, goes running – and makes pour-over coffee. Wait, pour-over coffee?

“Well, it’s just one way to make good coffee,” says Clatworthy. “Some say it’s the best way. But as you know, coffee-making is a kind of science. There are so many variables, and everything affects the result. I think that’s why so many programmers get enthusiastic about brewing coffee. Even the shape of the cup matters. And it’s great!”

In this blog series, we ask Asteroidians what the interviewee is like as a colleague.

Tuomo Varis: What kind of person is Dean?

Dean is an extremely competent developer who also shines in lead roles. His analytical approach to problem-solving, ability to grasp complex concepts, and excellent communication skills make him a colleague from whom even veterans can learn something new, whether it's purely technical matters or navigating a project ship through challenging crosscurrents.

The article is written in collaboration with a partner of Asteroid.

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