Gabor’s shift: a career journey into AI-driven engineering

Hi Gabor, you’re now a Site Reliability Engineer, but tell us first: what were you doing before you moved internally?

I had several technical roles in the past. In my previous role as a Lead DevOps Advocate, I guided teams in understanding and harnessing the benefits of modern development and working practices - essential for our transformation into a technology-driven organization.

And how long have you been at UBS?

I joined UBS last year through the integration of Credit Suisse. Stepping into my new role as a Site Reliability Engineer within the Foundation Pod of our Conversational Banking Platform has been an exciting journey.

Many colleagues are considering internal mobility, how did you know it was the right time to move roles? What was the reason behind moving?

After driving strategic transformation initiatives, I felt a strong desire to return to operations, embracing the “Gemba walk” approach. This shift allows me to engage directly with everyday challenges, especially during these exciting times of integrating AI based solutions into our processes and technical landscape.

What are you enjoying the most in your new space?

My new workspace embodies a spirit of innovation and trailblazing, enriched by a vibrant and diverse cultural environment. Given my rich cultural background - as a Hungarian, German, and Swiss citizen - this diversity is very important to me.

And that journey is a lot about continuous learning. How do you seek out new learning opportunities in your area?

I’m naturally curious and passionate about learning. As a former content creator and curator on the Degreed platform, I’m a strong advocate of microlearning. These small, focused learning nuggets deliver knowledge that can be immediately applied as skills - without having to step away from the workspace. UBS University serves as my go-to resource for discovering new, role-relevant learning content, enabling me to stay current and effective in my work.

It would be great to hear about your current role and the technologies you work with.

In my role, I’m leveraging cutting-edge tools such as GitLab for streamlined CI/CD pipelines, Developer Cloud Desktop for efficient development workflows, and Azure Factory to orchestrate robust cloud solutions. I’m currently expanding my expertise by learning Azure OpenAI. My primary mission is to ensure the stability, resilience, and seamless deployment of innovative new features that empower our users and drive the platform forward. This role allows me to bridge the gap between development and operations, championing best practices in reliability engineering.

How is UBS supporting you in staying ahead in the (ever) changing tech industry?

UBS’s learning library extends well beyond technical topics. Last year, I successfully completed the JUMP leadership program and earned my certified advanced studies in machine learning, all with excellent support from my former line managers.

In your opinion, what’s the biggest misconception about tech and/or engineering in big banks like UBS? 

I believe a common misconception is that companies often think technology alone is a true differentiator. UBS is taking meaningful steps to stand out in today’s competitive landscape. First, we’re enhancing tech and our organizational alignment by implementing agile practices focused on end-to-end product value chain delivered by teams.

This approach not only streamlines the identification of impediments and software delivery bottlenecks but also ensures that technology investments are targeted and effective. Second, we provide a comprehensive and role-specific array of training resources, empowering employees to adopt and leverage new technologies with confidence. By focusing on both organizational agility and continuous learning, we can maximize the value of technology investments and drive sustainable business success.

What’s your favorite new technology we use at UBS? 

RED AI is an invaluable tool that supports me in brainstorming and drafting concepts – whether I’m developing a maturity assessment from the ground up or enhancing the clarity and effectiveness of my email communications.

Which tech initiative has the most impact for the bank, or even the industry? 

It’s challenging to predict the long-term positive and negative impacts of specific technologies, especially when their adoption is often driven more by industry trends than by clearly defined business needs. However, I’m encouraged by our recently announced strategic objectives for AI adoption. 

These objectives provide a solid foundation for ensuring that AI delivers meaningful and positive outcomes for the future.

Any tech trends you think we should keep an eye out for in 2025 and 2026? 

During our UBS Global Hackathon, we experimented with sustainability dashboards designed for software engineers, enabling them to visualize the ecological footprint of their decisions throughout the software delivery lifecycle. I share the view of many experts that Green IT is poised to become one of the next major trends in our industry, and I believe it’s essential for us to pay close attention to its development and impact.