Today is the most beautiful of days. I’m not talking about the weather, but about a feeling that is currently impregnating every single fiber of my professional being. See, today marks the beginning of my trial phase (contractor) as Automattic‘s newest full-time systems wrangler.
You read that right: I’ll be working for the company behind WordPress.org, WordPress.com, Gravatar, Akismet and many other innovative and industry-leading products, with its wikipedia-entry-worthy figures, multi-datacenters infrastructure, the whole shebang.
Don’t get me wrong, although this assignment represents, to me, the professional chance of a lifetime, it will also be the most challenging by far, the scale of it all mind boggling. Nothing is won yet beyond the opportunity and everything is still left to be achieved. Needless to say, I will be doing my very best (and then some) to own the said challenge and prove Barry, Matt and others I am indeed the right guy for the job.
WordPress.com, one of our flagship products if you’re not familiar with it (hint: this very blogs runs on it), hosts such sites as “CNN’s Political Ticker, Dow Jones’ All Things D, the National Football League’s Official NFL blog, Time Inc’s The Page, People Magazine’s Style Watch, Om Malik, official blogs for communities like Flickr and BBC’s Top Gear, and many other high-profile and high-traffic blogs“. Automatticians also happen to be amongst the most successful Free and Open Source software evangelists, users and providers in the Web industry.
To top it all off, the position means 100% telecommuting, a mandatory requirement for me to work for a US-based (but internationally staffed) company since my wife, 3 children and I are happily residing in Montreal, Canada. An ideal proposition for a professional like I, who applies as much emphasis on his family life and welfare’s as he does on his career (even if often with little moderation in either :p). Balance being the path to a full and well-lived life, in my humble opinion.
In conclusion, I’d like to extend my deepest and most heartfelt thanks to Matt and the entire Automattic family for presenting me with this opportunity, as well as for welcoming me in their midst as we start and learn to work together.
Aim high, reach higher!
Update: Not a contractor any more. On staff since September 21st. :)
tekArtist 
So happy for you! Love to see Canadians representing, too. (sheesh, we’re everywhere now)
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It’s an invasion, run for the hills! ;) Ecstatic, to say the least.
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I’d say it’s mor like Automattic’s just landed themselves a Dream Systems Wrangler :)
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Thanks Franck. Time will tell. :)
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super SUPER stoked! They’re lucky to have you, and what a perfect gig for you and your family. Congrats!
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Thanks Laura! Ideal doesn’t quite describe the scale of it. :)
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dang! man! oh! you’re part of the uber geek elite now!
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Wouldn’t go that far (yet?), as I’m now working with truly brilliant peeps, but I sure will be doing my very best to earn that right. :D
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I’m so happy for you Stephane and am sure that you are going to do great in your new job.
You’re shreddin’ in the big leagues buddy!
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Thanks Tanya. :)
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Wow! Congrats!
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Thanks Jeff.
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That’s amazing news :) Félicitations!
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You know it! Gotta go celebrate that eh. ;)
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wow sounds awesome! big congrats on being part of Automattic. wish you the best :)
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Thanks Sam.
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Congrats Stephane, it’s awesome!
If I understand well, you’re not going to develop anymore in this new position.
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Very short term, maybe. Medium term: doubt I’ll be out of the code for too long. Long term: NEVER. If nothing else, I’ll still be contributing to Open Source projects, can’t ever stop doing that. Love it too much. :)
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Congrats, glad to see you found such a great fit for your aspirations! Will continue tapping in your WP-Brain once in a while to get your perspective on WP-Things! ;-)
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Always here for ya Sylvain. :)
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