Talking Engineering with our Engineering Director, Roberto Duessmann
Short intro about yourself?
I’m Roberto, Director of Engineering at Klar, based in Berlin. I have over 10 years of experience in software engineering, working across various industries, including B2B enterprise solutions, retail, shopping and fintech. As one of Klar's first engineers, I’ve played a key role in building the system from the ground up. I’m passionate about leading teams and solving complex challenges.
Why have you decided to join Klar in the first place?
I decided to join Klar because I was excited about the opportunity to be part of a startup at its earliest stages and to help shape its growth. Fintech has always been a sector I’m passionate about, especially given its potential to drive meaningful change. I saw the incredible impact fintech had in Brazil and believed Klar had the potential to do the same, providing a noble service that could improve financial access for many in Mexico.
What is the most exciting part of your role at Klar?
The most exciting part of my role at Klar is delivering projects that impact over 1 million users in Mexico, and it’s the team that makes it truly special. I love collaborating with such a talented and dedicated group of people. We work on multiple projects at once, and it’s great to see our APIs and services being used millions of times each day. Together, we handle complex integrations and work with various vendors, which keeps things interesting and rewarding.
What motivates your daily work at Klar?
What motivates me daily at Klar are the constant challenges and the opportunity to make a real impact. We're accomplishing big things and revolutionizing the market in Mexico, moving the needle in meaningful ways. Knowing that our work serves over 1 million customers keeps me driven and focused on delivering solutions that matter.
Can you tell us about your career journey at Klar?
I started my career at Klar as a Senior Software Engineer, progressed to Tech Lead, and eventually became the Director of Engineering of Payments team. Along the way, I’ve led the development of innovative solutions, shaped our technical strategy, and contributed to team growth. I’ve worked on diverse projects, including card management, direct integrations with Mastercard, and establishing connections to the SPEI network in Mexico.
What’s been your most exciting project at Klar, and why?
One of the most exciting projects I led at Klar was the implementation of an in-house solution for direct communication with Mastercard and PROSA, enabling users to seamlessly use the Klar credit card in Mexico. We successfully migrated 3 million cards with zero downtime, resulting in substantial operational savings. It was a high-latency, high-availability system, and seeing it come together without any disruptions was a major achievement.
How would you describe Klar’s culture and work environment?
Klar’s culture is fast-paced, dynamic, and startup-driven. We’re a distributed and multicultural team, which brings diverse perspectives and creativity to our work. Despite being a lean team, we tackle great challenges and move quickly to deliver impactful solutions. It's a highly collaborative and supportive environment where innovation thrives.
