A Software Application Engineer’s Journey at Materialise: From Product Development to Customer Support

At Materialise Software, coding is just one part of the story. The majority of the Software department is dedicated to shaping products, deciding which features to prioritize, and responding to customer and market feedback. This focus ensures our software consistently improves customer workflows, reduces costs, and boosts efficiency. In this feature, we sit down with two product application engineers—Olga Iatsenko, who works on Materialise 3‑matic, and Maarten Brocatus, who focuses on Materialise e‑Stage—to explore the realities of their roles.

Maarten Brocatus, product application engineer for Materialise e‑Stage

Olga Iatsenko, product application engineer for Materialise 3‑matic

1. Could you describe your job?

Olga: I’m part of the product team, responsible for both developing new features and proposing improvements. I also handle second‑line support, diagnosing customer issues and guiding users to optimal outcomes. My favorite part is seeing the tangible impact of my work in the next product release. Currently, I’m focused on Materialise 3‑matic, which offers a powerful and dynamic toolset.

Maarten: Think of us as the bridge between users and developers. I work on Materialise Magics, turning customer feedback into prioritized feature requests or UI enhancements. After translating these into technical specifications, we collaborate with our development team in Kyiv to implement and test. I also support marketing, sales, and provide second‑line assistance for complex cases.

2. What does an average day look like for you?

Olga: A typical day starts with reviewing incoming support tickets and triaging them. I then join daily stand‑ups with the Malaysia development team and functional analysts to refine requirements. A significant portion of my time is spent ideating solutions that align with customer needs and evaluating their feasibility.

Maarten: My mornings often involve drafting new feature requests and validating existing ones. Coordinating with the Kyiv team keeps me on my toes. I also run performance tests on Magics, explore integrations with other platforms, and field second‑line support requests. The rhythm of the day varies, but the core remains user‑centric innovation.

I have to say, I really love my job – this is the first time I’m a member of a product team at Materialise but I feel like I have really found my place!
- Herwig Frans, Production Planner, Materialise

3. What is your favorite part of the job?

Olga: Crafting ideas that directly improve the product is my biggest motivator. Collaborating with product managers to translate vision into reality keeps me learning and contributes to higher‑quality support.

Maarten: Releasing a beta feature and receiving real‑world feedback is incredibly rewarding. Visiting customers and observing their workflows also provides fresh perspectives that inform future enhancements.

4. What do you like about working for Materialise?

Olga: The diversity of our 3D printing products keeps every project exciting. The company culture is welcoming and collaborative, fostering a comfortable environment for innovation.

Maarten: I appreciate the flexibility and autonomy in my role. Working with a dynamic, youthful team makes the workplace enjoyable and energizing.

5. What motivates you to go to work every day?

Olga: Knowing that my contributions help customers become more efficient and healthy aligns perfectly with Materialise’s mission. The tangible impact of our software fuels my drive.

Maarten: The collaborative spirit and continuous innovation in 3D printing inspire me daily. Building features that push the industry forward is a true passion.

6. Tell us about a fun moment on the job!

Olga: Meeting the development team in Malaysia was memorable. We explored local cuisine together, sharing a communal soup pot—an experience I’ll never forget.

Maarten: Our team’s love for tech extends to micro‑drones. We’d take quick two‑minute flight breaks in the open‑space office—battery‑limited but high‑energy fun.