10 July 2026
Some developers leave their mark through architecture; others prefer a more subtle approach. Robert Schulze, Head of Software Engineering C++ at smartclip, falls into the latter camp, often sprinkling pop-culture references and hidden surprises throughout his source code. When Robert first joined smartclip in November 2015, he was the first employee to focus solely on C++ engineering and today, we’re celebrating his decade anniversary with the company. In this interview, Robert reflects on his journey, why he loves the smartclip way of working, and his fondness for leaving the occasional digital breadcrumb in the code for colleagues to discover.
You joined smartclip in 2015. How did you hear about us and what made you decide to switch jobs?
The atmosphere at my previous job wasn’t ideal; the cohesion and the way products were handled felt more project-oriented than product-oriented. Looking back, that’s something that is handled very differently at smartclip, though I didn’t actually realise it at the time! I spotted the job posting online, read the profile, and remember thinking it probably wasn’t the right fit. I’ve worked in C++ since I was 13, but I had been firmly on the Microsoft track with Visual Studio, whereas the role was advertised as Linux — completely new territory for me at the time. I worried it might not work out, but here I am ten years later.
How did you make that transition work?
I was very open about my background during the interview, and the team told me something that I now repeat in interviews I conduct myself: at smartclip, it isn’t so much about whether you already know a specific tool, but rather whether you have the willingness to learn. I was given that chance, and I certainly don’t regret leaving the Microsoft ecosystem behind.
What is your favourite memory from the last decade?
Rather than one specific moment, it’s the journey as a whole that sticks with me. I’ve known our Co-CEO, CTO, and CPO for a long time and can still picture sitting across from them in my interview, being handed their laptop, and writing three lines of code. While both of them have a strong technical understanding — and René in particular has written plenty of software — it wasn’t in C++. Being the first C++ specialist in the company makes these ten years feel like a very interesting evolution.
What is your favourite thing about working at smartclip?
I love the freedom. I can sit in my green office at home and work while being completely surrounded by nature. In fact, colleagues often tell me that the first thing they hear on our video calls is birds singing in the background. I value that flexibility — the ability to start my morning with a run if I feel like it, and the peace of a private office where I can hear myself think.
Everyone at smartclip enjoys this freedom and flexibility in their own way, yet we still feel like one cohesive company. For me, that’s been the case from the start. In my first six months, I spent more time at the old office in Prenzlauer Berg. It was lovely to see the Berlin colleagues and have lunch together, but since my team was based in Gütersloh, I eventually decided to save the commute. We work so effectively online anyway!
And, on a more technical note, I love Easter Eggs. I enjoy hiding little references to pop culture or books in our automated tests and internal development work. For example, you might find a nod to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the ‘Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything’ if you look closely. They’re harmless details, but they make the work a little more fun — for me and the colleagues who eventually spot them.
What does the ‘smartclip spirit’ mean to you?
For me, it’s the way things are handled here. There’s no strict top-down hierarchy; it’s really the difference between having a ‘boss’ and having a ‘leader’. Ideas can come from anyone, regardless of their level. We gather in meetings and simply ask: what needs to be done, and how do we solve it? If something urgent comes up, everyone—including our remote devs—jumps on a call to work it out together. When it’s needed, that’s just how we get things done.
What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in adtech?
To be honest, adtech itself wasn’t the deciding factor for me, and it still isn’t the most present part of my day-to-day. We are so deep within the machine with C++ that it doesn’t really matter that we’re building advertising technology. Whether we serve an ad or where it goes is less relevant than the quality of the software itself.
But if I were giving advice to someone entering computer science, I would say: read carefully and question everything. Reading carefully is one of the most important skills you can have. Secondly, remember that not everything has to be perfect. Usually, it is enough if it is as good as is necessary. There is a business side to that: we would all love to make golden door handles, but a brass handle opens the door just as well.
Thank you so much for your thoughts, Robert! On to the next ten years.
Lee is the Marketing Specialist Europe at smartclip and is responsible for content writing, editing, social media, and creative support across the department and company. Originally from the United States, Lee graduated from the University of Cincinnati, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Electronic Media. Before joining smartclip, she has worked with various organisations managing social media accounts and assisting in the video and audio production processes.
Lee Richter
Marketing Specialist Europe
