What makes a great employee experience from day one? At SimScale, we believe it starts even before the first day. That’s why our onboarding program is more than just a checklist—it’s a thoughtful and structured journey that helps new team members feel welcome, connected, and equipped for success, whether they’re joining remotely or in person.
Creating Meaningful First Impressions
The onboarding process begins even before the first official day. Each new team member receives a welcome package, along with access to the tools, platforms, and resources needed to get started with confidence. But the experience goes beyond logistics, at its heart, it’s about connection and clarity.
🤝 The Buddy Program
Every new hire at SimScale is paired with an onboarding buddy who is usually a peer from outside their immediate team who serves as a friendly point of contact. The buddy helps with informal questions, offers cultural insights, and shares personal experiences about working at SimScale. This relationship provides a layer of personal support that complements formal training.
📅 A Structured Onboarding Plan
SimScale follows a structured onboarding roadmap that spans the first 30 to 90 days, balancing learning, integration, and impact. The experience includes:
Week 1: Orientation
- Introductions to the company, product, and teams
- Overview of tools, systems, and security protocols
- Culture, mission and values sessions
- Informal meetings with colleagues and stakeholders
- Daily check-ins with the hiring manager to ensure alignment and offer support
Weeks 2–4: Integration
- Deep dives into role-specific responsibilities
- Access to documentation, onboarding tasks, and knowledge bases
- Shadowing of key meetings and processes
- Ongoing daily conversations with the manager to address challenges, questions, or progress
- Ongoing buddy check-ins for peer support
Weeks 5–12: Momentum and Contribution
- Greater ownership of tasks and projects
- Regular feedback sessions with the manager
- Optional cross-functional learning opportunities
- A review and reflection on the onboarding experience with the People Team
- An invitation to provide feedback to improve the process for future joiners
Going through the onboarding process has been a great experience. Everybody is open to talk and ready to help, information and knowledge are encouraged to be shared and easy to reach, creating a great environment to work in. Within a couple of weeks it became clear that the values of SimScale as a company truly shine on a daily basis and do not just stay on paper. No wonder why our platform is reaching new heights and I am happy to be now part of the ride.
Renan Pereira Alessio, Customer Support Engineer
🏢 Office Visit Opportunity
SimScale follows a hybrid model that offers the flexibility to work remotely, while also encouraging regular in-person collaboration—either through visits to the Munich office for local team members or quarterly meetups for distributed teams. Whenever possible, new joiners are invited to visit the Munich office as part of their onboarding. This gives teams a chance to meet face-to-face, build rapport, and immerse themselves in SimScale’s culture early on.
👥 Daily Manager Check-ins
In the first two weeks, daily check-ins with the hiring manager offer essential touchpoints to clarify priorities, address early questions, and reinforce alignment. These quick, intentional conversations help ensure that every team member feels seen, supported, and able to focus on learning. As onboarding progresses, check-ins become weekly or biweekly depending on the needs of the role.
🌟 Ongoing People Check-ins
In addition to manager check-ins and buddy support, SimScale’s onboarding journey includes several dedicated touchpoints with the People team. At the one-month mark, a conversation with the recruiter helps reflect on how the role is aligning with expectations and offers space for early feedback. This is complemented by a session with our Learning & Development Specialist, focused on identifying growth goals and learning opportunities. As onboarding progresses, team members also connect with our Engagement & Retention Manager to discuss overall experience, engagement, and connection to SimScale’s culture—ensuring support continues well beyond the first few weeks.
A Culture of Belonging and Continuous Growth
SimScale’s remote-first culture emphasizes communication, inclusion, and continuous feedback. From day one, new joiners are encouraged to bring curiosity, ask questions, and take ownership. Whether participating in virtual coffee chats, team ceremonies, or collaborative sessions, everyone is invited into a culture where people are empowered to contribute and grow.
Curious to learn more about life at SimScale? Discover how we’re shaping the future of simulation technology and building a collaborative, innovative community at Life at SimScale.
