Russian software company offers job to 7-year-old programming prodigy

A seven-year-old boy from St. Petersburg has captured the attention of the tech world, earning an offer for a management role at a Russian software company—once he’s old enough to work legally.

Sergey, who began programming at just five years old, has been sharing his passion online through YouTube tutorials. His videos, which guide viewers through coding challenges and advanced topics like neural networks, have earned him a growing fanbase of over 3,500 subscribers.

Impressed by his talent, Pro32, a Moscow-based cybersecurity firm, extended a formal job offer for the position of head of corporate training. However, Russian law prohibits children under 14 from paid employment.

Igor Mandik, the CEO of Pro32, shared his enthusiasm for Sergey’s skills and revealed plans to collaborate with the young prodigy in other ways until he’s eligible to join the team officially.

“Sergey’s father, Kirill, was surprised and thrilled,” Mandik said in an interview with the BBC World Service. “They’re looking forward to the day Sergey can work with us.”

Mandik likened the young programmer to a modern-day Mozart, not just for his coding abilities but for his natural gift for teaching. “He’s already a developer and a teacher. By the time he’s 14, he’ll be a guru in both,” Mandik said.

Sergey’s father explained that his son’s interest in coding began when he watched his older sister learning programming. Within two months, Sergey had surpassed his siblings in skill.

In addition to his tech prowess, Sergey enjoys playing chess, reading Harry Potter, and performing piano pieces, which he plans to share in upcoming videos.

Pro32 sees Sergey’s talents benefiting not just coders but also staff in other departments, such as sales and accounting, thanks to his ability to explain complex concepts clearly.

While no discussions about salary have taken place yet, Mandik is confident that Sergey’s contributions will be invaluable when he joins.

“We have seven years to wait, but when the time comes, we’ll definitely talk about his pay,” Mandik said.

Sergey’s journey is a testament to how talent knows no age and underscores the increasing opportunities for young minds in the fast-evolving world of technology.

Source: BBC