Building careers across borders – from Serbia to Portugal: Meet Marijana and Miloš

At Yunex Traffic career journeys don’t stand still – they evolve across roles, countries and life stages. For Marijana and Miloš Mladenović, that journey has taken them from Serbia to Portugal, where they continue to grow both professionally and personally.

In this blog for International Day of Families, discover how they combined technical expertise, new opportunities and family life to take the next step in their careers – and how their shared move has broadened both their perspectives and possibilities within Yunex Traffic.

Hi Marijana and Miloš, thanks for speaking with us! Can you please tell us about your roles and what you do?

Marijana: Yes of course. I started my journey with Yunex Traffic as a Traffic Engineer in Serbia in 2019, and quite early on my role expanded beyond purely technical project work. Alongside working on projects, I also became involved in sales support, which gradually shaped my position into a mix of technical and sales responsibilities. Today, I still work on both the project and sales sides of the business, contributing to traffic engineering, projects, customer discussions, and finding the right solutions for different opportunities.

Miloš: My journey with Yunex Traffic started in Serbia back in 2019. Initially, I was working as a commissioning engineer on a large project which kicked off at the time but later shifted to leading the local maintenance team full time. After making the move to Portugal, my role is focusing more on traffic engineering and solution design, as well as providing technical and product support to our field teams.

From starting in Serbia to now being based in Portugal, how did the move come about?

Marijana: The move came naturally as the next step. After building experience in Serbia across both traffic engineering and sales support, relocating to Portugal felt like a good opportunity to grow within Yunex Traffic, take on broader responsibilities, and work in a more international environment. At the same time, on a personal level, I was motivated to step outside of my home country and comfort zone, so it was a great opportunity to do this within the same organization.

Miloš: The opportunity we had been offered doesn’t come around often, so we did not have a lot of doubts when making the decision. Both of us felt that we had reached a point where we were eager to expand our knowledge and gain new experience, so the possibility to do so in a different environment was just an additional reason to make the move.

You both work at Yunex Traffic and made the move together. What was relocating to a new country like, and how did you find settling into new roles or projects along the way?

Marijana & Miloš: Relocating to a new country is always a big step, but for us it has been a very positive experience. Settling into new roles and projects went relatively smoothly since the general tasks remained familiar, while the main differences were the customers and project specific details and requirements. The transition was made incomparably easier with the help from local colleagues, which, next to amazing hospitality and support in settling in the work environment, also provided invaluable tips for adapting to everyday life.

How have your roles in Portugal helped you grow or try something new compared to your previous positions?

Marijana & Miloš: We have more responsibility and exposure to different project setups. We are continuously deepening our knowledge in areas such as C-ITS and advanced perception, both technical and sales perspectives. This has enabled us to work with new products, design more suitable and tailored solutions, and gain experience with a wider range of clients and requirements.

Moving within the same company isn’t always straightforward. From your experience, what have been the biggest benefits of making this kind of move within Yunex Traffic – both professionally and personally?

Marijana: One of the biggest benefits of making this kind of move is the opportunity for continued growth within the same organization. Different hubs offer different scopes and perspectives, and moving to a more internationally connected environment opens additional possibilities and enables closer collaboration with colleagues from different countries. On a personal level, it also provides valuable experience in adapting to a new environment.

Miloš: Working in a new context brings exposure to different approaches, teams and ways of thinking, which supports both professional and personal development. The move has also given us the chance to get to know the Portuguese language and culture, as well as traditions and way of life. Overall, it has been an enriching experience that has broadened our perspective both professionally and personally.

What advice would you give to colleagues who might be thinking about moving to another country – either on their own or together with a partner?

Marijana & Miloš: Our advice would be to approach the decision openly, but also practically. It is important to understand the necessary paperwork and the relocation process, to speak with local colleagues about projects and opportunities, and, if possible, visit the country or the city beforehand. In our case, we moved with our two-year-old daughter, and it has been a very positive experience for the whole family, showing that even moving with children can go smoothly and bring an amazing experience for everyone involved.

Thanks for sharing your story with us – it has been great to learn more about your journey and experiences!