A Russian software company has invited a seven-year-old coding prodigy to join its management team, as soon as he is old enough to take up paid employment.
Sergey, from the Russian city of St. Petersburg, has built a reputation for uploading videos showing how to write software since he was five years old.
Armed with these videos, the IT security company Pro32 sent him a written job offer for the position of corporate training manager.
According to Russian law, Sergei could not hold any paid position before the age of 14.
But Pro32 chief executive Igor Mandik told the BBC World Service he had spoken to Sergey's parents to find ways to collaborate in the meantime.
“His father, Kirill, was surprised and said that they were really happy and looking forward to the time when Sergey could join the company,” Mr. Mandik said.
In his videos, Sergey appears fresh and smiling enthusiastically. Speaking in Russian and sometimes slightly broken English, he takes coding challenges step by step.
His YouTube channel has more than 3,500 subscribers, interested in learning the programming languages Python and Unity, or wanting to learn more about neural networks, which are the basis of many artificial intelligence tools.
Mr Mandik said Sergey demonstrated not only remarkable development skills, but also “equally unique” teaching skills.
“For me, he’s a kind of Mozart.”
“I'm absolutely sure that when he turns 14, he'll be a teaching guru and a development guru, and that's why we're really looking forward to this time,” he said.
Not only coders, but also salespeople, accountants and others at Moscow-based Pro32 could learn from Sergey, Mr. Mandik said.
No promises have yet been made regarding salaries, as the going rate is subject to significant change.
“We have to wait seven years,” Mr. Mandik said. “Then we will definitely start a conversation about his salary.”
