What does your typical day look like?
I usually work from the office 3 days a week and 2 days from home. I get in just before 9am, grab a coffee with my team and then sit down to plan what I'll be working on that day. If I'm in the middle of a task I usually get straight into it (I can't leave a problem half-fixed!) but I also try to put time aside to review code and work collaboratively with other members of the team.
After 3 days in the office (which is great for meetings and coordinating with the team), I like my 2 days working from home where I'm usually most productive and can get heavily focused on development and tackling problems.
What are you currently working on?
I'm currently working on a repository system to allow governments in North America to manage various aspects of Emergency Medical Care and EMS Agencies within their State/Region. For example, what medications and procedures are permitted, which EMS agencies are operating in their State/Region, and the location and details of EMS facilities and hospitals.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
Coming back to the Tech industry, I wanted to work within a company where I was developing a product that provided real value and benefit to people. ESO's mission to 'improve community health and safety through the power of data’ and seeing the results and benefits of the software they build - I knew immediately this was something I wanted to be a part of.
Did you always want to work in this industry?
Not at all - I started working in tech in 2016 but after a few years I felt like I could make more of a direct contribution to helping people. I left and worked in the Emergency Services for 3.5 years, which was a very tough but rewarding job. I did a lot thinking and felt that with the skills I had developed, I could make a real difference within the industry.
Knowing ESO's mission and software products they create for government, fire, and EMS Agencies, meant this was the perfect fit for me.
What's your favourite part about your work?
I get to work with a great team in Belfast, building Software that will be used on the other side of the Atlantic to manage EMS Agencies, facilities, and how emergency medical services are provided for entire States/Regions. Building quality software to better manage these agencies allows them to operate more effectively, and the work I do directly contributes to that.
What would you say to other people considering a job in this industry?
There are more roles than most people realise, and even more routes into the industry. Not every role is technical, and some are more technical than others - there's plenty of options and roles to try, it's very fluid. I joined the industry through a placement during my Foundation Degree and left Tech completely to join the Emergency Services, now I'm back and loving every second of it. You don't always need a degree to have a career in Tech, and options like apprenticeships and placements provide a brilliant way to get experience and qualifications at the same time.
How do you see this technology impacting on our lives?
The software we're building will allow governments to more easily manage EMS Agencies within their State/Region. Better managed and better operating EMS Agencies are able to provide a more effective service to the community; the technology we provide can impact upon the level of care a patient receives, and ultimately contribute to better patient outcomes. And the data we collect through the ESO Data Collaborative is used to report on trends and quality measures through publications such as our Trauma Index, which has a significant influence on how EMS Agencies deliver medical treatment to patients.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
My dad has always been interested in technology, he got me interested in computers from a young age so that's definitely where it all started. During my studies and from working in the industry, I've met and become friends with a lot of brilliant people. I get a lot of motivation from talking to others, hearing what they're working on and what technologies they're using, both within ESO, and externally from friends in the industry and at conferences, you always learn a lot.
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
I think the developments in Artificial Intelligence have been huge, and with such large investments into AI happening recently, I can see this making a large impact in the future. There are some really powerful ways of applying AI to medicine and research fields that I think will help a lot of people.
What tech gadget could you not live without?
Definitely my mobile phone - I have it with me constantly and use it for virtually everything; communicating, media, making payments. I'd be lost without it.
For more information on ESO and current roles visit eso.com/careers
