Meet Callum Wall, a Data Engineer II at DailyPay. Originally from a finance background, Callum made the switch to tech after discovering a passion for coding and data during the pandemic. Now he works on data modeling and engineering, helping teams across the business make sense of their data.
What does your typical day look like?
At the moment, I usually log on or head into the office around 9 am. I’m a big believer in creating a rough plan the day before; it stops me from jumping all over the place trying to prioritise in the morning. Whether it’s project work or individual tickets, knowing exactly what I’m walking into helps me stay focused on what’s important.
Because half of the Data Engineering cohort is in the U.S., my day is naturally split. I use the mornings to get through urgent tasks, which puts us in a great spot to collaborate once the U.S. side logs on.
READ MORE: Tech Trailblazer: Natasha McQuillan, Software Engineer II at DailyPay
What are you currently working on?
Every day is a school day here, which keeps things exciting. Right now, I’m heavily focused on Data Modeling—designing data structures for stakeholders. I love this part of the job because you have to dive deep to understand the business logic behind the data. Also, I get to chat with teams across the entire company, which is a massive bonus.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
I’ve always wanted to work for a company that is creating a ‘net good’ in the world. DailyPay’s commitment to empowering employees to confidently navigate their financial journey towards financial freedom gives the work I do real meaning.
Did you always want to work in the tech industry?
I semi-fell into it by accident, but I’m so happy that I did! I actually worked in finance previously, but I’d always had a keen interest in tech, stemming from a coding module during my degree. During Covid, I was able to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Software and Data which led to my first technical role—and I haven’t looked back since.
What’s your favourite part about your work?
The constant learning. You can’t be bored in this role because there is always something new to learn. I think this will always be the case; despite fears regarding the advancement of AI,I think it will lead to more interesting, creative, and diverse roles—just as tech advancements have always done.
I also love the hybrid working environment. From my first ever roles, which were full time in the office, to my previous role, which was fully remote, I’m certainly happiest with a mixture of the two. The free food is a great bonus!
What would you say to other people considering a job in the tech industry?
Go for it! Try a few things, see what you enjoy, and figure out how to make a career out of it. A great tip is to find a small pain point in your life and try to create something to automate it—this has never been easier thanks to AI.
A friend of mine kept forgetting to take his bins out, so he created an app to ping him the night before. He fell in love with the process and now codes for a living!
How do you see this technology impacting our lives?
I really feel this technology supports financial wellness and security for all employees, especially those who are facing financial obstacles with inflation and the rising cost of living. Giving employees access to their earned pay when they need it can make a genuine, tangible difference in the quality of so many lives.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
It’s a random one, but my inspiration came from my first finance job out of university (pre-Covid). It could be quite an intense environment—we wore suits everyday and worked long hours doing very manual, monotonous tasks.
The floor below us housed the tech developers. They came in wearing shorts and t-shirts and always seemed so happy and relaxed. From that moment on, I wanted to pursue that career path because the contrast was wild!
READ MORE: Tech Trailblazer: Oladimeji Eyiowuawi, Software Engineer I at Dailypay
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
It’s an obvious one, but AI has been a gamechanger. The LLMs everyone is familiar with (like ChatGPT and Gemini) come with challenges, but they have certainly allowed more people to understand this career and how to get involved.
Some of the most advanced developers I know use it and advise others to do the same. As long as you’re using it to advance your learning—rather than blindly copying and pasting—it can be a huge benefit to your development.
What tech gadget could you not live without?
My WONDERBOOM speaker. I’m either listening to Dean Martin or Skepta and there’s no inbetween.
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