Name: Louise Spiers
Role: Software Engineer at PEAK6 Investments (Belfast)
What does your typical day look like?
I usually grab a cup of tea and log on just before 9am. I start the day properly after catching up with my team at our morning stand-up. Generally, I spend the day working on assigned tickets for that sprint or completing code reviews. Recently, we’ve been pairing up on specific tickets, and that's been great while we’re still working from home. Towards the end of the day, we will catch up with our US team members.
What are you currently working on?
We are currently working on a product for our compliance team. It’s been the first completely greenfield product I’ve worked on, and we’ve been developing across the full stack. I’ve learned loads! We are using Java and React to develop it and utilising tools like Docker, Cypress, and Codefresh throughout development.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
When I first applied to PEAK6, I did it because I knew some really talented developers had joined the team, and I was keen to learn from them. Throughout the interview stages, I became more and more excited at the possibility of working at the company. Everyone was so friendly. I got the sense that they cared about their employee’s development and using modern technologies for developing products.
Did you always want to work in the tech industry?
No! I only studied humanities subjects at A-Levels, so I didn’t think doing anything with IT would be an option for me. I first completed a BSc degree in Modern History, but then I applied to the Software Development conversion Master's at Queen's University Belfast in 2017. I didn't think they would ever accept me, but they did! Best decision of my life.
What’s your favourite part about your work?
We get to work on new features often, so figuring out how something works is my favourite part of the job. I also really enjoy working with my team. Everyone is so knowledgeable and helpful, so there’s always something to learn.
What would you say to other people considering a job in the tech industry?
I would recommend just going for it. There are so many good roles going on in the tech industry now, especially in Belfast. It’s such a rewarding sector to be in, too. Even if you don’t want to be a software developer, there is definitely something out there for you. There are also plenty of meetups to attend. I recommend going to any of those to get a feel for the tech community in Belfast.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
No one person inspired me to go into tech, but my parents' support and excitement were a big inspiration. Without them, I’m not sure I would have pushed myself so much!
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
Cloud storage and providers. It’s insane to think that companies previously had dedicated rooms for hosting their own servers. Now, we definitely take for granted how easy it is to spin up a new application and make it easily accessible to our colleagues on the other side of the world.
What tech gadget could you not live without?
I wish I could say something other than my smartphone, but it’s the only gadget that I use every single day. It’s shameful how often I use it to get directions to somewhere in fear of getting lost on the way!
Read more about our Tech Trailbazers on Sync NI here. Find out more about PEAK6's job opportunities on our Jobs page here.
