Navigating a career in tech isn't always a linear journey and for ESO Belfast’s Dani McCutcheon and Josh Beatty, their pathway into the industry was less than conventional.
Despite not initially considering a career in industry, tattoo artist turned product designer Dani was inspired by other successful females in the industry who spoke about their experience.
Similarly, Josh’s journey into tech was fuelled by the vastly evolving landscape of healthcare technology and his passion for community volunteering and first response. Now a Graduate Development Engineer, he joined ESO in 2020, a year that brought unprecedented challenges but saw his role become more a vocation than a job - delivering on ESO’s global mission, as it remains dedicated to improving community health and safety, and empowering frontline workers to help save lives.
ESO’s Belfast team is responsible for engineering, developing real-time data analytics tools, sophisticated algorithms, and secure data-sharing platforms that positively impact communities worldwide. The leading data and software company recently marked four years in Belfast, an investment which has helped the US firm to continue to empower emergency services.
Dani who joined ESO in June 2022, transitioned from a foundation course in graphic design to a degree in interaction design at Ulster University. A career change which stemmed from a desire to look at user needs beyond a visual perspective and saw Dani secure a placement year at ESO.
Dani said, “ESO Belfast was my first choice due to its unique user base which includes Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and frontline healthcare professionals such as paramedics, A&E departments, and firefighters. I wanted a chance to apply and enhance my knowledge in an environment where the user experience is central to its products and for me, it was amazing to think that something I was part of designing could play a role in improving EMS efficiencies and making their jobs a little easier, knowing the impact these professionals make in communities across the world.”
Dani currently works part-time at ESO Belfast one day a week whilst she remains focused on completing the final months of her university degree. In her role as a product designer, she champions the needs of users, overseeing the complete lifecycle of products from research and workflow development to design implementation and rigorous testing.
She continues, “A typical day for me could involve calls with users to identify ways in which they carry out their roles, how ESO’s products can help and where we can improve product design to ensure patient or community needs are being met. A big part of my job is also carrying out research and collaborating with the wider team including our amazing team in the US. This includes leaning on best User Experience (UX) practices to ensure products are not only accessible but easy to use and can ultimately help improve community health and safety.”
Before joining ESO Belfast, Dani admits she always thought the industry was male-dominated, and it wasn’t until she spoke to other females in tech during a university visit that she was inspired to think about how her skillset could be an asset in the industry.
Prioritising the promotion of a diverse and inclusive workplace has been key to ESO’s success in the last four years. Ahead of International Women’s Day in 2023, ESO Belfast reported a 10 per cent increase in its female workforce from 2019 to 2022, with women now making up 27 per cent of the team and supporting its commitment to achieving gender diversity.
Dani adds, “It’s as important to find a role that works for you instead of always working to fit the job. In addition to ESO’s user base, I’m fortunate to work with and continuously learn from inspiring people around me. The culture, support, and continuous learning opportunities distinguish ESO as a workplace that goes beyond the ordinary.”
As a final piece of advice, Dani encourages individuals making a career change to not underestimate the value of their existing skills, emphasising that the tech industry appreciates diverse talents.
Like Dani, Josh joined ESO Belfast during his placement year at Queen’s University Belfast during the pandemic. His initial onboarding as a software developer was fully remote but despite the unique circumstances, he embraced the experience and rejoined ESO part-time in his final year before taking up a full-time position in 2023.
What inspired Josh to join ESO was the opportunity to work for a company developing software for first responders, aligning with his passion for community volunteer work. He continues, “If I hadn’t pursued a career in tech, I would have explored a career as a first responder, perhaps as a paramedic or firefighter. During my university years, I volunteered with St John Ambulance for two years as a first aider and despite moving on from that role, I still have a passion for community volunteer work.
“Given this interest, the opportunity to work at a company developing software for first responders immediately caught my attention. At the time, ESO had recently established its Belfast office with a small engineering team and taking a gamble, I applied to the company for their first-ever placement position. Looking back, I’m extremely grateful to have seized the opportunity to work as a developer for a cause I find genuinely interesting and a company I am proud to work for.”
Describing his current role as a Graduate Development Engineer, Josh takes pride in being a versatile developer, akin to a jack of all trades. While his primary focus is on backend development, his daily responsibilities extend to frontend development, testing, CI/CD tasks, DevOps responsibilities, and quality assurance.
Josh explains, “The most rewarding aspect of my work is the opportunity for problem-solving, especially when confronted with challenging tasks that extend beyond my knowledge. Embracing challenges and venturing into unknown territories is particularly enjoyable, whether it’s navigating an unfamiliar tech stack, investigating problems, or implementing a new function app.
“The power of data cannot be underestimated and ESO does a fantastic job of digitising its processes in EMS and Fire agencies and aggregating this data. I can only imagine how much this has streamlined paperwork for frontline workers, not to mention the reports and research that have come out of analysing patient and first responder data.”
Reflecting on his journey, Josh’s advice to his younger self would be to enjoy the process and focus less on stressing about exams, emphasising the importance of trying new experiences, exploring different projects, or volunteering opportunities.
He emphasizes the accessibility of tech careers and encourages others to explore the diverse roles available in Belfast's thriving tech industry.
Josh concludes, “Everything taught in schools and universities can be self-taught online or through alternative learning experiences. Belfast has no shortage of open roles across a plethora of tech roles, part-time and full-time. No matter your interest you’ll be able to find your fit.”
Recently, ESO Belfast announced the appointment of four new directors and a senior vice president including two new hires and three internal promotions - which will see Russell Beggs take up the role of Senior Vice President (VP) of Engineering – highlighting the company’s strategic vision and its commitment to nurturing talent, making it an ideal workplace for those looking to thrive in the tech industry.
For more information on ESO and current roles visit eso.com/careers
This article appears in the skills, education and tech careers edition of Sync NI magazine. To receive a free copy click here.
