I wanted to do software development from a young age, but my parents convinced me it was too difficult and not enjoyable, and, naively, I believed them!
It wasn’t until a decade later, searching for a career I could truly connect with, that I gave coding a try. I immediately found it enjoyable and realised that it was deeply logical and mathematical, something I was naturally good at, having competed in maths as a child.
Becoming a full-stack software developer
I started learning coding independently, completed the Le Wagon bootcamp in London in 2020, and landed my first professional role in 2022, working with clients including the DVLA and the Met Office. For me, this job doesn’t feel like work. Each ticket is like a puzzle I’m being paid to solve.
I’m often asked by people outside of technology what my role involves. I am a software engineer who builds the front end and back end of web and mobile applications and manages the infrastructure and cloud services that run them.
For the user-facing front end, we use a variety of software, but HTML, CSS, JavaScript and frameworks like React are common. Creating the back end involves working with servers, databases, and APIs. We manage the entire application lifecycle, from database design and server logic to responsive user interfaces, cloud infrastructure and deployment pipelines.
Programming, problem-solving and mentoring
In terms of languages, I primarily work with Ruby. Alongside writing code, I work closely with clients to understand their needs and ensure that what we deliver solves their problems.
I love programming, but I also enjoy supporting and mentoring more junior colleagues as they develop their skills and confidence.
I have also recently contributed to a social value project, GovBrowse, written in TypeScript. In my free time, I’ve been working on a native iOS app, TraceTrail, written in Swift.
Outside of work, I enjoy being outdoors, so at weekends I try to balance screen time by going hiking and spending time in the fresh air.
Keeping Britain safe
My current assignment is with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). I am part of the PSD team, which looks after two services: the Product Safety Database and Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications. As the names suggest, these services exist to protect the British public from dangerous products.
Everything sold in the UK must first be registered in our database and reviewed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards. My role involves building features, fixing bugs, resolving database user issues, and handling any technical tasks that support the services. Knowing that this work has a positive impact on millions of people and helps make the world a little safer is genuinely motivating.
Learning on the job
Most programmers enjoy solving problems; we have that mindset. And many of us learn without even trying very hard; it’s just part of our nature.
When it comes to skills development, I prefer practical, hands-on learning by doing things I haven’t done before. When I encounter new technology or something outside my experience, I see it as an opportunity rather than a barrier and work things out as I get the job done.
Most problems in software are logical and have been solved before, often many times, just in different contexts. Because of that, I tend to learn naturally as I work. Building TraceTrail in my free time has reinforced this. It’s exposed me to some genuinely challenging problems I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. The more difficult the problem, the more I learn in the process.
It also helps that we have a great multidisciplinary team: developers, QA, UX and others. There’s always someone happy to discuss a problem or offer a fresh perspective when you need it.
Advice for my younger self
If I were to give my younger self some useful advice, it would be to avoid spending years learning without applying what you’re learning. Whether you choose university, online courses or bootcamps, start building things immediately. Even on your first day of learning, think of a problem you have and try to create something that solves it. You’ll learn far more, much faster, and enjoy the process a lot more.
If you have a question for Miro or the Triad team, please get in touch.
