What's your job about?
I create software that powers the digitisation of buying and selling property. I’m currently in the Mobile team which is focused on developing the PEXA Key mobile application. This app gives buyers/sellers visibility into the processes happening behind the scenes between their banks and conveyancers.
Currently, I’m working on getting data from the app ingested into the business-wide Data Platform which will give other teams access to the insightful data. My team have given me the privilege of leading the project which has been a great experience. It’s more responsibility but it’s definitely more rewarding when you hit milestones.
Creating a mobile app is something I think every teenager interested in tech would love to do. The great thing is it’s not very hard or expensive to get started.
What's your background?
I’m from a small village in the Far North Coast of NSW, it’s quite a different environment compared to the hustle and bustle of Melbourne - where I live now. The rural property I grew up on is surrounded by Australian wildlife, beautiful natural vistas and not too far from the famed beaches of the region (Byron Bay).
I did well at high school (especially in IT) and knew what I wanted to study at uni however I had a burning desire to travel so I took 4 years off and focused on making that a reality.
I got a seasonal job (6 months on / 6 months off) taking apart and cleaning machinery in a local macadamia nut factory. I worked 5 days a week, most seasons on night shift but one season I worked the graveyard shift. It was hard work; some shifts were 14 hours long, but it was all worth it when the off-season rolled around.
During those four 6 month off-seasons, I travelled much of Europe, North America and Asia. I backpacked on a tight budget so I’d pick up jobs along the way. Some of my favourite jobs were: working reception at a hostel in Bath, UK, leading pub crawls in Budapest, Hungary and clearing snow in the Canadian Rockys.
After graduating from University I applied for a grad position at PEXA because my elder brother had been working at the company for 3 years and really enjoyed it. I’m now halfway through the 18-month program, I’m hoping to secure a full-time position upon my graduation.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, it’s possible for someone with a different background to do this job but only if they put the time in to learn the fundamentals. There are a few prerequisites when it comes to software engineering. Firstly, an individual needs to have a passion for learning, this discipline is constantly evolving. Persistence is the next key trait; software engineering requires unwavering mental fortitude – the best engineers don’t let a problem beat them. Finally, a collaborative attitude is essential to delivering robust, well-thought-out solutions.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The best thing about working at PEXA is how focused they are on learning and development; they’ve shaped my graduate journey around what I’m interested in. My favourite task is learning a new framework/pattern and using it to implement a solution, I find it exciting playing with new technologies.
What are the limitations of your job?
There are many limitations to being an engineer, you must adhere to different patterns, practices and principles. This can be anything from regulations set up by the security team to coding conventions specific to your team. These limitations are essential in a business, but they take some time to get used to if you’ve spent most of your coding life as a solo programmer. It’s easy to imagine the chaos which tech projects would descend into without these limitations.
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