Octopus Vitality is made up of 1000+ implausible individuals engaged on stuff you’d by no means anticipate, all pushing onerous in the direction of a shared objective: driving the worldwide inexperienced power revolution. In our Highlight collection, we’ll introduce you to a few of the sensible individuals behind the scenes.
Meet Suraj: back-end developer for Kraken Tech and champion for tech range.
Suraj joined Octopus in 2018 as a developer and since then has been doing a little unimaginable work as an integral a part of the tech group. Little enjoyable truth: it simply so occurs that Suraj and I (Octo-Author, Samsam) began at Octopus at the very same time! So, I had a digital meet up with him to debate what it’s like being a back-end developer and get some perception on the essential work he is doing for range in tech.
How would you greatest describe your present function?
I work within the interfaces group the place I work on constructing the back-end processes for Kraken, our tech platform. Basically, my function is to make use of know-how to make our power specialists’ lives simpler, to allow them to think about offering a fantastic buyer expertise.
My function is to make use of know-how to make our power specialists’ lives simpler, to allow them to think about offering a fantastic buyer expertise.
What’s your background in and what drew you to Tech?
I did physics at Bristol, the place I did some coding which sparked my curiosity in Tech. This often surprises individuals however really science and tech are extra carefully linked that individuals assume. Years in the past, science was writing equations and calculating with pen and paper however now it’s all about modelling issues on a pc.
We expect science is all about lab coats and goggles, however an enormous proportion of experimenting is now executed utilizing programming. Earlier than spending numerous cash on an excellent sophisticated bodily experiment, it is sensible to write down code and simulate it, to get an concept of what the end result would possibly seem like.
Tech is such an integral a part of Octopus’ development. What has it been like being part of that?
Watching the corporate’s development during the last 2.5 years has been fairly insane.
After I joined the tech group there have been lower than 20 individuals, now we’re having Monday morning zoom calls with over 90 individuals from around the globe.
Everybody is basically approachable and useful so we help one another, which is cool. There’s only a actual sense of group throughout the division as a result of we have now constructed this platform collectively.
That is my first job out of uni so I used to be a bit fearful concerning the company way of life however Octopus isn’t like that in any respect.
I’m trusted to do my job and I am given a lot autonomy, from my precise daily function to final minute days off, which is basically essential to me.
What mission have you ever labored on that you just’re most pleased with?
The Heat Residence Low cost, which is a scheme designed to assist susceptible prospects by giving them £140 in the course of the winter months. I labored on the mission alone, so it was a giant problem to verify it was working effectively and that the purchasers that actually wanted our assist received it. In my function, you don’t all the time get to see how your work instantly impacts prospects so it was very rewarding and we received plenty of very grateful messages from prospects.
What are you presently engaged on?
Bettering the client suggestions journey, so we are able to get a greater concept of how we’re doing as an organization. We’re contacting prospects who’ve lately received in contact with us, so we are able to get their suggestions and enhance our companies. We have now executed this previously, however I’m engaged on increasing it so we are able to get a extremely full and correct image.
Suraj with fellow developer Karim at Octopus’ Agile Hack Day in 2018
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve discovered?
After I first joined the group, I’d get numerous individuals messaging me instantly to repair tech points for them which grew to become a bit troublesome to handle on prime of my precise function. I received recommendation from our CTO, James Eddison who advised me that if we targeted an excessive amount of on repeatedly fixing little issues, we wouldn’t be capable of construct the final word product we would like. My greatest lesson has been to all the time give attention to the larger image as a lot as attainable. Finally, that may filter down to resolve the little points in time.
Do you could have any recommendation for people who find themselves getting into the workforce and are searching for a profession in tech?
A very powerful factor is to utilise all of the sources which are out there to you. When you’ve got mentors or individuals in your group who can assist you, don’t be afraid to ask and make use of their expertise. I’d additionally suggest studying tips on how to seek for solutions on Google and Stack Overflow (which is a web-based group for builders to study). I feel most devs need to do plenty of that.
You’ve gotten executed plenty of work with the Octopus Vitality Equality fund and variety inside recruitment. What drew you to it?
I feel the Black Lives Matter motion final summer time resonated with lots of people, together with myself, as a result of it was the realisation that this was a chance to really make a distinction on one thing that actually issues.
Through the time plenty of firms had been sending out press releases and social media posts, I despatched a message to our CEO Greg to debate the motion.
I messaged Greg as a result of we work at an organization the place you’ll be able to ship the CEO a direct message with out feeling fearful, and understanding you’ll be heard.
I had seen plenty of empty, hole posts which didn’t have any substance and I actually didn’t need Octopus to be a kind of firms, which is what I advised Greg. I actually felt that if we had been going to make a public assertion, we would have liked to indicate some intent and decide to one thing substantive. One thing optimistic did come from it, as we made a public assertion pledging £100,000 to combating systemic racism in power.
A fast snap of the beautiful Range Recruitment Group in a Zoom assembly
I really feel fairly fortunate as I’ve by no means had any challenges as an individual of color in tech, and I’ve all the time felt like I belonged while finding out and at work. However I do know this isn’t the case for many individuals, and there are structural points that should be solved. We have now arrange working teams with individuals from all around the firm to collaborate on this to verify we’re actually dedicated to creating a long-term affect.
It will have been straightforward to try to meet some short-term range quota but it surely’s much more work to create a really numerous, inclusive and blissful workspace, which is what we’re dedicated to.
Certainly one of our main tasks was the Octopus Equality Internship, providing six eight-week placements in our tech and operations groups. That wrapped up late in 2021 and you’ll learn all concerning the internship right here.
It was a fantastic success – I am proud to say a couple of of the interns even stayed on and took full-time roles with Octopus – however we have got tons extra plans within the works.
Fast Hearth Q’s
Your most memorable day at work?
Positively, my birthday the week I joined Octopus. James, the CTO, referred to as me from my desk and once I adopted him to the primary flooring, the whole firm was on their toes singing me blissful birthday. I couldn’t imagine it as I hadn’t even had the prospect to fulfill most people there, but it surely was so form of everybody though barely traumatic.
Favorite track?
Council Flat by M Huncho
Favorite album?
48 hours by M Huncho
Favorite TV Present?
Sopranos.
What’s your favourite place on the planet?
I went to Oman with my girlfriend which is a fully unimaginable place!
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