Software Engineer
Programming for the Skies: Engineering the Future of Software in the RSAF
Hey Andrew, nice to meet you! Could you introduce yourself?
Hey! Nice to meet you! I'm CPT Andrew, an Air Warfare Officer (Air Traffic Control) by vocation, currently with Software Engineering Squadron in RAiD. Prior to making the switch to software engineering, I had spent 4 years doing operations with the RSAF.
What first sparked your interest in software engineering?
I have always been interested in the potential of software engineering, and what you can achieve through software engineering. Back in operations, I started with basic Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code to automate various tasks in Excel.
Over the years, the desire to learn more about software development as a means to improve my quality of life at work prompted me to take up a part-time diploma in web and mobile application development.
Midway during my course, an opportunity to join RAiD came up and that brings us to today!
What has been the biggest learning experience in your journey with RAiD so far?
The biggest learning experience for me would be that I got the opportunity to be a part of the development of one of the bigger systems that support the daily operations of the RSAF.
As a part of the project team, I got to bring my operational experience, pair it with the technicalities of the actual development work, and see how larger scale projects were managed by both the service and our Defence Tech Community.
Needless to say, it was an eye-opening experience for me!
How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work?
Always stay curious, always be willing to explore different options. When you stop thinking, that's when things get boring.
Staying rooted in operations helps to break the routine of a software engineer, and also allows me to stay up to date on the latest developments in the service.
But above all, what keeps me going is remembering the original reason why I ventured into software development: to create products that make the work of my fellow airmen and women easier.
What would you say is the most important trait for a software engineer keen on joining RAiD?
Grit.
You will try things, attempt things, and fail at most of them. But, as with anything else in life, you just have to get through it. Grit will ensure that you get to the end point you desire.
Responsibilities
Responsible for writing code and working with various technological stacks to continuously integrate and deliver features that meet user requirements.
Research and recommend the optimal tech stack for each product.
Maintain clean and transferable work repositories.
Responsible for code maintenance and bug fixes.
May be tasked with rapid prototyping, working solo or in teams of two to quickly research and deploy novel minimum viable products and to test and prove the working concept of his/her solution.