In line with our commitment to fostering the next generation, we recently welcomed James Wells for a work placement. James shared his insightful experiences with us, highlighting the mutual benefits of his time at HICSE.
During my week of work experience at Hitachi Information Control Systems Europe Ltd in May, I had the opportunity to delve into the world of software engineering, a field I am deeply interested in. The highlight of my experience was learning about the company's innovative railway software solutions. I was fascinated by the complexity and precision required to develop systems that ensure the safety and efficiency of rail networks – combining my passions for trains and engineering!
I spent a significant portion of my time with the software engineering team, where I gained hands-on experience in coding and software development. The engineers were incredibly supportive, explaining the intricacies of their work and allowing me to assist with some basic tasks using TREsim and Westcad. I particularly enjoyed working on simulation software that helps predict and resolve potential issues on the rail network and researching into proxmox for virtual machines and high availability, together with learning about interlockings and drawing track maps. It was rewarding to see how my contributions, however small, fit into the larger picture of creating reliable transportation solutions.
On the other hand, I spent a day with the sales department, which was less engaging for me. Although the team was friendly and enthusiastic, I realised that sales is not where my passion lies. I prefer the technical and problem-solving aspects of software engineering over the interpersonal and strategic elements of sales.
Overall, my time at Hitachi was invaluable, solidifying my interest in software engineering and giving me a clearer idea of my future career path.
