At Elementz, every day brings new challenges and opportunities. With a talented team of software developers adept in various coding languages and frameworks, we focus on creating scalable, secure software that ensures a seamless onboarding experience. In this series, we explore the daily experiences of our team members, starting with Ed Shearer, our Senior Software Engineer.
Join him as he takes us through a typical day in his software developer role…
As a software backend developer at Elementz, my day is a blend of technical challenges, collaborative problem-solving, and the satisfaction of contributing to Integrity Elementz – a cutting-edge SaaS product designed for subsea integrity inspections.
My mornings start with a strong coffee and a quick review of our team’s Jira board. Communication is key in our close-knit team, and our day begins with a standup meeting. We sync on progress, address any blockers, and outline our tasks for the day. We often have our cameras on – if we’re feeling brave and not still in our pyjamas. Given Elementz’s size, we frequently have high visibility, and it’s not uncommon for our CEO, Jason, to drop into our meetings.
Post-standup, I dive into code reviews. Currently, I’m evaluating a colleague’s work on new external APIs for the Pipeline component within Integrity Elementz. These APIs are designed to enable external applications to access pipeline inspection data, a highly anticipated feature by our customers. My role involves ensuring the code meets our quality standards and efficiently manages data. Once released, these APIs will integrate into various customer workflows, enhancing data accessibility and utility.
Mid-morning, fuelled by another coffee and a deep house playlist on Spotify, I tackle more complex tasks. This could involve implementing new features, optimising existing code, or addressing bugs reported through our Support Desk. With our recent backend upgrade to a newer version of Java, I focus on leveraging the latest language improvements while managing technical debt. This upgrade was a major milestone, marking the launch of a new version of Integrity Elementz earlier this year.
Reliability is crucial for the backend of a SaaS product like Integrity Elementz. Our clients rely on its uptime, and any downtime could result in significant costs. We prioritise security by adhering to best practices and undergoing rigorous penetration testing by an external firm. These tests, aligned with OWASP standards, confirm that our product is secure and robust. Occasionally, I receive urgent emails about dependency updates, reminding me that security is an ongoing concern.
Collaboration with frontend software developers is a regular part of my day, especially when developing new features. We often conduct screen-sharing sessions, which are invaluable for resolving issues in real time. Annotating each other’s screens helps tackle complex problems effectively. I also occasionally demo our APIs to a customer’s development team, which I enjoy as it allows me to showcase Integrity Elementz and gather direct user feedback.
Looking ahead, there’s much to be excited about. As a subsidiary of Aize, we have more freedom to make technical decisions. We’re upgrading our frontend to a newer version of Angular, a key feature of the next Integrity Elementz release, planned for later this year. Additionally, we’re transitioning from Aize’s design system to Material Design, giving Integrity Elementz a distinct aesthetic identity.
As the day wraps up, I ensure my tickets are properly categorized and prepare for any upcoming meetings or demos.
But it’s not all work at Elementz! Our team enjoys regular social events – whether it’s a game of DnD, mini-golf, dodgems, or just sharing pizza. These moments are vital in our hybrid work environment, fostering team bonding and making the development process more enjoyable.
A day at Elementz is a dynamic mix of technical challenges, collaboration, and a shared commitment to advancing subsea industry standards. Every line of code we write contributes to something greater.
If you’re interested in learning more about our solution, book a demo and experience the software firsthand.
