Industrial Placement - Research Software Engineer

Kenneth Ng

Computer Science and IT

Placement (10 Months+)

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Why did you choose to work at STFC?

I chose to work at STFC because I was fascinated by the research being done here, and the high-tech scientific equipment on site. I had the chance to visit some scientific facilities on site, and I was absolutely mind blown by the scale of the equipment and the cutting edge research that is displayed.

What are your responsibilities?

As a software engineer industrial placement student, I am responsible for maintaining software used by on-site facilities and scientists and implementing new features that are planned or requested. When it comes to new features, I also need to make sure users are happy with the new changes and make adjustments should they have any feedback to best suit their needs.

What is the best thing about being based at your location?

Best thing about being based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is that it is close to a very quiet town compared to cities like London or Oxford. I am a person who prefer quiet locations to busy cities, so it is a perfect location for me. I also prefer working in the office, and commutes between the office and the town don’t take long.

What makes STFC a great place to work?

People are very nice and helpful. They help you get settled at the start. They are more than willing to provide help when you stumble across problems that you encounter. STFC is very flexible when it comes to working hours and work location. You can choose when to start and end your work as long as the total work hours add up. STFC also allows employees to work hybrid. You can choose to work from home or in office, or both depending on your preference.