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Aarya, Software Engineer at Fortune 100 FinTech Company: Advize Career Interview
Embark on an exciting career as a Software Engineer at a Fortune 100 FinTech company, like Aarya!
Aarya's journey began with an IT technician role, leading to a pivotal internship at Iridium Satellite Communications where imposter syndrome was conquered and confidence bloomed.
Constant evaluation of value to the company is essential, focusing on how one contributes.
A typical day includes stand-up meetings, solutioning, and taking on diverse roles, demanding strong technical skills coupled with communication and business acumen.
The role offers stimulation through constant challenges, a work-life balance, and a supportive team. Biggest challenge? Debugging complex interconnected systems, incredibly rewarding when solved.
Industry satisfaction comes from seeing tangible impact – processing millions of events and dollars daily!
Thrive by becoming a quick learner, debugger, and strategic thinker, always focusing on "what works" and understanding system interactions.
Gain any "foot in the door" entry-level position, explore, and determine where the best "fit" lies, remembering learning doesn't end with classes. Actively engage in college, join meaningful clubs, and proactively shape a career!
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Aarya Mathreja
Software Engineer
Fortune 100 FinTech Company
Arizona State University
Computer Science
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
International Student, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path of a Systems Engineer at Iridium Satellite Communications
Aarya decided on a computer science career path before moving to the US in 2021 and gained initial experience as an IT technician at Arizona State University, later switching to informatics and landing a pivotal internship at Iridium Satellite Communications where they worked on system issue identification and notification, ultimately overcoming "imposter syndrome" and solidifying confidence in their abilities. This internship experience was "a really huge, huge experience" that greatly boosted their confidence.
Main Responsibilities of a Software Engineer at a Fortune 100 FinTech Company
Aarya emphasizes the importance of continuously evaluating one's value to the company, stemming from a formative experience at an educational technology company; as Aarya states, "how are you providing value to your company? Right? Nothing else matters." This introspection regarding the value Aarya brings to an organization has proven significant throughout their career as a Software Engineer.
A Day in the Life of a Software Engineer at a Top FinTech Company
Aarya's day as a Software Engineer at a Fortune 100 FinTech company begins with a daily standup meeting to update team members and leadership on progress, goals, and roadblocks, followed by "solutioning" and clarifying business requirements with different teams to ensure proper delivery; the role "encompasses a lot" beyond this as there are coding and repository tasks as well as the need "to take in different hats and fill in the role whenever needed."
Most Important Skills For A Software Engineer At A Fortune 100 FinTech Company
Aarya believes that while "technical skills are by far the most important ones," a holistic view of the platform is crucial for success, as is the ability to see the "bigger picture" beyond individual tasks. Furthermore, soft skills like communication and understanding business needs are important for success as a Software Engineer.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Software Engineer At A Fortune 100 FinTech Company
Aarya, a Software Engineer at a Fortune 100 FinTech company, finds the challenge inherent in the role stimulating, appreciating the constant need to assess whether "am I doing the right thing today?" and deliver value. Additionally, the work-life balance, offering flexibility and a sense of adequate contribution, coupled with a supportive team environment, are highly valued aspects of the job.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Software Engineer at a FinTech Company
Aarya, a Software Engineer, finds the biggest challenge in the role stems from the interconnectedness of many applications and moving parts, often requiring investigation of unfamiliar systems to debug issues, even when "the issue lies with the application" someone else is working on. Despite the difficulty, Aarya highlights that solving these complex problems is the "most rewarding" aspect, providing a sense of accomplishment and reinforcing confidence in abilities.
Favorite Parts of Working in the FinTech Industry as a Software Engineer
Aarya finds the most rewarding aspect of working in their industry is seeing the tangible impact of their work, stating that millions of events and dollars are processed daily through the application they work on and must "be accurately and responsibly handled". Ultimately, the satisfaction comes from seeing their work "be out there" and knowing that customers rely on the company to fulfill their promises.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Software Engineering, According To A Software Engineer At A Fortune 100 FinTech Company
Aarya believes that successful software developers at Fortune 100 FinTech Company are "quick learners," "quick debuggers," and adept at quickly analyzing problems and finding solutions, especially when "time is critical." Aarya also emphasizes the importance of having a "bigger view picture of everything" and that people who don't have that tend to struggle in the industry.
What a Software Engineer at a FinTech Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the FinTech Industry
Aarya initially believed software development success hinged solely on programming prowess. However, Aarya wishes someone had emphasized that problem-solving without creating new issues and understanding how others interact with systems are crucial, and to "write what works" rather than focusing on sheer code volume.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Software Engineers in FinTech
Aarya suggests aiming for any "foot in the door" entry-level position, like an IT technician role as Aarya's original role, and using that experience to explore different areas, build projects, and determine where one best "fit[s] in" within the broader tech field. Determining the "purpose of... choosing this field" is key to guiding one's career path.
Significant Career Lesson From a Software Engineer at a Fortune 100 FinTech Company
Aarya emphasizes the importance of "anything to get your foot in the door," citing their own start as an IT technician before becoming a Software Engineer, and suggests that once in the field, one should "figure out what, where exactly do you want to fit in" by exploring different areas and projects to align passions with a specific role. The lesson is to gain entry and then proactively shape one's career path.
College Experiences That Helped A Software Engineer At A Fortune 100 FinTech Succeed
Aarya emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and active engagement in college, stating that learning shouldn't end when classes are over and suggests doing courses outside of college to build skills; furthermore, Aarya recommends joining clubs that genuinely matter to you, recalling experience as a technical officer where valuable lessons were learned and connections were made, noting that these actions stemmed from personal initiative rather than external direction. For Aarya, these two proactive choices were "the two most important things that [they] did in college".
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