A day in the life of… Edward Webb, Graduate Software Engineer

A day in the life of… Edward Webb, Graduate Software Engineer

Ever wondered what a day in life looks like at Vortexa for a Graduate Software Engineer? We sat down with Ed to find out what his day-to-day life looks like, what is the most interesting aspect of his role, and what he really thinks of our company culture…

01 December, 2023
Jessica Irvin
Jessica Irvin, Head of Operations & People

Ed grew up in Bristol and loves to travel as much as possible, his longest trip being around the world through south-east Asia, New Zealand, and South America. The picture is from his recent trip to Central America. He also loves music and film, he’s currently working through Nic Cage’s back catalogue with his flatmate.

Prior to joining the company, Ed worked at… a completely different role to the one at Vortexa: Wildtracks Campervans in Bristol, where he spent two years renovating and converting old and new vehicles into bespoke campervans.

Fun fact: Ed modelled for a Banksy piece of art. (It never got finished!)

What does day-to-day life in your role look like?

In general, my day-to-day consists of working closely with the rest of my pod: discussing, planning, and working through our jira tickets on our existing systems and new projects to improve the quality of the data we provide to the rest of the company. In reality, every day is different and there’s always a new challenge.

What would you say is the most interesting aspect of your role?

There’s always something new to learn. Whether that’s getting up to speed with an existing piece of work or trialling new technology as a team, I’m constantly adapting to new ideas and ways of doing things.

What was your path to joining Vortexa? 

I studied computer science at the university of Leeds and, after the camper vans and figuring out I wanted a career in a data-driven role, I completed a boot camp which specialises in that area. After moving to London, I found Vortexa after being referred by Nat!

There’s always a collaborative atmosphere in the office too and spontaneous chats about different parts of the business happen frequently.
What kind of qualities does a person need to have to succeed at Vortexa?

Being inquisitive, collaborative, and conscious of the big picture are all important. Being able to reason through the impact that small changes will have on other parts of the business is invaluable – there’s always something that I miss!

What do you like about the culture? 

Everyone is really welcoming and helpful. This can be seen when people will actively go out of their way to help you with something, and they’re patient with any questions, regardless of how simple or complex they are.

Who do you collaborate with?

I collaborate with the rest of my pod on a daily basis, and have frequent pairing sessions with them and other members of DPT. The work we do as a pod frequently comes into contact with other pods in DPT, analysts, ADT, or the Product team. There’s always a collaborative atmosphere in the office too and spontaneous chats about different parts of the business happen frequently.

[...] People will actively go out of their way to help you with something, and they’re patient with any questions, regardless of how simple or complex they are.
What are the first three things you do on a Monday morning? 

I’ll cycle into the office (or yoga from home), make a coffee, and read slack to catch up and plan my day.

What energises you most about working as a Graduate Software Engineer at Vortexa?

The rapid pace at which the company moves. We’re always improving our systems, adding new functionality, and discussing new ways in which to grow.

Jessica Irvin
Head of Operations & People
Vortexa
Jessica Irvin
Jessica is Head of People & Operations at Vortexa and is responsible for hiring, learning & development, culture, engagement, performance management and leading expansion plans.