Super Seven #5 Richard Collins
In the fifth of our Super Seven Series we profile our Senior Software Engineer, Richard Collins. Richard joined the team last year, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Richard, I have a strange sense of humour. I’ve worked in software and electronic engineering since university, a love of which has come from a lifelong love of tinkering – I took apart my first computer to see how it worked, much to the shock of my parents.
I like to see things from different viewpoints, other people’s perspective. I’ve decided that the world is about 3 degrees off (its definitely not me). I think that it doesn’t hurt to see things from new perspectives. Cultures and attitudes and knowledge have the power to make us better people by challenging our preconceptions, our differences are what make us unique.
2. What’s your role in KETS?
I am the Senior Software Engineer which means I take the system requirements and customer expectations and turn them into software engineering designs – like blueprints. From there we produce applications and interfaces to drive our hardware and provide solutions for our customers.
3. What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?
I enjoy working with very talented people. Everyone at KETS has a good, balanced outlook on work, we’ve managed to achieve some amazing things in our 1 week sprints, helped each other through the difficult time in lockdown and had drinks to celebrate.
4. What inspires you?
Having a novel problem to solve. Most problems have at least one solution, finding the best one is a process where you can learn new things and see things from new angles. There have been some amazing advancements over the years, building on tiny advancements of those that have come before. Those baby steps can add up to some amazing things.
5. What advice would you give someone wanting to get into your role.
Our field is evolving and there is always something new to learn so don’t specialise too soon, fundamental skills like problem solving and lateral thinking will serve you well whatever you do. If you desire the opportunity to consistently develop your skill set……then come on in!
6. What do you do when you’re not at work?
Family is an important part of my life. I spend time with my wife to be Tanya with whom I share many hobbies, photography, cycling. One of my many projects is to build a 3D printer. I tinker with the 3D modelling program Blender, mainly just to see what amazing things it can do now.
7. What’s the best thing about Bristol?
I love the cultural side of Bristol. The restaurants that serve different styles of food to the architecture, there is nothing better than viewing Bristol from the Clifton Suspension Bridge and its one of the places that you can taste the country side without leaving the city. Its one place where you can guarantee that you will discover some amazing street art, from Bansky to a talented graffiti artist
Its also the place where I fell in love and met the woman I will spend the rest of my life with.
To get in touch with Richard, drop us an email at enquiry@kets-quantum.com