I recently had a conversation with a close friend of mine who is currently looking for a new job. He has a pretty high salary, which I’m sure he’ll tell you is not unusual for a C++ developer in the UK these days, and has been happily working in the industry in one capacity or another for the last 10 years or so. However, since around 2010, he hasn’t really found himself driven by a passion project or motivated to do extraordinary work.
This made me think about whether or not I would consider a career at Speedway. For those of you who don’t know, Speedway is an AI company, which operates across retail, betting and gaming, helping businesses to run their operations more efficiently. They are definitely a fast-paced company which has had great success since their founding in 1979. However, would I choose to work there? And if so, what would I need to do to prepare myself for the role?
Why Go For A Career At Speedway?
As a developer, salary is always a key consideration. And with good reason too – the more you make, the more you can spend. However, when you’re earning such high wages, it’s difficult to justify taking a step down just to ensure you have enough money to pay your bills. But maybe that’s what you need to do. Maybe you need to follow your heart and instincts and take a leap of faith. There are lots of opportunities in AI, machine learning and data science, which you can undertake as a career. You don’t have to choose a role at a large corporation with offices across the world, you can stay in your home country and get a job in a smaller company, closer to where you live.
So what are the opportunities like at Speedway? Really, there are plenty of roles which you can take on, all of which are suited to someone with expertise in the technologies mentioned above. Take a look at some of the current openings below:
Data Scientist
If you have a natural curiosity about data and a desire to understand how things work, then consider a career in data science. More and more businesses are turning to data analysis and sophisticated software to gain valuable insights into what’s happening and why. The demand for data scientists is predicted to increase by 16% in the next five years – it is a job which allows you to play around with numbers and apply your technical expertise to a real-world problem.
In order to qualify for this position you’ll ideally need a Master’s degree in a quantitative field such as maths, science or engineering. Once you’ve got your degree you can look for jobs in Dublin or London, there are plenty of reputable firms in these locations which will be able to offer you a good starting position.
Software Engineer
If you’re looking for a job in software development, you’ll need to have strong software engineering skills – the ability to think through problems, plan out projects and build maintainable, testable code is highly regarded. You’ll also need to be able to demonstrate that you can take ownership of projects and can identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
Because there is so much competition for roles in software development, landing a job isn’t easy. You can find out more about how to get a foot in the door at
- Software Engineering Blog – a blog which covers all aspects of software engineering, including careers and the daily life within the industry. This blog provides a solid foundation for those who want to pursue a career in software engineering. If you’re looking for a role, you can use this blog as a guide to getting your foot in the door – it’s an excellent resource for those who want to learn more about the industry.
- CareerBlogs – this is a really good place to find resources and tips for those who are interested in pursuing a career in software development. There is a wealth of blogs on this platform covering all aspects of software engineering, from job searches to coding tips. Search for the technology you are familiar with and take a look at the various blogs written by real professionals in the field.
- GitHub – GitHub is the social coding platform where developers can find and share code, projects and issues. It was originally created to help programmers collaborate on code, but anyone can use it to find open source projects which they can contribute to. It’s an excellent platform for those who want to get their feet wet in code and have the option of releasing their work under an open source license. You can find open source projects which need help and can contribute with your skills.
- StackOverflow – StackOverflow is a Question and Answer site, built on the popular tech platform Stack Exchange. It’s the largest question and answer platform for developers, technology enthusiasts and power users. If you’re looking for a question about a technology you are unfamiliar with, search for the terminology or words associated with it and take a look at the various topics covered on StackOverflow. It’s an excellent place to find information about any technology, there are so many knowledgeable contributors on the platform who are happy to help.
- Medium – Medium is a ‘Content-Generation Platform’, allowing anyone to create and share compelling content.
Analyst
If what you’re looking for is a job which requires you to think through complex problems and offer practical advice, then consider an opportunity in analysis. There is currently a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of work, with many industries being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to many businesses, government and non-government organizations turning to data to help them make better decisions. Those who can offer sound advice based on factual data and figures are in high demand and can expect salaries which more closely match their expertise.
The role of an analyst is to collect data, analyze it and provide conclusions based on that data. You’ll probably need a combination of quantitative and qualitative skills to land a job in this role – you’ll need to be able to think through problems and offer solutions based on logic and research. Some of the more popular opportunities in this role include: