Life at Trilitech | AC, Software Engineer

This week we’re excited to introduce AC, one of our talented software engineers. 

AC graduated from the University of Cambridge last year with an MEng in Computer Science, specialising in theory. After graduating, she spent the summer in Oxford working on research for CHERI capability hardware and Microsoft’s implementation, CHERIoT-ibex. 

Let’s chat with AC.

What does your day-to-day look like at Trilitech? 

My typical day in the office always starts with a coffee. Some days I’ll bring my dog, Zagreus, which is a nice perk. This requires regular breaks in the park to clear my mind and release some of his energy! 

Most of my time is split between reviewing code, which helps me learn about the codebase and contribute to the team, and writing my own code. The lunches are another nice perk that I look forward to!

What are you currently working on?

I’m now part of the RISC-V team, working on a new PVM. I collaborate with five others in the core engineering team. My first quarter was spent onboarding which involved getting to know the team and the codebase.

While onboarding, my work did not impact the wider team. Now, I feel much more integrated and am excited to see the impact of my contributions. 

How was the onboarding experience?

Onboarding involved completing a dummy task to get familiar with the Tezos codebase. I joined the real team soon after to assist with their projects. All code requires two approvals, so I participate in code reviews to understand what other team members are doing while helping to make sure code lands in the repo.

What three words come to mind when you think about Trilitech?

Dog-friendly, bright, and productive.

How would you describe the company culture?

Trilitech has a strong sense of urgency, and the environment is anything but stagnant. The team is welcoming, and I know as many people outside of my department as in it. Everyone is willing to help!

What was your journey into Web3?

A friend who knew I loved Rust and cryptography suggested I apply to Trilitech. I like Rust as a language and the fact that blockchain technology requires a high degree of correctness piqued my interest. The opportunity to work on interesting and varied projects is also really rewarding. 

What’s been your highlight so far?

Landing my first MR in the Tezos codebase was a significant achievement. Also, karaoke with the team was a lot of fun!

What would you like to achieve in the next couple of months?

My aim is to produce good code and feel like I’ve made a meaningful impact on the team. I’ll also be working on getting Zagreus used to the office environment!

Do you have any tips for breaking into the industry?

Trilitech’s application process emphasises that you don’t need industry-specific experience, which is great. I was even advised against trying to study blockchain extensively before the interview as it’s better to learn on the job. 

Participating in hackathons is a good way to get hands-on experience with the space. But to me, blockchain is fundamentally about maths!

Curious about a career in blockchain? Get started with Tezos