Working on projects that matter: Andrew’s IT Graduate Program experience
Andrew Cleland has a passion for working on projects that make a difference.
In his role as a software developer, Andrew develops systems and applications to improve how government delivers its science services.
2 years ago, Andrew joined the Queensland Government IT Graduate Program after graduating with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Computer Science. Since then, he has been working with the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Science team in the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation.
You’ve been part of the graduate program for 2 years now. Have you been working on any exciting projects?
I’ve been extremely lucky to work on some amazing projects. Most recently, I’ve been working on the redevelopment of a system called SILO. It’s a service which provides interpolated weather data across Australia. The basic concept is there are many weather stations within Australia, and we know what the weather is like at those locations, but we don’t know what it’s like everywhere in between.
For this project I used database design skills to develop a relational database that can store billions of rows, designed and provisioned cloud infrastructure on Amazon Web Services (AWS), and I wrote the backend of SILO predominantly in Python.
I’ve been working with my team to develop this system for over a year and I’m very excited to see it released later this year.
What do you enjoy most about working at the Queensland Government?
I love being able to work on projects that actually make a difference. My main source of motivation is knowing that we’re not in it to make a profit, we’re here to improve the world we live in.
Is your work helping to advance Queensland’s digital future?
Our work is all about making data more widely available and building tools that can support decisions and improve the efficiency of government teams. Our work is pivotal to the government’s ability to quickly make informed, evidence-based decisions, with an environmental focus.
How do you think the IT Graduate Program will help you to progress your career?
The IT Graduate Program has opened my eyes to all of the different opportunities that are available to us. We can continue studying, seek training to improve our skills, or apply to join another team.
If I was thinking of applying for the 2018 intake, what advice would you give me?
One of the best parts about the graduate program has been meeting the other grads. It’s been great to be part of a network of likeminded people.
Describe your graduate experience in 3 words.
Very interesting projects.
Do you want to work on projects that make a difference like Andrew? Apply for an IT Graduate role with the Queensland Government by 26 July 2017.
