Continuous and embedded learning as a junior engineer
By Jamila Sabazova, Senior Associate at Macquarie Group
Overview
In the dynamic realm of technology, the guidance of senior engineers and a strong learning culture has played a pivotal role in shaping my journey as a junior engineer.
Since joining Macquarie in 2023 as a Senior Associate Engineer, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about lots of interesting types of systems, both cloud and on-prem, in many different programming languages, such as C++, Python, Java, Scala, react, JSON, and YAML. The systems typically run in Linux environments, utilising public cloud services such as container orchestration platforms and managed relational databases. I believe the opportunity to work across a broad tech stack and in various development environments can lead to a more well-rounded, and versatile engineering profile, with enhanced problem-solving skills and a strong foundation for continuous learning and growth.
The relationship between seasoned mentors and eager learners earlier in their career contributes to a thriving engineering culture at Macquarie where I have had the chance to work on our bespoke trading and risk platform, which is written in C++.
In this article, I dive into the three key things that have been instrumental to my growth as an engineer at Macquarie.
Supportive environment
In the team it’s understood that as junior engineers, we aren’t going to always get it right the first time. Through guidance from senior engineers, and with importance placed on applying our learning by doing, we are given the opportunity to learn from these experiences to improve our systems and make them more navigable.
For example, when my team faced challenges with git version-control due to overlapping work on feature branches, we worked together to introduce a stacking approach. By using a single epic branch as the master and consistently rebasing our individual branches from it, we were able to streamline our workflow and significantly boost productivity. This example illustrates how a supportive learning environment can turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
Another example of Macquarie’s commitment to professional development is through the internal training offerings. These initiatives aim to equip all Macquarie engineers with Cloud Development and Architecting skillsets by organising external vendor training opportunities and access to online resources such as Coursera and Udemy.
I had the privilege of experiencing this support firsthand with the opportunity to attend the ‘Architecting with AWS’ course, hosted at Amazon offices. This course, led by an AWS representative, was designed to be universally applicable, catering to the diverse needs of professionals across various industries and technical teams.
Such initiatives are invaluable, as they not only expand our technical skill sets but also demonstrate the trust we receive from our leaders. This culture of learning ensures that we are well-equipped to tackle the dynamic challenges of our field, armed with the latest knowledge and best practices. It fosters an environment where innovation is the norm, and employees are empowered to reach new heights in their careers.
Macquarie offers a wealth of learning forums that actively support our professional development:
• Internal Tech events: Macquarie regularly schedules global engineering guilds, lunchtime learning sessions, and ‘Engineering Office Hours’ — a dedicated time for engineers to come together each day and assist each other with software-related questions. These initiatives foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing in our engineering community, as well as provide insights into the latest technological advancements and best practices within the industry.
• Workshops: Hands-on sessions are conducted to delve deeper into specific technologies or methodologies, offering practical experience and knowledge that can be directly applied to our projects.
• Bespoke training: An internal training program delivered by subject matter experts helps us understand how our products and systems work, with structured learning paths tailored to various engineering levels, ensuring that we have the resources we need to understand and excel in our evolving tech stack.
• Online learning: With an online learning platform available, there is a comprehensive range of educational tools tailored to enhance learning in technology and engineering fields. It provides workshops, training sessions, and resources specifically designed to develop technologists.
These learning opportunities are designed to cater to diverse learning styles and provide a space for engineers to engage with subject matter experts. By applying the knowledge gained from these forums in real-world scenarios, Macquarie engineers can continuously develop their skills and contribute to innovative projects.
Leveraging the experience of others
Within the intricate coding landscape of systems supporting our CGM business, understanding the extensive codebase quickly proved to be an opportunity to expand my expertise. In one instance, grasping the proprietary tech seemed like a daunting task. However, I sought guidance of an experienced developer, accelerating my learning. The examples provided by my team members not only demystified the intricate code but also enabled me to contribute meaningfully to the project, underscoring the importance of leveraging the well of experience within our teams.
Working closely with senior engineers has allowed me to engage with advanced features such as real-time data processing and complex algorithm optimisations which are integral to the trading platform. This collaboration has accelerated my technical skills in areas like concurrent computing and fault-tolerant systems, which are critical in this environment.
As we modernise our bespoke tech, I’ve had the unique opportunity to learn both the legacy systems and the cutting-edge technologies we’re integrating. The internal training academy has been instrumental in this regard, providing structured learning paths for engineers at all levels to understand and master our evolving tech stack.
Continuous learning and development
At Macquarie, the emphasis on continuous learning is ingrained in our culture. Through study groups dedicated to collaborative preparation for cloud exams and certifications, we cultivate a culture of collective growth. These study sessions foster a space for exploration of course material, enabling us to delve into chapters and address any challenges collectively. This emphasis on upskilling underscores the commitment to nurturing our professional development.
As junior engineers, we are offered a variety of learning opportunities to get access to the latest industry knowledge and hands-on experience with new technologies. Macquarie supports our growth by allowing us to engage with subject matter experts and apply our learnings in practical scenarios.
For example, I was recently given the opportunity to work on a project involving implementing a new web application I was empowered to own the initiative end-to-end, working hands-on with Kubernetes containers and react framework. The learning opportunities and technical demonstrations from senior engineers supported me and gave me invaluable experience in how to create a web application from end-to-end, including GUI design, frontend features and functionality, backend data management, testing, and deployment — not just code development.
Conclusion
The culture at Macquarie is one that focuses on senior experts investing their time and experience into developing the next generation of engineers. Embedded learning practices form a solid foundation for a thriving engineering career. A firm commitment to knowledge sharing and continuous professional development supports the growth of engineers at every level.
It’s this dedication to fostering learning and offering opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects that has made Macquarie an exceptional place to grow my career. Working across a tech stack as varied as Macquarie’s is more than just an interesting technical exercise; it’s a gateway to a world of career possibilities, leadership roles, and a chance to be at the forefront of technological innovation.
Interested to learn more? Find out where a career at Macquarie could take you.
