10 minute read
Alumni Speaks
TAKING TIME TO NURTURE YOUR INTERESTS
Brandon Sim
Bachelor of Engineering Systems Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 2018
Market Data Engineer Millennium Management LLC
My job
As part of a team supporting the data operations of a $57bn hedge fund, my day-to-day job involves ensuring that portfolio managers and traders receive clean, accurate data to help them make the right decisions. This includes the development of APIs to ingest data and a deep understanding of multiasset financial datasets (e.g. equity, indexes, options, bonds). I also conduct exploratory analysis to validate and improve the quality of data. As a hedge fund that employs a systematic trading strategy, I am also currently involved in projects that identify additional datasets that generate alpha for the portfolio managers. In the next six months to one year period, I will be involved in a project to assess and migrate our data to the cloud so that will be pretty exciting!
How I got my job
I was approached by a recruiter who came across my LinkedIn profile. The interview process was fairly extensive, involving technical discussions, financial tests, a Caliper assessment and interviews with the team and several senior managers. I think the toughest part was that I did not possess all the desirable skillsets that were mentioned in the job description. There were a few programming languages that I was unfamiliar with (e.g. unix, kdb, C++), but I was upfront about it and indicated that I was highly willing to learn these languages. I think the key is to be honest about areas you might not be as strong in compared to other candidates while demonstrating an eagerness to learn. Play to your strengths and minimise your weaknesses.
The highs and lows
I like that my job is very challenging and fast-paced, and I am learning something new every single day. I would consider myself fortunate to join the team at a time where management is very open to experimenting with many new technologies and projects. Our team culture is very open to experimenting and iterating with new technological solutions, which resonates with my personal motivations. One of the biggest challenges is that you require speed and accuracy, as every minute there is a delay in a critical project, it could mean potential lost revenue for the portfolio managers and traders.
My happiest moment at work
I am working on a project to help one of the biggest trading groups in the company identify additional datasets that they can trade. The project involves devising a systematic method to investigate the datasets using a couple of programming languages, having a deep understanding of the financial data itself and finding the delta. I enjoy that the project allows me to work with many stakeholders and it is nice to see how our work can directly impact the company’s profits.
Some advice
Discover what you are interested in, and then invest time into building relevant experiences that helps you achieve that dream. Finally, invest time into building a strong LinkedIn profile. A strong LinkedIn profile is particularly important today as Covid-19 has brought everything on a virtual platform and your Linkedin profile is the first impression you have with a prospective company. Having a strong digital presence could set you apart from other candidates.
HAVING A SENSE OF PURPOSE
See Wan Yi Faith
Bachelor of Information Systems Technology and Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 2020
Cyber Security Engineer DBS Bank
My job
My area of specialisation is cybersecurity, and we adopt technologies aimed at defending DBS from insider and outsider threats. One of my primary role centres on working with our security incident event management tool, empowering us to manage security 24/7 by filtering large amounts of data which allows us to prioritise security alerts and detect suspicious events that may otherwise go undetected. Apart from the technical work, I also lead and manage the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of our Cybersecurity department and plan engagement events for the department with the secondary goals of assisting the community.
How I got my job
To land this job, I went through a code challenge, IQ tests and finally, a hackathon. Completing both the team hackathon for the developer track and the solo hackathon for the cybersecurity track, I think it is safe to say that I had one of the most rigorous selection processes amongst my batchmates. I believe my ability to deliver quality work individually and as a team player while clearly communicating my thought processes after being well-trained in design thinking processes by SUTD did set me apart from the rest.
The highs and lows
Doing purpose-driven work round-theclock to keep the bank safe keeps me going. I like knowing how my work serves to protect the bank and our customers in the digital space. The challenge comes from having to “sell bitter medicine” to our staff and customers, as increased security measures does often result in a decrease in convenience. Balancing the needs of the company with the desire for convenience constantly challenges me to rethink and reimagine what banking securely and easily looks like.
My happiest moment at work
The amount of impact I have been able to have on the community around me through my work has brought indescribable joy. Through the CSR initiative I lead, we have empowered and trained over 2,500 individuals in less than a year, giving them an additional layer of defence against this digital warfare. With the engagement events I planned for the department, we partnered with hawkers, who are struggling to make ends meet due to the Covid-19 restrictions, to deliver lunches to our staff for the engagement events, subsequently helping to increase their revenue by over 40 per cent.
Some advice
Be malleably steadfast. There is so much to learn and so much that will challenge you. Hold firm to your beliefs and values but let yourself learn from every opportunity that comes your way. You do not have to, but you get to.
LEAVING A LASTING IMPACT
Hans Ivander
Bachelor of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 2018
IoT Engineer McKinsey & Company
My job
I am part of the Digital Capability Centre and my role is to deliver client engagements and build assets or expertise in the Industry 4.0 domain, specifically in the Manufacturing and Supply Chain sector. In my current client study, my role is to identify business opportunities from client operations, select the technology solution to implement, and conduct Change Management to address front-line user adoption.
How I got my job
I applied for this role through the McKinsey careers portal. Once I got past the resume screening, I was invited to take the Problem-Solving Game to demonstrate problem-solving skills which I thought was an interesting format. After that round, I had four one-hour case interview sessions. Personally, the case interviews were the most challenging round for me as my past experiences were mostly Engineering-related. I spent a few weeks to familiarise myself with the interview structure and reached out to Associates and Engagement Managers through LinkedIn.
The highs and lows
The most fulfilling part of my job is to be able to leave long lasting impact to the clients even after the project has ended. I also enjoy meeting and interacting with new people which gives me a broader knowledge and views.
As most may know, the common drawback from consulting is the long working hours. Personally, I also think the expectations and steep learning curve contribute to the high stress levels.
My happiest moment at work
The most memorable project that I have worked on was when I was able to bring new insights to the client team, which successfully garnered the buy-in from front line operators and maintaining close relationship to act as a trusted advisor to the business owner. I enjoyed being able to ‘leave a mark’ and witness the journey that the clients have taken.
Some advice
Two pieces of advice that I would share based on my experience — first, be completely honest with yourself. Second, having good relationship with the people that you work with is critical to ensure that you have a good experience and being able to deliver your work.
STAY CURIOUS, KEEP LEARNING
Kek Jing Yu
Bachelor of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 2019
Senior Engineer Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)
My job
I am a Senior Engineer with DSTA’s Command, Control and Communications (C3) Development Programme Centre, where we design and develop C3 systems to help the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) better manage and coordinate their operations. My work focuses on software development and I am currently working on sense-making for a maritime security command and control system alongside my team. We ensure that data collected from maritime sensors and sources is pieced together to form a seamless and comprehensive maritime situation picture. Using artificial intelligence and data analytics, the system also provides real-time detection of potential threats. I also conduct research and implement various analytic models to identify anomalous vessel behaviour, like illegal manoeuvres.
How I got my job
Through my DSTA Scholarship and internships in the Defence Technology Community during my studies, I found meaning in contributing to Singapore’s defence. When I got the opportunity to intern with DSTA in my freshmore year, I worked with a team of engineers to develop computer vision models that helped identify objects based on photos with limited imagery details.
It resonated strongly with my desire to have meaning and purpose in my job, which eventually led me to join DSTA. With my background in engineering and software development, I now work on a wide range of multidisciplinary projects, from research to delivery.
The highs and lows
The challenges we face are unique due to the nature of national defence, and oftentimes, there are no commercial solutions readily available for us to use. Overcoming such challenges requires expertise from a variety of domains and deep technical knowledge, which was daunting for me at first. Thankfully, my colleagues are always there to provide guidance, and everyone will pitch in their experience and expertise to resolve the issues efficiently.
At DSTA, work is not our only focus. We also hold various activities to recharge and bond with our team. Prior to Covid-19, we had Developers’ Fridays, where we would gather over technical sharing, food, and games after work. It provided a platform for me to not only connect with my team, but also meet new people from different departments. Although such gatherings are now restricted, we still hold smaller online sessions with our project teams to catch up with one another.
My happiest moment at work
To me, the most fulfilling part of my job is seeing the systems and software I develop being put into operation. Back in April 2020 when Covid-19 cases spiked among migrant workers in dormitories, my colleagues and I developed a command and control system that provided comprehensive situational awareness and aided in resource planning. This enabled the Inter-agency Task Force to better collaborate and respond more effectively. Given the urgent situation then, we needed to develop new capabilities, while continuing to maintain system stability and minimising downtime. Ultimately, we were motivated by a common purpose, and it was rewarding to see the data dashboards I created contribute towards Singapore’s fight against Covid-19.
Some advice
Do not be afraid to try new things, because it is okay to make mistakes! Unlike exams in school, there is often no right or wrong answer. With a dareto-fail attitude, resourcefulness, and a sense of curiosity in approaching problems, we can keep learning and continue to better ourselves.
