Working towards a technical future - TDSi

T S AW CE A D R V I OE RT BN I A I S B

WORKING TOWARDS A TECHNICAL FUTURE

Vlad Radoi is Integrated security manufacturer TDSi’s latest student placement, having recently joined the company for a twelve-month placement as part of his BSc in Software Engineering studies at Bournemouth University.

INTERVIEW PROVIDED BY TDSI

What first got you interested in becoming a software engineer?

Like many other people, I was obsessed with video games as a child. As well as playing them I was intrigued by how they were made, the complex working behind them and how they were developed. A friend of mine was involved in fixing software issues and inspired me to learn Game development is a really crowded space in terms of building a career, but it became obvious to me that these software

development skills are highly useful in so many industries, and that it was worth looking for the right opportunities to use them.

Why did you choose to study at Bournemouth University?

Bournemouth University has a great reputation for producing talented graduates in various media industries, so it was high on my list of higher education providers when I was choosing where to study.

Added to this, it is near to my family home, which has also been beneficial in terms of

where to live whilst I build my education and career.

Why did the security industry (and TDSi in particular) appeal to you for this placement?

Security is an interesting and exciting area of technology which constantly impacts all our lives. Having researched the security industry in more detail it really appealed to me professionally, as one which has many opportunities for a career, but also plays an important part in keeping us all safe.

As a pre-approved university placement organisation, it was very simple and straightforward for me to come to TDSi.

With a fast-moving and highly specialized development team, TDSi was also the perfect fit for my course requirements and an ideal step for me to enter the security industry.

How does being on a work placement with TDSi benefit your career growth and longterm plans?

My placement at TDSi is the perfect introduction into the security industry.

Not only does it continue my technical training, it also importantly gives me a greater insight into the commercial challenges and rewards.

From a software development point of view, I now get the chance to start from scratch and to build products which match specific market requirements in the real world.

Rather than the challenge of simply completing a task, I am now helping to develop features which directly impact and assist people, businesses, and organisations. These systems are fully tested and must stand up to full commercial scrutiny, which is really exciting!

There are always new challenges and opportunities in the security industry. This is a sector which is moving quickly and is often at the cutting edge.

BSIA Broadcasts

How do you think the security industry can attract more software engineering talent? How can the security industry benefit from attracting more software engineers?

From a graduate and younger engineer’s point of view, I would say security providers need to have a better presence on social media. As a primary way of attracting a younger audience, this is the best way to reach out to the next generation of professionals and to attract this talent to work in your business.

Why is the security industry a good one for software engineers to work in?

I was drawn by the fact there are always new challenges and opportunities in the security industry – this is a sector which is moving quickly and is often at the cutting edge of software technology.

Security threats are always evolving and emerging, so these software systems are at the forefront of protecting people and property from a wide range of threats. It is a great opportunity to make a real difference! Software will continue to be a key component of security moving forwards, so the industry needs to embrace these vital skills. There are very complicated challenges to security, particularly from the cyber world, so it is essential that this is addressed with systems which anticipate and outmanoeuvre these threats.

By making this an attractive and supportive sector for software developers, the security industry can be at the forefront of software development and evolution, attracting the best talent and ensuring the solutions we deliver continue to make a big difference to people’s lives.

Not only does [my placement helps to] continue my technical training, it also importantly gives me a greater insight into the challenges and rewards.