“I learned lots of details about software development and the inner life of computers that I'd never even thought to consider before.”
Who? Tatu – trainee and computer science student at Tampere University, developing embedded control systems for the electrification of the automotive industry at Bitwise. Tatu tells the story of his summer at Bootcamp 2021 in his own words.
True stories from a summer job
Of all the areas of computer science, low-level problems had interested me for a long time. But I hadn't yet had the chance to work on them at all. Thinking about this gap in my work experience, I decided I would fill it the following summer.
I thought back to interesting companies I'd come across at a university careers fair. One Bitwise came to mind thanks to a very practical promotional item: toilet paper. On the company's website I noticed they were doing some seriously interesting work. After I applied, the reply came very quickly, and after the interview there was no doubt where I'd be spending my summer.
I'd got the impression that Bitwise really cares about keeping its people. That also showed in the office décor and facilities. In my experience, Bitwise stands out from other companies in how much organisation goes into onboarding new employees. The summer Bootcamp included lectures and activities for summer trainees, which helped me feel part of the team. Here they don't just drop you into an office chair and expect you to manage on your own. When I started, I was surprised by how relaxed the working culture and environment were. The billiard tables and soft corner sofas came in handy, as I was straight away put on a long-running customer project that tied my brain in knots more than once.
Mentoring to support skills development
This summer was the first time I'd tinkered with embedded systems, so there was a huge amount that was new in the development process. In my earlier software jobs, someone had usually already worked out the solution on Stack Overflow, but now I had to relearn some ways of working. When the development tools and the device you're developing aren't exactly consumer gear, the tools are more complex and you really have to think about what you're doing – not everything is handed to you ready-made. Luckily, my office was full of seasoned pros who knew far more than me, and they mentored me constantly all summer. I learned lots of details about software development and the inner life of computers that I'd never even thought to consider before.
Having waded through the difficulties, I can look back with satisfaction at the know-how I've gained, which is starting to fill exactly the experience gap I came to Bitwise to fill. Now that autumn is here, I'm happy to continue as a part-time employee alongside my studies. The workplace and the people have felt great, and the work itself is on an interesting subject. My contract is very flexible, and I can work as much as each study period allows.