Day in the life of a Junior Electronics Engineer in London - what I do day to day

Summary

Thomas, a Junior Electronics Engineer in London, shares his day at Garrison, a cybersecurity scale-up utilizing hardsec technology. He wakes up around 7:30 a.m. and arrives at work by 8:30 or 9, engaging in various meetings like stand-ups and hardware discussions. Thomas is currently leading a project to develop a test design for a microcontroller board, focusing on establishing SPI communication between a Raspberry Pi and a microcontroller. He uses tools like oscilloscopes and Altium for PCB layout, taking breaks to socialize with colleagues. His day ends around 5:30 pm, offering a glimpse into the life of an electronics engineer.

Takeaways

• 👨‍💼 Thomas is a Junior Electronics Engineer at a cyber security scale-up company named Garrison in London.
• 🏢 Garrison specializes in hardsec technology, which uses FPGA devices for effective security threat elimination.
• 🕗 The company offers flexible working hours, allowing Thomas to start work between 8:30am and 9:00am.
• 📧 Thomas begins his day by checking and responding to company emails.
• 🗣️ He participates in various meetings, including stand-ups, production meetings, and hardware meetings.
• 🔬 Thomas is currently leading a project to develop a test design for a microcontroller board for mass production.
• 💻 He is working on establishing SPI communication between a Raspberry Pi and a microcontroller, using Python for programming.
• 📊 Thomas uses an oscilloscope to debug and confirm the correct format of UART signals.
• 🍽️ For lunch, Thomas usually goes to Lower Marsh, a cost-effective food vendor area, but today he tries Korean food.
• 🤝 He attends a big meeting with hardware engineers and the production team to discuss weekly progress and challenges.
• 🛠️ Thomas uses a variety of tools, including an oscilloscope, voltmeter, and soldering equipment, to advance his project.
• 💻 He also uses programming tools like Python for serial communication and Altium for microcontroller PCB layout design.
• 📚 The job involves a lot of research, reading, and documentation, as well as taking breaks to socialize with colleagues.

Q & A

What is Thomas's profession and where is he located?

Thomas is a Junior Electronics Engineer located in London.

What is the name of the company Thomas works for?

Thomas works for a company called Garrison.

What type of technology does Garrison specialize in?

Garrison specializes in Hardsec technology, which uses FPGA devices for effective security threat elimination.

What is the significance of Hardsec technology in the context of Thomas's work?

Hardsec technology is a practical approach that uses non-Turing machine implementations for security, which is the forefront security system of the company Thomas works for.

How flexible are the working hours at Thomas's company?

The company is quite flexible with working hours, allowing Thomas to either get to work by 8:30 am or 9 am, as long as he works for 8 hours a day.

What is the purpose of the stand-up meeting Thomas attends in the morning?

The stand-up meeting is for the production team to discuss each member's tasks for the day and to address any problems they might need help with.

What is the main project Thomas is currently leading?

Thomas is leading the development of a test design for a microcontroller board for mass production.

What specific task is Thomas working on in the video?

In the video, Thomas is working on establishing SPI communication between his Raspberry Pi and a microcontroller developed by one of his colleagues.

What issue is Thomas facing with the SPI communication?

Thomas is facing an issue where he is receiving no signal at all on the SPI line, which is unusual and requires debugging.

What is Thomas's lunch routine and where does he usually eat?

Thomas usually goes to Lower Marsh for lunch, a spot with food vendors of various cuisines, where he typically spends around six pounds for a meal.

What tools and software does Thomas use in his work?

Thomas uses tools like an oscilloscope, voltmeter, and soldering equipment, and software such as Python for serial communication, Altium for microcontroller PCB layout, and he also develops PCB interfaces using Altium Designer.

How does Thomas balance his work and breaks during the day?

Thomas takes breaks to eat fruits, use his phone, and chat with colleagues to get his mind off work when he's stuck, ensuring he doesn't work continuously for the full eight hours.