In this instalment of our 'Meet the
Team' series we talk to Harbinder Kang about his role, his
motivations and find out what he does to get away from it
all.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN RISK?
I'm the Lead QA Engineer in the TopOffice development group.
This means I am responsible for making sure that we provide a
stable and well performing product to our clients on release date.
I like to feel we take a progressive approach towards achieving
that aim by employing a software engineering practise known as
continuous integration (CI). CI boils down to implementing quality
control with small pieces of effort, applied frequently during
development, replacing the traditional model of post-development
quality control. The aim is to improve the quality of software, and
to reduce the time taken to deliver it. One of the challenges of
using CI is to ensure the entire team employ a CI mindset; I have
enjoyed helping to bring about that change within my team.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS ROLE?
I spent my placement year at Thomson Reuters and the experience
helped me grow as with opportunities to work with a diverse set of
individuals. After I graduated I was given the opportunity to join
a small team that had just been acquired by Thomson Reuters,
working on a front office risk platform that was then called JRisk.
The challenge of working with a small galvanised team with the
mentality of start-up appealed to me.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WORKING IN RISK?
I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to progress my career
within the RISK team. Because the team is small and yet dynamic, I
have had the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of software
development from support through to project management. The added
benefit is the social dynamic of our team; a competitive yet
friendly game of football or badminton is always a nice way to
finish the day.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN RISK?
The great thing about my role is that I get a rounded view of
the product and how well it works for our clients. I have a
somewhat unique vantage point that allows me to see the successes,
as well as the areas where we face challenges. I enjoy the
problem-solving and client interaction elements of what I do that
allow me to take a lead in how we shape the product and the way our
team works on a day to day basis. Working with incredibly skilled
and capable individuals is an added bonus, not to mention a great
motivator!
HOW DO YOU GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?
I love getting active, martial arts having been a particular
passion of mine from a young age. I find the physical and mental
disciplines involved a good way to escape from day-to-day rigours
and I value the social circle that I am now privileged to be a part
of.
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