Tom Christie

I help to design and build our software, and ensure that we consistently deliver well-engineered, reliable products.

What do you do?

I'm a Senior Engineer at DabApps.

I see myself as a design-minded engineer and am involved in building both the core framework of our software, and in helping to put together the front-end elements. I'm also particularly interested in developing our automated test processes. I came to web development from a background in speech recognition software, and networking technology.

What do you love about your job?

It's an incredibly exciting time to be working with the web right now. There's a real sense of energy, and of a shared commitment to trying to make the world a better place through technology. Being a small part of that makes me proud of what I do.

What do you think software companies ought to be doing to succeed today?

Engaging with the wider tech community is vital - it's the only way to stay relevant and to keep learning. I also think it's really important for teams to try to stay as cross-discipline as possible. Often in the software world you'll find a big divide between the front-end designer roles, back-end developer roles, and software test roles - I'd like to see that start to change. Building a shared appreciation for each others craft is so important to building a great team.

What brought you to Brighton?

The wonderful creativity and buzz of the place, really - there's such a sense of community. I haven't been here all that long, but it feels like home. I wouldn't be anywhere else right now.

So, what else do you get up to then?

It depends, I tend to be quite an all-or-nothing kind of person. Sometimes I'm hugely into running or cycling - I've run the Beachy Head marathon, which is pretty ridiculous - some of the hills are tough enough even walking. Other times I get really involved in spoken word events, drawing and other creative pursuits.