Can you provide an overview of a typical day for software engineers at the AIR Lab?
AIR Lab is a collaborative effort between Thales and CAAS. We work on innovative solutions in various work streams – TBO (Trajectory Based Operation), Green Aviation, Open Secure Platform and more – that aim to boost efficiency, sustainability and safety in the domain of Air Traffic Management. I am part of the RCP (Regional Collaborative Platform) Squad, where we are developing a platform that will facilitate experimentation and collaboration between ANSPs in the region.
We start the day with a daily stand up with the whole squad. We use this time to share updates about our tasks and discuss any roadblocks we are facing. We also regularly do discussions with our technical leads and solutions architect, regarding architectural changes and new technologies we are adopting
We collaborate with ATCOs (Air traffic controllers) during workshops to get feedback and understand the perspective of our users. These sessions are particularly valuable as they enhance our understanding of the domain and shape the solutions that we create for the end users
What skills or training would you recommend to someone entering this profession?
There are some skills that I think can help set you on track to becoming a software engineer. Firstly, becoming proficient with cloud tools is necessary in today’s tech landscape, as software development and deployment is becoming cloud native. I think product-focused engineering, where one understands the end-user’s needs and aligns technical solutions accordingly, is especially important too.
The field of software engineering is constantly evolving. It’s good to stay updated with the latest technologies, tools, and best practices! Some of the best engineers I work with are constantly upgrading their skills by learning new technologies, getting certifications, attending tech conferences and sharing their knowledge with the rest of the team.
What are the recent trends or developments impacting your industry?
Generative AI has been a hot topic lately! Tools like ChatGPT definitely come in handy as a software engineer when coming up with boiler plate code, or even as a resource when learning new technologies. It will be interesting to see how Generative AI will play a role in the ATM industry.
Can you talk about a project or achievement that you are particularly proud of in your career?
We recently hosted the Deputy Prime Minister at AIR Lab to share with him how our teams are developing innovations in the Aviation industry. As a team, we were proud to share our months of hard work. We’re excited to see the REP platform foster collaboration and innovation and help make aviation a safer and more sustainable industry.
