Studying computing gave me an amazon opportunity
Engineer Ellie Trotter tells Anna Burnside how young people can find dream career in tech
WHEN Ellie Trotter was a first year student, a computer coding class changed her life.
Her engineer dad had always encouraged her interest in technology and this early experience proved that it was also the right career for her.
Ellie said: “When I got to Strathclyde University I didn’t really know what to expect.
“I had a class in first year which was learning assembler coding, which is low-level computer programming language.
“I sat down to do my coursework. When I looked at my watch, four hours had passed just like that.
“That’s when I realised that this was what I was meant to be doing in life.”
Ellie studied for a joint degree in computer and electronic engineering in the 90s. Out of 34 students in her year, four were women. “That sort of male-female split is still very common in the industry and sadly hasn’t changed much in the 20 years since.”
Her degree won her a role with Amazon in 2004, when it set up its first research and development centre outside of North America.
She said: “Back then, it was a small business atmosphere. We worked in a small rented office in Edinburgh.
“Fast forward to now, we are a global centre for innovation, science, software engineering and machine learning.
“We have more than 400 staff based in Waverley Gate, responsible for inventing and growing major features for Amazon that are used by customers and selling partners across the world.”
Ellie’s role changed when she came back to work after having her children, who are now nine and 12.
She moved from designing technology to coming up with the technological solutions for customers.
She now runs Amazon’s Voice of the Customer programme with colleagues in the US, using machine learning to personalise shopping for Amazon customers.
Ellie is keen for all young people to grab the great opportunities that tech work offers.
She said: “There is a diversity problem in tech.
“How can tech companies think that they are building for all customers when their workforce doesn’t represent them? Once we have diversity within our own ranks, we are much more mindful of the differing needs of our customers, and can design our tech solutions to address the needs of all our customers.” And while girls are still woefully under-represented, it’s not just a gender issue. Ellie added: “There are plenty of little boys out there who don’t realise that tech could be the future career for them. It’s important to educate kids at a young age and overcome any stereotypes or preconceived ideas.” Ellie set up and ran Tech4Kids to help demystify what it means to work in technology. She said: “We worked hands-on with simple tech materials, showing that there’s really no magic involved. “We showed them that tech is more about solving real world problems rather than just building cool stuff.”
That scheme has now been rolled into a larger Amazon project to promote careers in engineering to all kinds of young people.
Ellie said: “Happiness in your career comes from being in the right kind of job, and flexing your mind to solve the kinds of problems that you can excel at.
“A lot of people have preconceived notions of what being a computer engineer is all about.
“But really, it’s just problem solving.”
Being a computer engineer is just problem solving