Meet Sergey, an integral part of the IK Trax team and the driving force behind the development of our newly released 4003 Pig Signaller App.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Sergey and I am an Android App Developer at IK Trax. I was born in Moldova and moved to Italy when I was 14. I came to the UK in 2014, firstly living in London and then moving to Aberdeen where I decided to study Software Development. I attended college for three years and I am now completing my Honours year at Robert Gordon University.
Outside of work, I have a passion for music – I attended music school and have participated in numerous theatre productions. I also enjoy martial arts and spending time with my wife and our three-year-old son.
Can you share your journey at IK Trax, from being a summer intern to your current position?
At University, we were encouraged to seek a summer placement to give us further hands-on experience and develop our professionalism. This is something that has helped me in my studies as well as the workplace. My primary task during my internship was modifying and improving the EMRx Receiver App. This was challenging, and I was pushed to conduct my own research utilising online sources and AI technologies to navigate the process.
I have found my colleagues to be very approachable and constructive during my time here. This has allowed me to grow both as a developer and a professional. At the end of my internship, I was lucky enough to be offered a part-time position which I am now balancing alongside the completion of my degree.
What are some of the key highlights and some of the biggest challenges you have faced during your time at IK Trax?
During my time at IK Trax, one of the key highlights (and challenges) has been developing the 4003 App. Prior to this, I was mainly tweaking and fixing applications which were already in existence. Starting a project from the ground up was a first for me and it allowed me to work on my weaknesses and grow professionally. Building the 4003 App was a significant achievement, and I found great enjoyment in the process.
Another key highlight was presenting the completed Apps to my colleagues, explaining updates made and demonstrating the functionality. I have always enjoyed public speaking and consider it one of my best skills. I would like more opportunities to do this in the future.
How do the Apps you have worked on and developed contribute to pig tracking and detection and what specific functionality do they offer?
All of our Apps allow the operator to input their required parameters directly into a phone or tablet. This is often a simpler and more user-friendly method compared to using the single push button on the receiver or signaller.
The EMRx App provides a visual display of the received electromagnetic or magnetic signal whilst the 4003 Pig Signaller App provides pig passage information in real-time to the device. Information can also be exported from the Apps for further review. This all provides the user with more flexibility and control during their operations.
Looking ahead, what are your career goals in the field of App Development?
I don’t want to limit myself to App development. As a software developer I believe I should be expanding my horizons and my goal is to learn about different technologies across various fields. I look forward to broadening my knowledge in all areas of software development.
