Meet a Technology Co-op

Alma Mater: Drexel University

Hometown: Reading, PA

What made you decide to join our team?

When I was interviewing for my co-ops at Drexel, it seemed like the interviews, companies, and roles started to blend together. SIG stood out from my other interviews because of the people I interviewed with. They were personable and genuinely passionate about technology. Throughout the interview, they challenged me with difficult problems. If I ever got stuck on a question they asked, they would take the time to work through it with me. It really felt like they were more interested in how I approached the problem than if I got the answer right immediately, which really impressed me.

What do you like best about working here?

The environment here is really casual. Not only do we have a casual dress code, but the atmosphere is very relaxed as well. It’s not uncommon to see two developers talking about a problem over coffee. It’s great to be able to get the perspective of one of my peers and learn from them in an informal way. I actually have two mentors at SIG who have really gone above and beyond, showing me how to grow as not just a developer, but as a SIG developer. A SIG developer differs from things I’ve done in school, where I’m focusing on solving the task in front of me and not worrying about how my solutions will work in the long term. At SIG, our developers work on solving problems quickly, but then continuously going back to them to make them better.

What projects and experiences have been most rewarding for you so far?

During my co-op, I worked on a server-side monitor with one of my mentors. Even though he oversaw the project, he gave me the opportunity to develop sections of it by myself. My mentor was always there to give me guidance if I needed him, but I enjoyed having the independence to create something on my own. It was a great learning experience and was nice to see my code go into production. The project that I worked on is now being utilized by three additional teams, which is really cool.

If you were speaking with a graduate who was considering starting their career at SIG, what advice would you give them?

Never take technology at face value. Learn how everything works under the hood. At SIG, we’ll encourage you to dive in and learn about how things work. You also have the opportunity to get your hands on a lot of different technologies here, which has helped me continue to learn and grow as a developer.

In your opinion, what is the best perk we offer?

Discounted restaurant gift cards! The restaurants have incredible menus and distinct atmospheres. If I had to pick a favorite it would be The Continental, but I love going to all of them.

What is your favorite thing about living in the Philadelphia area?

Proximity to everything – you’re an hour away from the beach but an hour away from hiking trails in the mountains too. I also love going to concerts and there are so many theaters, concert halls, and stadiums central to Philadelphia that is nearly impossible to miss your favorite artist when they are on tour. Also: cheesesteaks.