Get to know Mushfiqur

1. Tell us a bit about yourself

I'm originally from Bangladesh, where I studied Computer Science and Engineering for my Undergrad before heading to Sweden to do my Post-grad in the same field. I was a university lecturer back home for about 3.5 years, but I'd always been drawn to working with data hands-on. In 2021, I made the move to the UK, spotted Three Rocks (then Six Sevens before the merger with Adactus) looking for a Trainee Data Engineer, and the rest is history. I even solved a Rubik's cube as part of the interview! Outside of work, I'm a big football fan (watching only these days), and I love video games, movies, and puzzles. Oh, and I have a serious sweet tooth. If there's dessert around, it won't last long.

2. What does a typical day look like for you?

It starts with an early morning nursery run with my 11-month-old daughter, followed by the most important decision of the day: coffee or tea? Coffee wins most days. I work fully remote, which is honestly one of the best things about this role. My day revolves around SQL, Python, and Azure Cloud, and increasingly, AI tools. We have focused stand-ups and general catch-ups with the team, but there's plenty of heads-down time to get stuck into the technical work.

3. What's one lesson from studying that has really stayed with you?

The subjects I gravitated towards, databases, data structures, algorithms, web technologies, all had one thing in common: they helped you to think in systems. That mindset stuck with me more than any single module. It's why I love problem-solving and understanding infrastructure today. There's something deeply satisfying about zooming out, seeing how everything connects end-to-end, and then diving back in to make it work better.

4. What's one of your favourite projects you've worked on?

It has to be what we're building right now, XMS. I'm doing end-to-end development on the data side, from integrating new sources all the way through to customer-facing dashboards. What makes it special is the real impact it has, the tech infrastructure behind it, and of course the team I get to build it with.

5. If you could swap jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be?

Neuza, our QA tester. I think there's something really satisfying about finding issues and improving the quality of the product, and with automation in the mix, it looks doubly fun.

6. What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters" - I am paraphrasing here but the idea is what matters. I picked that up from Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool FC's former manager. It's life advice that applies to everything, including work.

7. How would you describe the team culture in three words?

People-first, collaborative, and supportive.

8. What's the biggest risk you've taken in your career?

Changing careers and moving countries to get into data engineering. Going from being a university lecturer in Bangladesh to a trainee role in the UK was a big leap, but looking back, it's the best risk I've ever taken.

9. What job in your career taught you the most?

Without a doubt, this one. Data has always been my passion, and this role has been like a masterclass that never ends, from wrangling complex pipelines to learning that sometimes the hardest skill isn't technical, it's knowing what to prioritise.

10. What word or phrase do you overuse at work?

"I'm just thinking... let me think." I like to make sure I've thought things through properly before jumping in!