Ria Day, Software Developer

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What I do

I help to create and look after the apps and websites that people use to manage their insurance with Aviva, like their car or home insurance.

My job is all about making sure everything runs smoothly and safely – I help build the software, test it and make sure it’s working before customers use it.

I’m also the person behind those software updates you see pop up on your phone!

Software Developer Ria working at her laptop.

How I became a technician

At school, I loved maths and science. I joined a University Technical College (UTC) in Year 10, which focused on computing and engineering, because I had always been interested in technology.

For my GCSEs, I studied triple science, Spanish, computer science, engineering and geography. After that, I went to sixth form to do A-levels. I chose to study biology, chemistry and maths, because I originally wanted to work in medicine.

How I became a technician

During sixth form, I won a scholarship from a group called Arkwright by completing engineering challenges – one of them was taking apart a steam iron!

The scholarship gave me the opportunity to meet engineering companies and explore lots of different engineering careers, like biomedical, chemical and civil engineering. I even did a bit of work experience with the RAF.

How I became a technician

Eventually, I found I enjoyed computing and software development the most, so I applied for a DevOps apprenticeship with Aviva.

I got the job, did 18 months of working and learning for my apprenticeship, passed with a distinction and I’ve been here ever since. I didn’t need a degree to start my career – just curiosity and a love of learning.

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A typical day in my working life

I usually work from 9am to 5pm. Some days I work from home and some days I go into the office.

We start every morning with a quick team meeting to chat about what we’re working on and to see if anyone needs help if they’re stuck with something.

After that, my day can be really different depending on the project I’m working on.

A typical day in my working life

I might be writing new code, testing something, fixing problems or checking the system is healthy and working properly. One thing I do a lot is monitoring. That means I look at logs (digital records) to spot errors and make sure customers aren’t having problems.

I also work on automation, which is where I write scripts that can do jobs for me – like searching for problems and sending alerts. It helps save time and keeps everything running smoothly.

A typical day in my working life

Sometimes I help reduce costs by tidying up our digital storage, using tools that store data in clever ways – like in buckets or blobs (yes, they’re really called that!).

And I work on security too, making sure that customer data is safe and backed up.

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Software Developer Ria wearing headphones, working at her desk with her laptop and two additional screens.

What I love about my job

Every day is different. I love the variety – I never know what challenge I might face next. One day I could be solving a bug, the next day I might be creating completely new software.

Technology is always changing, so there’s always something new to learn or try out. It keeps things exciting.

The skills I use most

Problem solving is a huge part of what I do. I need to spot issues, work out what’s gone wrong and figure out how to fix it.

I also use communication and teamwork because I need to work with people across many different teams.

Coding and using cloud tools are technical skills I use all the time, and I’ve also learned to adapt quickly when new technology comes along. Being curious really helps too!

Behind every smooth digital journey, there’s someone like me making it happen.

Be curious... explore what interests you and keep learning – you never know where it might lead.

A little more about my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

I work with about 15 other engineers, split into smaller teams. We all have different areas we focus on, like finance or security, but we help each other out when needed.

We also share what we’ve been working on, which helps us learn from each other. It feels good to know I can go to someone for help, or that I can support someone else.

My favourite piece of equipment

My favourite tool is something called Terraform. It’s a way of writing code that builds things like servers and storage in the cloud. It’s easy to read and use, and it even checks what will change before you do anything, which helps avoid mistakes.

I like how simple and powerful it is. It’s like giving instructions to the cloud in plain English.

What I like to do in my spare time

I love spending time with my family (there are lots of us!), playing cards and having chats over a cuppa. I also enjoy 3D printing – I used to make little skeleton models and wiggly dinosaurs with my husband.

These days, I do a bit of painting and drawing too. To stay active, I go swimming and do aqua aerobics, which is great for my joints. I also love board games – especially music games or ones involving cards.

My school days

School was tricky at times because I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was 11. I had to deal with flare-ups, pain and even surgeries while doing my GCSEs. At one point, I couldn’t walk or write properly.

It was tough, but I found new ways to learn – like reading and doing research. That’s when I really got into tech and realised I could still build things, just in a different way. It helped shape who I am now.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

I saved £50,000 for the company by improving our storage system. I designed, tested and deployed a new setup all by myself. One part of the process involves deleting the old systems before the new ones are created, and to do this, you need to hit a button which says ‘Destroy’ – it’s scary!

It worked well though and now lots of other teams have started using my setup and asked me to teach them how to do it. That made me feel really proud.

A surprising fact about my job

Even though I don’t talk to customers directly, everything I do affects them. If someone wants to make an insurance claim or check their policy on the app, my work helps make sure that process is fast, safe and easy.

Behind every smooth digital journey, there’s someone like me making it happen.

The next steps in my career journey

Right now, I’m on a secondment, which means I’m working in a slightly different area to build up my skills.

I’m also mentoring new apprentices and learning more about finance and efficiency. I just want to keep growing and helping others.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Be curious and don’t panic if you don’t know what you want to do yet. If something doesn’t work out, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

There are lots of different paths and it’s okay to change direction. Just keep going, explore what interests you and keep learning – you never know where it might lead.