People of SCION - Ross Wotherspoon

Here at SCION, we are proud of all our employees for all they do behind the scenes, so we thought it was time to put them in the spotlight. This series does exactly that; you get a sneak peek into what drives, excites and enamours our team. We hope you enjoy it!

Let’s get into it…

Meet Ross Wotherspoon, Graduate Software Application Developer here at SCION Instruments!

Tell me about your role at SCION

I’m a Software Application Developer; my role covers developing and maintaining the applications that SCION provides. A typical week for me starts with sprint planning, where we meet as a team and plan out our workload. This allows us to not only be more efficient in our planning but also makes it easier to see progress in larger projects. Then, I’ll work on my assigned tasks for the week, this can range from development of new software products to product support. 

What made you choose SCION? and how long have you been here?   

While I am a software developer, my background was originally in chemistry. The opportunity to bring together both of my interests into a single job was very interesting to me. Alongside this, having worked in industry, I felt I could bring a customer-driven approach to software, and that I could make a real difference. I’ve now been with SCION for 8 months, and those initial plans have been realised. With a small development team providing value and making an impact is a given. 

Do you have any goals for this year?

In terms of work-related goals, I always want to improve on my coding, and with mentorship from the senior engineers in my team this goal should be easily achievable. As for personal goals, I’m an avid rock climber, and I’m aiming to move from indoor to outdoor climbing over the summer months. 

Where would we find you on the weekend? 

In the winter months I play ice hockey, so often that dominates my time outside of working hours. I also like to climb and hike, so when I’m free you’ll usually find me either in the hills or in the climbing centre. I’m also a big fan of theme parks and rollercoasters, so when I can I try to visit these. 

What was your first ever job? 

My first job was working at Snow Factor indoor ski slope in Glasgow as a member of the slope team, we were responsible for installing and removing jumps, rails and other features, fitting and maintenance of rental ski and snowboard equipment as well as slope monitoring for customer safety. It was a good way to get some free time skiing, and I met some great people. 

What is your favorite food? 

Chocolate digestives. 

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? 

I’d love to see the south pole. I plan on visiting all 7 continents, and this one is definitely the most difficult. 

Top 5 movies 

• Hot Fuzz 
• Scream 
• Django Unchained 
• Parasite 
• Shaun of the Dead