PUBLISHED 10 APRIL 2024
The first Meet the Team of 2024 takes us to the support team, and a man who is on the frontline, helping our customers on a daily basis.
Andrew Jackson is our lead support engineer, and after spending many years in the industry, he has a relentless enthusiasm for ensuring your systems are running without any issues.
Here, he tells us why he enjoys the job so much, and what led him to return to Clydebuilt after a break of nearly a decade.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I grew up in a small village not too far from our office in Paisley, and became somewhat obsessed with technology at a young age. I eventually went to University and earned an honours degree in Computer Science in 2009 and had a chance to work with the Clydebuilt team for more than a year during this time. After working a number of technical roles in the European and Pacific markets for several years, I returned to Uni and completed a Masters Degree. Then, in late 2021, I returned to CBS and have been working here ever since.
What is your job title and can you describe what you do?
I’m a member of the Support team, meaning I’m usually the first point of contact for anyone experiencing issues with their system. This can be as simple as explaining how something works, or as advanced as creating code scripts and performing database maintenance. In current industry slang, this might be known as DevOps, where IT skills are combined with Development skills.
How long have you worked for Clydebuilt?
At time of writing, a little over two years, however I also had the pleasure of working with the team in the early 2010s. After working with other Support teams in the EU and Pacific markets for several years, and completing a Master’s degree, I returned to Clydebuilt and have worked here ever since.
What is the favourite project or product that you have worked on with Clydebuilt?
I really enjoy working with the eFramework, our web interface. Working with web-based components is a completely different ball game to local applications!
Do you have a favourite thing about Clydebuilt?
After years working an industry that was increasingly buried in red tape – where support cases involve sending a dozen notifications and Knowledge Base articles before escalating to another team – the ability to simply pick up the phone and help our customers right away is very refreshing!
What’s your drink of choice in the office?
Orange juice. Some may find it blasphemous, though I’m not a fan of hot drinks!
What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid?
A vet! I’ve always loved animals, and growing up in a rural village, it seemed like a likely career path.
What website do you visit the most?
xkcd.com – if you work in this industry, you know why!
What was the last book you read?
‘Thing Explainer’ by Randall Munroe.
Where are we likely to find you outside of work?
Either in front of another computer, or out for a walk.