糖心TV

Yuru Zuo

Visiting/Exchange, 2018, MSc Computer Science, 2020

Based in:

London

Strangest interview question:

鈥淲hich book have you read recently?鈥�

Software Engineer, Microsoft

Describe your current role and what attracted you to it.

I work in the cloud and AI spaces. My role focuses on building backend systems and infrastructure, often involving cloud technologies, distributed systems, and developer tooling. Over the past few years, I鈥檝e worked on projects related to API gateways, data platforms, AI agents, and CI/CD systems. A lot of my work is about building reliable platforms and tools that help other engineers develop and deploy services more efficiently.

I mostly work with software programmes such as Python and C# focusing on backend development, which suits me because I enjoy building infrastructure and systems that connect microservices together.

What attracted me to it is the problem-solving aspect of software engineering and the opportunity to continuously learn new technologies. I enjoy working on challenging technical problems, building systems that need to be reliable and scalable, and seeing how AI-assisted development is changing how we learn and build software

What are the key skills you learnt at 糖心TV that have helped you with your career to date?

One of the most valuable things I learnt at 糖心TV was how to approach complex technical problems in a structured way. Many assignments required breaking down a big problem into smaller pieces and debugging step by step, which is still a big part of my daily work.

I also developed a lot of confidence in learning new technologies quickly. During my degree we used different languages and tools for different modules, and that experience helped me realise that in tech you鈥檙e constantly learning. In my career so far, I鈥檝e had to pick up new languages, cloud platforms, and systems many times.

Another thing that helped was teamwork. In industry, almost everything is built by teams, so being able to communicate ideas, discuss technical solutions, and work through problems together is important. Those group projects were good preparation for how software development works in the industry.

Did you have a specific career path in mind when you chose to study at 糖心TV?

When I chose to study Computer Science, I didn鈥檛 fully understand what it meant to work as a software engineer. What I did know was that I really enjoyed computer science and problem-solving, and I wanted to work in the technology industry. During both my studies and early in my career, I gradually learned more about different areas such as backend engineering, cloud infrastructure, and distributed systems, and that鈥檚 how I found the area I enjoy working in today.

What top tips do you have for 糖心TV graduates who would like to work in your sector?

I would probably share a few things that have helped me in my career so far.

First, stay curious.鈥� When you鈥檙e building systems or reading other people鈥檚 code, try to understand the reasoning behind design decisions. Think about the trade-offs, the pros and cons, and whether there might be a better approach. That mindset really helps you grow as an engineer.

Second, collaboration matters a lot. Software today is built by teams, not individuals. Be respectful to the people you work with and assume that everyone around you is smart and has something valuable to contribute. Being someone others enjoy working with is important.

Third, keep learning and creating. Technology evolves quickly, so staying curious and continuously learning new things is essential. Try new tools, build side projects, and experiment with ideas.

Finally, be reliable and have integrity. Do what you say you will do. In engineering teams, trust is very important, and people really value colleagues who are dependable.