Megan Arnold

Software Engineer

Arm - we are leading designers of microprocessors

I work with a large team to write code (in lots of different languages) to help create simulations (or models) of the chip designs. This means other people can use our models in place of a physical processor.

I love that I get to spend most days writing code that has a lot of value to our product! And I love that I get to learn off lots of people who are really clever!

Most of our tasks will be to either add a new feature or fix something thats broken so I spend most of my time either looking at the existing code, and learning how it works, or writing new code to implement the new functionality / fix the broken parts.

I am currently a degree apprentice so after Sixth Form (I did IB instead of A-levels with Computer Science, Maths and Physics as my higher level subjects and English Lit, Geography and Spanish as my standard level subjects), I joined Arm without a degree and now I study and work simultaneously. Arm pays me for working and I have no tuition fees!

Obviously, I want to develop my career lots and work my way up the ladder but also I want to help make sure that girls are given as much access to the industry as boys are and that all women get equal opportunities in the workplace. In the longer term, I also want to settle down and have my own family, but I don't want to have to sacrifice my career for that, hence I am passionate about speaking up about casual sexism and gender discrimination acts that put us in a more disadvantaged position than our male counterparts.

I like to spend my spare time chatting with friends, reading books (paperback is always best!) and volunteering with my local Girlguiding Units.

“The only phrase I’ve ever disliked is, ‘Why, we’ve always done it that way.’ I always tell young people, ‘Go ahead and do it. You can always apologize later.'” - Grace Hopper, Programming Pioneer