
Megan Arnold
Software Engineer
Arm
Arm are the 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 to fix something that's broken. I spend most of my time either looking at the existing code, and learning how it works, or writing new code to implement a new functionality and/or fix broken parts.
I am currently a degree apprentice. After Sixth Form, I joined Arm without a degree. (I did an IB Diploma Programme 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.) Now I study and work simultaneously; Arm pays me for working and I have no tuition fees!
Obviously, I want to develop my career and work my way up the ladder. 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. 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 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. It is the UK's largest girls-only youth charity organisation.
“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