New Starter – Meet Stephen, Rails Engineer

Introducing Stephen Watson, our new Rails Engineer.

We have recently been expanding our development teams and we caught up with new starter Stephen to share some things we didn’t know about him – including a musical claim to fame!

What was your favourite childhood movie?

My childhood was split into two parts, the Scottish arc and Kiwi arc, so a memory from each would be the snow days in Aberdeen. Where you’d listen to the radio in the morning and hope to hear your school was closed so you could go sledging all day.

For New Zealand, it was probably spending Christmas day each year having a BBQ on the beach.

What is one item you couldn’t live without?

I’ve been glued to my Kindle as of late. I’m currently reading Butter by Asako Yuzuki and I’m open to any and all discussions about this book.

And always open to recommendations and/or new friends on GoodReads.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If it was one cuisine definitely Thai food, but one dish, probably pizza.

If you were an animal, what kind would you be?

I get told I have Golden Retriever energy but if I were to choose I’d love to be an Ape. Just a human that doesn’t have to pay taxes.

If you could have dinner with anybody in history, dead or alive, who would it be, and why?

Jay-Z, if you know you know.

What unusual or quirky things do you do regularly?

Listen to AI SpongeBob rap songs, enquire for recommendations.

What’s your favourite movie?

It’s probably Inglourious Basterds but I could quote every line from Harry Potter 1.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what band or music would you want?

Surely the only practical answer is something relaxing to help you sleep. Entertainment-wise though I’d bring out some rappers and make them rap battle.

(My favourite band is The 1975 if that’s what you’re asking)

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

I’d definitely go back to Japan. I spent 2 months there last year and absolutely loved it, the food was incredible. I have a folder on my phone solely dedicated to photos of the bowls of ramen I ate.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?

Right now it’s Sabrina Carpenter. Hardly a guilty pleasure though.

What’s the greatest challenge you overcame?

Either travelling for 6 months solo, last year or upping my life in NZ and moving here but it’s worked out well so far.

What’s one wild or unexpected thing about you?

I have a song with almost 3 million plays on Spotify.

How would you explain your Rails Engineer job to a 5-year-old?

I make the internet look pretty.