Sophie Hergot
Embedded Software Engineer, Turntide Technologies, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
She had always wanted to do something a bit different when it came to studying at university, says Sophie Hergot who came to AUT as an international student from Norway to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
“If you can go wherever you want in the world for uni, then why stay in the country where you spent your whole life? So I decided to go as far as I possibly could from Norway and study in New Zealand. AUT appealed to me with the industry-oriented and practical approach to its engineering degree, and I’ve never regretted my decision to study at AUT.”
Sophie says the highlights of her time at university all come down to the people.
“I met some amazing friends during my time at AUT, both from the international student community and from my course. I had some amazing lecturers as well who helped me realise the full potential of an engineering degree and all the possible directions it could take me. That helped me discover my passion for embedded engineering and shape my engineering career into what it has become today.”
A new life in the UK
After graduating from AUT at the end of 2019, Sophie is now back in Europe and loves working for Turntide Technologies, which specialises in making smart, sustainable motor systems.
“On a day-to-day basis, I develop embedded software. This involves varied tasks ranging from bare-metal coding to building software for complex safety critical software systems for the automotive industry, while also collaborating with controls and hardware engineering teams.”
Being able to see the impact her work makes is one of the highlights for her.
“I get to be part of the full journey from product design to software development and software releases to customers. This means I can see how my work is being used in the real world and go ‘I wrote the software that makes that work!’”
Advice for other students
Sophie has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their university journey.
“Go for it! You never know what you’re capable of until you try. It was scary for me to move to a whole new country where I didn’t know anyone to study something that at times seemed really difficult. But looking back I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
“Both my time at university and the time I spent exploring New Zealand is time I’ll always look back on with a smile on my face.”
