Life at WeBuild-AI: meet Alec Buchanan, from front-end development to his interesting history in sport

People & Culture

5 Dec

What's your role here at WeBuild-AI?

I am a Lead Software Engineer Consultant, which means I split my time between writing code and figuring out what code is actually worth writing. Half the job is building things properly, the other half is making sure we are building the right things in the first place.

I work across the full stack, although I lean towards the front-end when left to my own devices. Most of my time is spent creating software, but a good chunk also goes towards understanding what would genuinely help the client rather than what just sounds impressive in a demo. Having a balance between technical craft and real-world value is what makes the role really interesting to me.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I am more of an early morning person than a late night one, so I try to get going as quickly as I can before the inevitable afternoon slump. If I’m at home I’ll try and get a quick run in at lunch to refresh the mind, however in the office it’s usually spent wandering the nearby lunch places, once again promising that next week I am going to prepare something to bring in.

In the afternoon I will try to focus on my tasks for the day and make sure I’ve been on the right track, whilst trying to avoid all the snacks and drinks that are way too close to my desk, and yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. At some point along the way I definitely will have done the NYT mini crossword.

What's your career journey been like so far?

It started work at Nottinghamshire County Council, where I learnt my trade as a .NET developer building internal tools and public services. It was a great experience to get a view across the full stack, but somewhere along the way I discovered front-end development and realised I enjoyed the part of the job where people actually see and use what you build.

That discovery eventually pulled me down to London, where I spent seven years in consultancy. I worked across finance, media, healthcare and more, picking up new stacks and new problems with every project. React and Node became my speciality, though I have never been precious about tools - finding the right solution for the right problem is what makes being a consultant fun.

What do you enjoy the most about your job here?

As a consultant I’ve always enjoyed solving problems. I felt immediately when I joined WeBuild-AI that AI tooling was embraced seriously, and not avoided. It’s given me a new understanding of developing software and the confidence to do it in a manageable way.

I also genuinely enjoy learning from the people here. We’re lucky to have some genuinely intelligent people who are incredibly generous with their knowledge. There is something energising about working alongside people who make you better at your job just by being in the room.

Quick fire

Coffee or tea?

Coffee in London, tea up north.

Most British thing you’ve done this week?

Been thoroughly amazed that a return train ticket to the midlands can cost £170.

Are you a nerd (and if so, what topics are you nerdiest in)?

Any kind of sport. Playing wise, I have competed in ultimate frisbee and table tennis national championships, and now I spend most of my spare time on a golf course. The nerdiest part is when you catch me watching chess, even if I have little idea of what is happening.

What's one thing people in work are surprised to learn about you personally?

I technically own a share in two racehorses. One of them won on Friday 🎉

People & Culture