Mohammad Bin Ali Soleja (BEng Computer Systems Engineering, 2024)

Why did you choose to study your programme?

I chose Computer Systems Engineering because it sits at the intersection of hardware, software and problem-solving. I wanted a degree that would give me a strong foundation in programming and system design while also helping me understand how computers, networks and embedded systems work end to end. Modules such as Procedural Programming, Object-Oriented Programming, Digital Circuit Design and Communications and Networks confirmed that it was the right fit because they combined theory with practical application.

Why did you choose to study at Queen Mary?

Queen Mary stood out to me because of its strong reputation in engineering, its central London location and the diversity of its student community. I wanted to study somewhere academically rigorous but also connected to real-world opportunities. Being in London also meant access to a wider professional network, which became especially valuable as I moved towards internships and then into my graduate role.

What did you most enjoy about your course?

What I most enjoyed was the variety of the course. It covered everything from analogue and digital systems to software engineering, operating systems, embedded systems and UX, so I was constantly learning from different angles. I especially enjoyed the practical side of the degree: designing systems, building projects, coding solutions and seeing how different modules linked together into a full computing and engineering skill set.

Can you share an example of a project, assignment, or activity that stood out to you?

The final-year Project module stood out the most because it brought together the technical and problem-solving skills I had built across the degree. It required me to approach a problem in a structured way, break it into manageable parts, design a solution and then implement and refine it. I also really enjoyed the Software Engineering Project, because it strengthened my experience of translating requirements into something tangible and working in a more realistic project setting.

Which modules did you enjoy the most and were there any academics that had a strong influence on shaping your time and studies here?

I particularly enjoyed Object-Oriented Programming, Software Engineering, Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, User Experience Design and Multi-platform Game Development. Those modules were memorable because they combined technical depth with hands-on problem-solving and showed how different parts of a system come together in practice. Communications and Networks and Digital Circuit Design also gave me a strong engineering foundation. The academics who had the biggest impact on me were the ones who made complex topics approachable and pushed us to think beyond just passing exams, towards understanding how the material would apply in real projects and industry.

Describe your career path since graduating. 

Since graduating with First Class Honours in Computer Systems Engineering, I joined Sky on the Data Science Graduate Scheme. In that role, I worked on machine learning, experimentation and analytics projects, turning large-scale data into business insights and production-ready outputs. Over time, my work broadened into data engineering as well, including building pipelines, working in BigQuery and cloud environments, and supporting data products used by downstream teams. That combination of data science and engineering has been a really valuable next step from my degree.

How has your degree remained relevant throughout your career and are there any particular areas of your degree that you use in your day-to-day job?

My degree remains very relevant because it trained me to think in a structured, systems-oriented way. In my day-to-day work, I still rely heavily on programming, debugging, data handling, systems thinking and breaking complex problems into smaller steps. Modules such as Software Engineering, Operating Systems, Communications and Networks, Embedded Systems and my project work helped build the logical approach I now use when developing pipelines, analysing data and solving technical problems in industry. The degree also strengthened my ability to learn new tools quickly, which has been important as I work across cloud platforms and production environments.

What's one piece of advice you'd offer to someone considering studying your programme at Queen Mary?

Make the most of the breadth of the course. Computer Systems Engineering gives you exposure to hardware, software and system-level thinking, so try to engage with all of it rather than narrowing too early. Take the practical modules and projects seriously, because they build the confidence you need for internships and graduate roles. Also make use of Queen Mary’s wider opportunities in London, whether that is networking, placements or extracurricular projects, because they can really help you bridge university and industry.