Charles Weiss: from physicist to software developer
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Dr Charles Weiss has been a key member of the software development team at Zipform Digital for more than two years. With a background in Physics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Tasmania, Charles completed both his Honours and PhD in Physics at the University of Western Australia.
Born in Germany, with a childhood spent in upstate New York, Charles moved to Australia with his parents nearly 15 years ago. A highly regarded member of the Digital Solutions team at Zipform Digital, Charles has been a software developer here for just over two years, working on core technologies used in automation workflows which assist in the distribution of client communications such as email, SMS or print, using coding and problem-solving skills.
We found out more about this fascinating growth area in a recent conversation with Charles.
You’ve been at Zipform Digital for just over two years. What do you think is key to staying engaged and motivated?
A key factor for me has been the people and the culture here. I thoroughly enjoy working with everyone in the Software Development team, as well as people in other teams at Zipform Digital – the camaraderie and technical discussions that take place really feed my need for learning and knowledge and I consider them a perk of the job.
I relish the deep architectural design decisions we must make as a team, and some of the more complex problems that our team of software developers face. Ultimately, I am a problem solver at heart and there is plenty of opportunity for that here.
With 2024 marking the company’s 40th anniversary, are there any key milestones you have experienced during your time so far?
The biggest change I’ve experienced has been the introduction last year of our Agile methodology or “new ways of working” – achieved with the help of Scalabl. It changed the way we work in the Software Development team – we have clearer frameworks, improved clarity on prioritisation and alignment with the overall business goals, meaning a better outcome for our clients.
What would be your advice for anyone looking to get into your field?
I would say just go for it. Software development is a fantastic field; ripe with so much opportunity, and incredibly broad in the areas that it touches. I believe software development has so much to offer – whether it is deep technical problem solving, creative outlets, or even just the fact that you can create an application that does something from scratch.
Zipform Digital is an ever-evolving business and we never run out of interesting and fun problems to solve. There are plenty of new features and improvements to the development architecture landscape that can push the company forward and I’m always looking forward to working on the next one.
Dr Charles Weiss has a PhD in Physics from the University of Western Australia and is a software developer at Zipform Digital. Aided by a strong scientific background and experience in object-oriented programming and data analysis, Charles applies an analytical approach to problem solving within a collaborative environment.
With proven experience in the delivery of core client technologies, Charles applies his problem solving skills to the challenges faced by Zipform Digital clients through application of deep architectural design. An avid rock climber, he takes pleasure in getting away from the screen and hiking the beautiful trails of Western Australia.
Connect with Charles on LinkedIn.