Aries Systems Corporation

Tell us a little about yourself – how long have you been working for Aries? What did you do before joining Aries?

I started my journey with Aries in 2021 as a contractor working within the Engineering team, and formally joined as a permanent employee in 2022 as a development squad leader. Before joining Aries, I was a contractor from Infosys ltd to Elsevier since 2014 and I was developer on their former EES (Elsevier Editorial System) squad. Apart from Aries and Elsevier, I worked for several IT service companies in various domains such as health care and marketing.

What have your roles at Aries been?

My role and projects at Aries have evolved in the past couple years. As a contract Engineer, I began as part of the GEMS agile development squad and then later moved to the Enterprise squad. When I was hired as a permanent Aries employee, I moved back to the GEMS squad and transitioned my role to a lead developer for the team. The GEMS squad is specifically dedicated to develop/enhance EM and internal tools to support internal users and Elsevier projects. Key projects that GEMS manages include enhancing Adobe Analytics tracking, enhancing the EM Ingest service for NSE (New Submission Experience) needs, redesigning Translation Utility Web, and hosting EM Home page upload utility and EM Help in the cloud.

How have your previous roles helped you in your current position?

My previous role as an Elsevier contractor back in 2014 involved working extensively with an older version of EM (EES). This background experience gave me a deep understanding of the application’s architecture, functionality, and potential challenges, allowing me to quickly contribute and add value at Aries. Additionally, the technical knowledge I gained and my familiarity with the agile process have been instrumental in helping me lead the team efficiently. I can anticipate potential roadblocks, streamline development processes, and ensure that we adhere to agile principles, all of which have enabled our team to deliver high-quality results with minimal disruption.       

How do you stay up to date with customer needs and industry trends?

I stay up to date with customer needs and industry trends by actively engaging in continuous learning and collaboration. I’m always open to exploring new approaches and technologies, which help me stay current and adapt to changing demands. Participating in guilds allows me to learn from my peers and gain insights into customer needs and industry best practices. Additionally, I regularly seek feedback from customers on the products we deliver, ensuring that we align with their expectations. To keep my technical skills sharp and stay informed about the latest developments, I often take online courses.

Tell me about your department and the people you work most closely with.

Beyond my teammates (Dev Engineers, QA Engineers, and Product Owner) on the GEMs squad, I also collaborate with my colleagues from the wider Aries Engineering department. Also, I often work closely with members from other departments including Aries’ Client Services (CS) and Product Management teams.

How do you collaborate with other departments within Aries?

I collaborate closely with various departments within Aries, including Client Services, DBA, and documentation teams – particularly when working on internal utility development initiatives. These teams are key users of the utilities we create, so I engage with them regularly to gather their input, ensure the tools meet their needs, and address any challenges they face. This cross-functional collaboration helps us develop more effective solutions, streamline workflows, and ensure that the utilities we produce are truly valuable to the end users.

Describe your typical workday.

My typical workday begins with a stand-up call with the development and QA engineers based in India. Since I work from the UK, I spend the first half of my day primarily collaborating with my team in India. During these hours, I focus on removing any obstacles they might encounter and ensuring they have everything needed to make progress. Around noon, I join a stand-up with the entire team, including members from both the US and India. The remainder of my day is dedicated to addressing priority tasks and working closely with cross-functional teams to support the successful delivery of our projects.

What do you most enjoy about your job? What do you enjoy most about working for Aries?

The thing I enjoy most about working at Aries is the wonderful culture. It fosters collaboration, growth, and innovation, making it an exciting place to work. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to explore different approaches, which keeps me engaged and continuously learning. The dynamic nature of the work not only helps me grow professionally but also makes each day feel rewarding.

What are you currently reading, listening to, or watching?

I enjoy Indian classical music, which I find both calming and inspiring. I’m particularly fond of compositions by Ilayaraja, a renowned music composer from South India, whose work I deeply admire. His music has a timeless quality that I enjoy listening to, especially during my travels, where I keep a playlist of my favorite tracks.

Tell me about some of your hobbies/interests outside of work.

One of my main hobbies outside of work is playing cricket. I’m passionate about the sport and spend most of my Saturdays during the summer playing club cricket. It’s a great way for me to stay active, connect with others, and enjoy some friendly competition.