C#
Better C# Switch Statements for a Range of Values
By hackajob Staff
It’s not every day you go from preserving historic cottages to building software at one of the UK’s biggest tech employers. But that’s exactly what Jen did.
In a recent episode of The DevLab Podcast, we sat down with Jen to talk about how she shifted from a decade-long career in heritage to becoming a software engineer at BAE Systems. Her story isn’t just inspiring, it’s a real-world reminder that breaking into tech doesn’t have to follow the traditional playbook.
Swapping spreadsheets for software
Jen studied history at university and went on to work with the National Trust, looking after places like Thomas Hardy’s Cottage in Dorset. But after having her first child and relocating 200+ miles north, she found herself at a crossroads. "I was in my mid-thirties, with a young kid, and my old career path just wasn’t an option anymore," she says.
Over dinner one night, a friend in HR casually suggested she look into coding bootcamps. "I thought it sounded like some kind of fitness class," Jen laughs. But that throwaway comment turned into something more. She started teaching herself to code through free resources like Codecademy and FreeCodeCamp and quickly got hooked.
From there, she enrolled in a part-time bootcamp in Manchester that fit around family life. Six months later, she landed a role at BAE Systems as an entry-level software engineer.
From JavaScript to Java (and everything in between)
Jen's first project at BAE Systems didn’t use the JavaScript she had learned; it used Java. "I remember thinking, great, I just learned all this and now I have to start again," she says. But instead of backing down, she dug in.
"Once you know one language, it’s like learning French after Spanish," she explains. "The fundamentals are the same, it’s just the syntax that changes."
Four years on, Jen is now shadowing as a tech lead, blending her technical growth with the people skills she developed in her previous career. "It’s about bringing those two halves of me together, the softer skills and the technical skills."
Imposter syndrome, representation, and real talk
Like many women in tech, Jen’s dealt with imposter syndrome. "You walk into a room and you don’t see anyone who looks like you. It puts you on the back foot straight away," she says.
She credits BAE Systems for supporting her growth, both technically and culturally. Jen co-founded the Manchester Women’s Network to help create that sense of community she once wished for. "We host talks, speed networking, even brunches. It makes a real difference to have those connections." This focus on inclusion goes beyond just one office. Across the company, BAE Systems actively invests in women in tech initiatives, supporting school outreach programs and encouraging internal networks like the one Jen helped build.
AI isn’t replacing engineers, it’s helping them
AI is part of Jen’s day-to-day now, but not in the way the headlines suggest. "It's not writing all my code," she says. "It’s more like Google, but better. It helps me debug faster, explore new tools, and make decisions."
She also raises an important point: "I’m glad it wasn’t around when I was first learning. I think I would’ve missed out on learning the hard way, which is often the most valuable."
Her advice? Don’t overthink it
"If you’re even thinking about switching into tech, just do it," she says. "Life’s too short to stay in a job that doesn’t excite you."
Jen's journey is proof that you don’t need a computer science degree or a Silicon Valley background to break into engineering. You need curiosity, resilience, and maybe a friend who casually drops "coding bootcamp" into a dinner conversation.
Watch the full podcast
Want to hear Jen tell her story in her own words? We get into all of the above (and more) in this episode of DevLab. Hit play below to watch the full interview.
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