Riverlane
Cambridge
Riverlane builds technology for quantum computers, a new kind of computer that can solve certain problems far faster than today's machines. Quantum computers are very sensitive to errors, so specialised chips are used to detect and correct mistakes as they happen. My placement was in the team that checks these chips work correctly before they are used. I built new tools and tests to catch problems in the chip's design early, before it is manufactured, saving time and cost later in the process.
I joined a brand new project within the verification team, with no existing process to follow, so I had a lot of freedom to design my own approach. I built a testing tool that lets engineers write precise, targeted tests for the chip rather than relying only on random testing. I also built an automated system to run large batches of tests and report results clearly, and a checking system that compares the real chip's behaviour against a software model to catch mismatches. I presented this work to engineers across the wider company and improved the team's day to day development setup.
Digital hardware design and testing, programming in Python, UVM, working with industry-standard chip simulation tools, and diagnosing performance problems in complex software systems.
Working independently on an open-ended project, explaining technical work clearly to people with different backgrounds, giving and receiving feedback, prioritising my own time, and taking ownership of problems that did not clearly belong to any one person.