Rajasimha Narasimhakumar in Finland

What country are you currently living in, and what motivated your decision to move there?

I’m currently living in Suomi, which is known to the world outside as Finland! I moved here for work after graduating in Autumn 2021 with an MSc in Computer Science.

I have always been interested in travelling around the world, and it so happened that I found an opportunity to explore the Nordics after completing my studies at ETH. I was happy to get an offer from a startup working on cutting-edge quantum computing technology that could make an impact on the world in the future. I felt that a serene place with frosty winters would make me stronger from within and wanted to give it a try!

Can you describe a typical day in your life?

For me, every day feels somewhat special and different here. I usually begin my day slightly later than usual due to the cold mornings for most part of the year, starting my work around 9:30 AM and working generally until 6 PM in the evening. However, I use the evenings to explore interesting locations around Helsinki and Espoo. It’s quite interesting to note that both Summer and Winter offer different outlooks.
During longer days with sufficient sunlight and warmth (May to October), I like to visit a nearby lake or forest, stroll around admiring the natural beauty, tasting wild berries and fruits, whereas during colder months, I prefer to hang out with friends at restaurants or movie theatres and occasionally taking walks in the snow-covered walking trails and relaxing in a sauna afterwards. Sometimes, I stargaze during clear nights and go searching for the northern lights (aurora borealis). I have been lucky to observe aurorae quite a few times last year due to solar maximum.

How has the country you're living in influenced your daily life?

Having lived in Switzerland for some years, Finland feels similar to me in many aspects: non-crowded and quiet, having strong seasonal variations, nice and helpful people who are punctual and reliable, and an extremely stable and efficient system overall. Coming from India which is a tropical country with a mostly laid-back lifestyle, I perceive that living in this part of the world is generally more challenging in some aspects, but it does inculcate in me discipline and self-sufficiency. I find myself much more organized, being able to pursue hobbies alongside work, and connected a lot more with nature. Alongside an excellent work culture with low hierarchical structures, Finland has taught me how to have a proper work-life balance, spend some quality time with family and friends, and build confidence in myself.

What is your current job, and what does your typical workday look like?

I work as a software engineer at IQM Quantum Computers, a global leader in superconducting quantum computers, which offers both on-premises full-stack quantum computers and a cloud platform to access its computers.

I am part of the Data and Analytics team that is responsible for developing the data lake and warehouse solutions to store and analyse data from different R&D functions such as design, fabrication, calibration, and quantum software teams to connect their processes and provide a democratized access to data that enables them to optimize their workflow.

My typical workday starts with a daily stand-up meeting in the morning, followed by discussions with stakeholder teams that include many quantum physicists. The bulk of the work involves implementing features for our data pipeline, testing, code reviewing of colleagues, refining issues by gathering requirements, etc. like in any software team.