Working at Red Gate

Simon Lye
Information Systems Engineer

When did you join Red Gate?

January 2007

What was your first ever job?

Mowing the grass out the front of the truck company where my father worked when I was a teenager for $50 a time. My first 'proper' job was taking phone bets for a betting agency when I was a university student.

Before you arrived at Red Gate what did you do?

Systems Administrator at a mobile phone network provider.

What does your job involve on a day-to-day basis?

Primarily managing Red Gate's internal and external SQL database servers, but also helping manage and maintain our server and networking infrastructure.

What do you like about working in Information Systems at Red Gate?

It is varied and challenging – there is always something to do, or something new to learn. Also, the people I work with make my job very enjoyable.

Complete the following sentence: I know everything there is to know about...

It is varied and challenging – there is always something to do, or something new to learn. Also, the people I work with make my job very enjoyable.

What's your favourite book?

I don't really have one favourite in particular – I'm a bit of a techno-thriller fan, but I'll read anything from Stephen King to Lee Child.

What super power do you wish you had (or have but aren't telling anyone because that's the point of being super)?

Well I always wanted to be a pilot, but mild colour problems with my eyesight prevented that. So flying would be very cool!

Why did you choose Red Gate?

I knew someone who already worked here, I had already heard quite a bit about what a good company this was. So when the opportunity came up to join Red Gate, I jumped at it.

What are your favourite Red Gate perks?

The Christmas functions are fantastic, and also the free food. The team days out would also be up there.

What's your most memorable Red Gate experience so far?

It would probably be the Apple Store day. Also lapping all my colleagues multiple times while go-karting in consecutive years would have to be a highlight!

What's your stance on Marmite?

I like it in small doses from time to time ... and only on toast. But it's a million times better than Vegemite, which is just wrong.

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