Chengqing L.

Senior Staff Engineer
Happy to mentor
Happy to be contacted

About me

Chengqing L.
Computer Science
Autonomous Robotics Engineering ( CS&EE joint course )
Taught Postgraduate
Langwith
2016
China

My employment

Senior Staff Engineer
Baidu
China
Digital and IT services
Large business (250+ employees)
2016

More about Chengqing

BAME student
Mature student

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A day in the life of a Senior Staff Engineer in China

IT industries are full of challenge and competitors. The knowledge, practice and technology are updated very fast. The work is quite tough. You must keep learning, making progress and working hard.

Briefly describe the organisation you work for

A leading AI company with the genes on internet and search engine in China. It runs the technology and business on mobile and PC ecosystem (a group of mobile apps, websites and services, more related with knowledge and its distribution) , on cloud computing (AI cloud computing, personal cloud, smart transportation...) , on autonomous driving and driverless robo-taxi, and on others (AI chat OS and bots, Video, E-commerce, Quantum computing, Biology computing...). In recent years, the company has focused more on the Large models (foundation models) and their application, such as Ernie Bot (Top 1 in China). Before this job experience, I also got some experience in state-owned companies and some other big companies or organizations in ICT area (Information and Communication)

What do you do?

Roles: Technology Program/Product Manager, Team leader and Tech. expert.
Fields: User experience evaluation and optimisation on mobile apps (performance and reliability), VOD and live streaming application, Video AI platform, Cloud computing, Work platform (IM, cloud video meeting, work collaboration apps, knowledge management...), Research and development on application framework and applications based on large models (foundation models)

Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?

Consistent curiosity on the science and technology and their applications. The power of Internet, AI and cloud computing and their applications in every industry. Besides my experience in China (education and work in ICT and innovation area for years), from my course in the University of York, I also learned a lot of knowledge in computer science, electronics and AI together with lots of practice and projects, especially for the swarm intelligence, practical robotics, system architecture, critical system, personal projects, group projects and so on. All these things lead me to Choose AI and the job related with.

Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?

In the first several years, it is a little bit different, but also some kind related with. They are both in the IT technologies and can use the technology on Internet, AI and cloud computing. In recent years, my work area are more on AI and AI related field. My job focus more on AI applications and AI platforms, not just the model training things or algorithm things.

Describe your most memorable day at work

Won the award called 'client first' because of the work I done to help the users get better experience.
With the AI platform I founded with my team members, we succeed to support all the top important business within the company, while the platform itself also upgrade to the company level from very low small-team level.

Are there any challenges associated with your job?

IT industries are full of challenge and competitors. The knowledge, practice and technology are updated very fast. The work is quite tough. You must keep learning, making progress and working hard. You should have a strong body and mind.
As most of the people in these area are very young, it is hard for me to work day and night everyday like them at my age (relatively old). How to show my advantage and much more value, not just only hard-working day and night is also a key challenge.

What’s your work environment and culture like?

It is quite modern, comfortable and wonderful with the best and large working environment (Modern design building, Full and free working facilities, Free food and super large restaurant with free breakfast and dinner). The culture is just like in the campus which is called simple & reliable. We call each other's name directly and treat each other as the campus mate. We encourage everyone can be self driving in work and take the dream using technology to make the complex world simple.

What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?

Travel in UK and Europe. Talking with, participating in the event with, and making friend with the students from UK and other countries. If you got the opportunity to stay in some UK family for several days, that is perfect.
Besides better to contact and communicate with the UK students and more understanding on UK eduction, research and culture, in tech. and knowledge aspects, I learned more on the swarm intelligence, practical robotics, system architecture, critical system, personal projects, group projects and so on. You got to know how to look your target or task in a system and AI way (understanding, describing, design, AI native) and how to solve the related problems (methods).

What would you like to do next with your career?

To run some small business of my own, not just be a staff in some company and work for others. Before this, there are still some things I need to learn, practice and experience. I am willing to work more and lean more on AI while more money are also needed to make for the future self-owned business.

What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?

To think and make sure who you are, what is your favorite, what is your advantage and what is your shortage. Try to do some SWOT analysis and career personality analysis. I think it is good to find a job in a big platform. To make sure you can really learn useful things no matter how hard or how low level it is, and to keep working for at least 3 years in one place before you consider the change or upgrade.

What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?

Everything they like to chat or discuss, especially for those who go to UK from China and those who plan to go to China from other countries.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

If we can support the chat and questions on some IM (instant messaging) apps (such as wechat in China, chat group, enterprise wechat or wechat official account), the mentor work will be better and more useful.

Next steps...

If you like the look of Chengqing’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Chengqing a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Chengqing to be your mentor.

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