Careers and Advice
Meet our latest team members
2026 has been an exciting year of growth here at ZeroLight! Since January, we’ve welcomed five fantastic new people to the business. While some have been with us for a few months and others have just recently settled in over the summer, they are all already making a huge impact on the innovative work we do.
To give you a glimpse into life at ZeroLight, we asked our newest team members to share a bit about their career journeys, their first impressions of our company culture, and what they get up to when they log off.
Whether you're curious about what it’s like to work with us, or just want to learn more about the talented people behind our projects, read on to meet the newest members of the team!
Ben, Senior Account Manager
(Joined in July '26)
Can you tell us a little bit about your career and experience to date?
My career has taken a fairly varied path - I started out in higher education before moving into commercial and operations roles, and along the way I co-founded and scaled a wholesale food business to over 250 outlets nationally. More recently I spent several years in EdTech, leading business operations and eventually acting as Head of a business unit responsible for strategy and results across product, sales and marketing and customer success. I actually worked at ZeroLight previously between 2017 and 2020, so coming back feels like a natural homecoming having grown significantly as a commercial leader in the years since.
What have you enjoyed most about your role so far?
Getting back into the world of technology and working with genuinely exciting products has been energising. I've really enjoyed getting under the skin of the accounts I've inherited and being part of a small, close-knit commercial team where everyone's contribution is visible and meaningful. It feels like a role where you make an impact quickly.
What has stood out to you the most about our company culture so far?
The thing that struck me most coming back is how much the culture has stayed true to what I remembered - there's a real warmth and collaborative spirit here. People genuinely care about the work and about each other, and that comes through in how teams pull together.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I'm pretty active outside of work - I cycle regularly, particularly enjoying long road rides, and I run on the Northumberland lanes near where I live. Music has always been a big part of my life too, both playing and going to gigs. The rest of the time is spent drinking coffee, eating, DIY or beach walks on the amazing Northumberland coastline!
Daniel, Mid-Level Developer
(Joined in January '26)
Can you tell us a little bit about your career and experience to date?
I studied Computer Science at Newcastle University which included a placement year where I first got to work on software in a professional setting. After university I spent 4 years as a front end developer before joining ZeroLight!
What have you enjoyed most about your role so far?
What I have most enjoyed about my role so far is the ability to have a real impact on the projects we work on from the beginning. It's great to solve a problem for the client and see that make a difference to them.
What has stood out to you the most about our company culture so far?
What has stood out to me regarding ZeroLight's culture is how open everyone is to lending a hand or sharing some expertise. There are so many talented people here who have worked in lots of different areas, so the best outcome often comes from gathering ideas before making a decision. I can ask anyone about anything I'm stuck on and I've learnt so much from the people around me.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work I am a keen Ultimate Frisbee player. I play for my local club "Newcastle Brown" and have played all across this country as well as internationally in places like France and Sweden.
Michael, Junior DevOps Engineer
(Joined in August '26)
Can you tell us a little bit about your career and experience to date?
I actually did my undergraduate degree in filmmaking before pivoting toward software development around the time of COVID. My early career was spent on film sets (usually low-budget ones) and working in hospitality. After finishing my postgrad degree, I got my first tech job as a graduate DevOps engineer for a company that made software for emergency medical services. I found it both rewarding and fulfilling, and it served as a great introduction to the industry. I then briefly worked at a startup earlier this year before landing my role here at ZeroLight.
What have you enjoyed most about your role so far?
I thought the BRP Club launch was really interesting, as it gave me a great insight into how some of the bigger releases operate. It felt quite strange to be on my work laptop at 1:00 AM watching a YouTube live stream of a product launch (I wasn't aware of the massive clamour for powersport vehicles!), but it gave me a much better understanding of the DevOps team's role in those releases.
What has stood out to you the most about our company culture so far?
The open collaboration and support have definitely stood out the most. Pretty much everyone I’ve met or been introduced to has proactively offered help or invited me to reach out if I ever need anything. It's been incredibly welcoming and refreshing.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I usually split my time between running, playing football, gaming, reading, going to the cinema, and attending live music gigs. When I get the opportunity, I also enjoy a bit of D&D.
Jenson, Junior QA Analyst
(Joined in June '26)
Can you tell us a little bit about your career and experience to date?
I graduated from Northumbria University in July 2025 with a first-class degree in Computer Science, and this is my first professional role in the tech industry. Over the years I’ve worked on a range of projects, from custom AI software and business automation to web development and cloud hosting. I’m really excited to be at ZeroLight, working with a fantastic team where I can put what I’ve learned into practice, keep growing with the people around me and QA a range of amazing projects!
What have you enjoyed most about your role so far?
The pace and variety. There are always new deadlines, new challenges and plenty of exposure to technology I hadn’t used before. What has made the biggest difference is the team; everyone has been keen to get me up to speed and involved, whether through a last-minute call to explain a newly developed tool or by sharing knowledge over coffee. And of course, Collaboration Week!
What has stood out to you the most about our company culture so far?
The willingness to adapt and try new things. There’s a real cohesion between teams, a genuine focus on collaboration, and plenty of space to experiment. Iterating on ideas through research and development has been a key theme during my time here, rather than sticking to a fixed way of working.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me spinning a few plates at once. I like tinkering with personal projects and new tech, following YouTube tutorials to maintain (and slightly modify) my 2006 Mazda MX-5, dragging myself to the gym, or kicking my feet up of an evening with a game and a cold IPA.
Patryk, Back End Developer
(Joined in August '26)
Can you tell us a little bit about your career and experience to date?
My career journey started with the belief that we should truly do what we love in life. I studied Computer Science and Game Development at Northumbria University, where I learned the dark magic of creating games. I spent hours building my game portfolio, mastering the Unity Engine and C#. I also had the opportunity to work on a few full-stack projects as a freelancer. My early career focused on "serious games" first at an ed-tech startup, and then at Xploro, where I developed interactive experiences for children undergoing cancer treatment. Wanting to understand the broader software ecosystem, I stepped out of the 3D space for a while to work with cloud technology in the public sector. Ultimately, I’m thrilled to have found ZeroLight, as it brings together all my previous experiences, technical skills, and personal interests. Dream combo!
What have you enjoyed most about your role so far?
I really appreciate the level of trust placed in me to handle my work professionally and take ownership of my tasks. On top of that, I’ve been really enjoying the technology stack I get to work with and the variety of projects I've been given so far. It can be challenging at times (mainly due to the huge amount of information), but it’s a fantastic opportunity to look at familiar concepts from a completely new perspective.
What has stood out to you the most about our company culture so far?
Definitely the people. Everyone is genuinely kind, friendly, and collaborative. There is a real 'no silly questions' attitude, which makes onboarding so much easier. Seeing how engaged people are and how much they truly enjoy what they do is a massive motivation for me.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I have quite a few hobbies! I usually start my day with BJJ training. In the evenings, I love watching legendary movies on my VHS player (and no, I haven't owned it from the 90s until now, collecting VHS is just my latest passion!). From time to time, I play tabletop games like Talisman, Scythe, MTG, and D&D. I also enjoy playing on my consoles, reading books (sci-fi, horror, and fantasy), and spending quality time with my family and walking my dog.
