Meet Isabel | Graduate Software Engineer

Hi, I’m Isabel! I studied BSc Computer Science at Royal Holloway, University of London. My journey at Visa started as a Summer Software Engineering intern. I then returned as a Graduate Software Engineer a year later, after finishing my final year of university. I’ve always enjoyed coding since I was at school, so it’s been great to carry that through into my role and apply it to real-world systems used at a global scale.

As a software engineer at Visa, you’re responsible for building, maintaining, and improving systems that support the global payments network. It’s a role that combines problem-solving, collaboration, and continuous learning.

A typical day usually involves a mix of development work, investigating issues, and working closely with team members. This might include developing new features or troubleshooting complex problems. There’s also a strong focus on collaboration, whether that’s through team stand-ups or working with product owners and other engineers.

One thing I’ve found particularly interesting is the complexity of the systems, there’s always more to learn. As you work on different features or issues, you’re constantly building your understanding of how everything connects, which makes the role both challenging and really rewarding.

The thing that surprised me most was the scale and complexity of Visa’s payments systems. I think most people, including myself before I started working here, simply tap their Visa card and go without really thinking about what’s happening behind the scenes to make that transaction possible.

What stood out to me is not only how complex those systems are, but also how much work goes into keeping payments running smoothly. There are so many moving parts working together to ensure transactions are processed reliably and efficiently.

It also really highlights how many people rely on these systems in their daily lives, often without even realising it, which makes the work feel both meaningful and impactful.

The highlight of my role so far has been developing an internal AI chatbot from scratch, largely independently. I initially started working on it soon after joining as a graduate, and I’m really proud of having taken it all the way through to deployment, where it is now used by teams across multiple regions.

The chatbot helps developers understand Visa’s complex Clearing and Settlement (CAS) rules. CAS sits behind the processing of electronic payments, helping to ensure that transaction information is exchanged correctly and that fees between financial institutions are calculated accurately. By enabling developers to easily query and explore this information, the chatbot makes it easier to implement changes with confidence. The chatbot can also generate unit test cases based on developer requirements, helping to improve efficiency and speed up development workflows.

It’s been really rewarding to see the tangible impact it has on day-to-day development. Through building it, I’ve been able to improve my full-stack development skills, while gaining hands-on experience designing tools that leverage AI. Overall, it’s been a great opportunity to take ownership of a project and see it make a real difference.

Honestly, I didn’t go into studying Computer Science at university with a fixed goal of becoming a software engineer. I really enjoyed coding at school, which is what encouraged me to continue developing those skills and pursue it further in higher education.

During university, I started exploring opportunities in tech and came across the Visa Summer Software Engineering internship. I decided to apply, and through that experience I really enjoyed the kind of work I was doing and the impact it could have.

That’s what made me realise that software engineering was something I wanted to pursue long-term, so when I was offered a graduate role, I was really keen to continue.

My main advice would be to focus on building both your technical skills and your confidence in applying them. Practising coding regularly is really important, as it helps you become more comfortable with problem-solving and improves your overall understanding.

I’d also strongly recommend working on your own projects. These don’t have to be huge, but they’re a great way to apply what you’ve learned, explore your interests, and build something you can showcase on your CV or LinkedIn. They also give you strong talking points in interviews, as you can explain your thought process and the challenges you’ve worked through.

In addition, I’d encourage exploring areas like AI, as it’s becoming an increasingly sought-after skill across the industry. Many companies are looking for people who have an understanding of AI and are willing to learn and apply it in different contexts. Even small projects using AI tools or concepts can help you stand out and show curiosity for emerging technologies.