Kathleen Marty
Software Engineer
Raven Software, Madison
Do you love video games so much that you’ve found yourself wishing you could make a career out of them? You can! Read below to learn about the exciting job of Kathleen Marty, Software Engineer at Raven Software in Madison.
How did you get interested in this field?
I feel lucky because I work at a job where I can create a really fun product: video games. I grew up playing video games so my interest level was always high. I have always loved games and puzzles, and working with software is kind of like figuring out a complicated puzzle, which is very satisfying to me. I find software fun because there are so many interesting problems to solve. In a video game, it takes software for you to see objects and move around in the game-world. It doesn’t just happen by magic! There are a lot of very complicated things happening to make it work. In real life, there is software running things in your computer, your calculator, your iPod, your cell phone, cars, airplanes, factories, hospitals, even traffic lights and so much more. Software is everywhere, running things and helping people enjoy life. I like being a part of this.
What are the specific tasks that your job entails?
I am a Software Engineer at Raven Software in Middleton, Wisconsin. Raven Software is a video game studio that develops games for Activision, a very large video game company. We make video games for most game consoles, such as the Playstation3 and Xbox360, as well as your home computer. You can learn more about the company online at www.ravensoft.com.
Making a game requires a huge team, typically 40-60 people. This team consists of software engineers (also called technology programmers in the industry), game programmers, artists, designers, animators, audio designers and musicians, to name a few. As a software engineer, I am responsible for lots of the "nuts and bolts" of a video game, such as writing “code” for different systems in the game like graphics, audio and video. Software code is the instructions that a computer follows to make things happen.
Another thing I work on is helping to make sure the game runs fast. This involves identifying and fixing slow code. I also increase speed by identifying art assets, graphic features like 3d elements that cause performance problems. All the while, I work on creating and maintaining software programs to help artists and designers to do their job of developing the graphics that you see when you play the game.
What is your educational background?
I attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison and got a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical engineers usually work on physical things such as cars or appliances. I worked as a Mechanical Engineer for a while, but I was always more interested in the software that makes things work. So I went back the University of Wisconsin - Madison and got a Master's degree in Computer Science.
For software engineering and other science and engineering jobs, a Bachelor’s degree is the basic thing required. All science and engineering degrees have training in math, running experiments, and solving complex problems.
What other kinds of steps did you take to prepare for your job?
One of the best preparations I made towards getting an engineering job was working hard to get good grades, especially in math and science. Good grades prove that you apply yourself and are intellectually capable of challenges that you encounter during your job.
After a couple years in college, another preparation I took towards getting an engineering job to complete internships with different engineering companies. This way, I was able to get real, professional experience and learn what an engineer does day to day.
How do you use technology to do your job?
Using technology to do my job is vital. I do nearly all of my work on the computer. I also have an Xbox360 and a Playstation3 on my desk at work to test that the software code I create works properly. As a software developer, I am essentially using technology to create technology! In addition, using email is very important for communicating with others.
Do you think that women are or can be treated differently from men in your field?
No. Both women and men in my field are respected for doing their jobs well.
Does being a woman give you any special advantages in your chosen career?
No. In my career, (and most science and technology jobs) doing work professionally and effectively is the best way to advance.
When you think about your workplace, what departments/fields do most of the women work in?
Less than 10% of the employees at my workplace are women. Women have worked in most of the departments in my workplace, such as management, software engineering, art, audio, and human resources.
How much does a woman typically earn in this line of work?
A software engineer (both men and women) in the games industry typically earns anywhere from $50,000-$100,000 a year, depending on experience. More experience commands a higher salary.
Do you think a woman’s appearance affects if she is hired to do a job or how people around her relate to her at work?
Appearance and hygiene are important because no one wants to work with someone who doesn't shower! But seriously, qualities like skin color and other physical attributes shouldn’t matter. I think that appearance is not the most important thing that affects hiring practices. To me, it is much more important to be qualified, competent, and motivated to do your job. Keep in mind that when you apply for a job, the best thing that you can show your potential employer is your resume. Being able to communicate clearly about your goals, your past experience and your desire to do a job is the most important. When you do a job every day that you love, this is easy!
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