In this team spotlight, we meet James, our Product Analyst, who brings 22 years of RAF aviation experience to his role at Bytron.

Working closely with Product, Development, QA and Support, James helps turn customer requirements into practical improvements, ensuring skybook continues to meet the needs of operators...

What are your specific responsibilities as a Product Analyst?

My role is quite varied. I work closely with our Senior Product Owner, Developers & QA Teams and Support to investigate Bugs, develop Stories and Epics, manage and prioritise backlog items and help plan work for upcoming Releases. A big part of my role is understanding what the customer actually requires and turning that into clear requirements the Development teams can work with. I also look for ways we can improve skybook and make it easier for our customers to use.

Did you have any aviation experience prior to joining the company?

Yes, I spent 22 years in the Royal Air Force, working within Air and Space Operations. My roles included Flight Planning, Station Operations, Area Radar, Air Traffic Control and Squadron Operations Management, as well as numerous deployments. That experience has given me a good understanding of aviation operations and helps me look at our products from an operational user's point of view.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy investigating problems and working out what is actually going wrong rather than just looking at the issue on the surface. I also enjoy working with the different teams to find a practical solution that works for both the customer and the business. Seeing something go from an idea or problem through Development and eventually into the product is very rewarding.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the park and going on walks. I especially enjoy taking my boys swimming.

What is the most exciting project/ticket you’ve worked on?

One of the projects I've enjoyed most has been looking at how we can improve navigation within the Dispatch module. It started from an idea I had to remove the existing ellipsis shortcut window and make commonly used information easier to access. I've particularly enjoyed seeing the different ideas come together into something that could make a real difference to how customers use the system.

Do you have a greater understanding of the aviation industry since joining the company?

Despite coming from an aviation background, definitely. My RAF career gave me a strong understanding of military aviation and operations, but working at Bytron has given me a much greater understanding of the commercial aviation industry. From this point of view, I've learned a lot about commercial airline operations, flight planning, electronic flight bags and how different airlines operate around the world.

What is your preferred software you use and why?

Jira is probably the software I use most. It allows me to investigate and manage Bugs, Stories and Epics, prioritise work and follow tickets through the Development process. I particularly like being able to see the history behind an issue and how different pieces of work are connected.

How did you get into your career?

After 22 years in the Royal Air Force, I wanted to continue working within aviation and use the operational experience I'd gained throughout my career. Moving into a Product Analyst role allowed me to bring that experience into the software side of aviation. I've since developed my knowledge of Product, software development and how we turn customer requirements into improvements to our products.

What advice would you give someone starting their journey within your area of expertise?

Don't be afraid to ask questions. You don't need to understand every technical detail, but you do need to understand the problem you're trying to solve. Listen to what the customer wants, listen to the Developers and QA, and don't be afraid to challenge something if it doesn't make sense. Sometimes asking a simple question can uncover something everyone else has missed.

What are you most proud of achieving?

I am proud of everything I achieved during my RAF career, but I am also very proud of the steps I have taken since leaving the military. Moving into civilian life was a big change, and I am proud to have built a new career and become an established part of the team at Bytron Aviation Systems.

What do you enjoy most about working at Bytron?

The people. I work closely with Developers, QA, Product, Support and other teams, and I've always found people willing to share their knowledge and help when I have questions. I also enjoy having the opportunity to contribute ideas and challenge how we do things, rather than simply being given a set of tasks to complete.

If you could have any job in aviation for a day, what would it be?

I would go back to my Air and Space Operations role within the RAF. I really enjoyed the variety of the role, as no two days were the same and you had the opportunity to work across different tasks and operational environments.