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Meet our engineers Male software engineer stands in front of a screen showing music videos
David Trevelyan, software engineer smiles at the camera

David Trevelyan

Code Composer

I’ve always loved music and play keyboards, guitar and bass. I got into making music on my computer and I find virtual instruments fascinating. Now I work as a software engineer working in digital audio, experimenting with sounds for TikTok.

What is your current role?

I started working on AI generated music and now work for TikTok as a senior software engineer. It is a bit different from being an audio engineer in a recording studio; I develop code which other software engineers can use to make creative audio and music apps. Music has so many parts to it – the notes, the speed, the sounds and instruments used – and interacting with music intuitively in a digital form as easily as picking up a guitar is important to let people be creative

Why music software?

I’ve been playing with virtual instruments since I was 16 years old but couldn’t see a route into doing it as a job. I hadn’t done any computer programming as a teenager. But with my computer skills from university, I knew I could start working in music technology.

I work on creating features that will shape the future of music apps – developing technology that hasn’t hit our devices yet. I think we’re hardwired to enjoy learning new things and having fun and I get to do both in my role. I make music in and out of work and now I know how the music software that I am using works.

I wouldn’t want to be a musician in the limelight, but my work lets me create music for millions behind the scenes and on the cutting edge of tech.

Factfile

Role
Senior software engineer at TikTok
Favourite part of engineering
I realised that engineering would let me study more tangible things than maths and I could use my creativity that I applied to music.
Qualification path
GCSEs, A Levels, degree in mechanical engineering at Imperial College, PhD in computational physics at Imperial College

Why engineering?

I learnt about engineering through my dad – he was a lecturer in engineering at Durham University, which is where I grew up. After football or after school, if I was waiting for a lift home, I’d pop into his office and I’d listen in to  students and staff talking about engineering.

Music and maths were subjects I was interested in at school and when I started looking up university courses I realised that engineering would let me study more tangible things than maths and I could use my creativity that I applied to music. I didn’t expect to follow my dad! I chose mechanical engineering at Imperial College London because I felt it would keep my options open.

'My work lets me create music for millions behind the scenes'

— David Trevelyn senior software engineer
Male software engineer puts on headphones to code music applications

David Trevelyan, code composer

Software engineer codes on laptop

Testing music software

Music video on mobile phone screen

Testing software on TikTok app

David Trevelyan, software engineer smiles at the camera

David Trevelyn senior software engineer

Career timeline

GCSEs

A levels

University

Degree in mechanical engineering at Imperial College, PhD in computational physics at Imperial College.

Current role

Senior software engineer at TikTok.

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