Rafeea Siddika

From building robots at university to travelling internationally for work, University of Waikato graduate Rafeea Siddika has turned her passion for problem-solving and design into a successful career in software engineering. 

Rafeea completed a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, majoring in Software Engineering.   

While considering her university options, receiving the Te Paewai o te Rangi: The University of Waikato Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement and hearing about Waikato’s strong reputation in computing helped make Rafeea’s decision clear. 

“I’d heard really good things about Waikato’s computing school. I also attended a coding club run by the University while I was at high school, and hearing about the pathways and opportunities available really solidified my choice.” 

A former Hamilton Girls’ High School student, Rafeea says she was drawn to Software Engineering because it combined creativity with critical thinking. 

"I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving and subjects like Calculus and Physics, but I also love Art and Design. Software Engineering felt like the perfect mix of both worlds."

One of the highlights of her degree was her honours research project, where she worked on social robots using 3D printing and robotic platforms.  

The project explored how people respond to different robot personalities, with Rafeea helping design a deliberately “creepy” robot. 

“It was fascinating seeing how subjective people’s reactions were and learning what makes something feel unsettling or approachable,” she says. 

She also enjoyed papers focused on logic and problem-solving, particularly COMPX361 Logic and Computation and MATHS135 Discrete Structures.

“Those papers were really puzzle-heavy, which I loved. I know they weren’t everyone’s favourite, but I enjoyed working through the logic and figuring things out.” 

Alongside her studies, Rafeea worked as a student ambassador for the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, visiting schools and helping at open days to encourage future students into technology pathways. 

Now based in Wellington, Rafeea works for a company that consults with government agencies while also coding. 

Looking ahead, Rafeea hopes to move further into front-end development and user interface design, combining the technical and creative skills she first discovered at Waikato. 

“I’d love to work more in design-focused software roles, that’s definitely where my passion is.”