Annie Easley (1933–2011) was a trailblazer in aerospace and computing. She joined NASA’s predecessor, NACA, in 1955 as a “human computer,” performing complex rocket calculations by hand. One of only four Black employees at her lab, she broke barriers with quiet resilience, mastering programming languages like FORTRAN as the space agency embraced digital computing.

Easley helped develop software for NASA’s Centaur rocket, the first to utilise liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel. This innovation allowed heavier payloads and enabled deep-space missions like the 1997 Cassini launch to Saturn. Easley’s precise coding laid the foundation for decades of space exploration.

Her talents weren’t confined to rockets. Easley also worked on energy technologies, from early hybrid vehicle batteries to wind and solar projects. She co-authored technical papers on nuclear propulsion, demonstrating a remarkable range across disciplines.

Beyond engineering, Easley was a quiet force for inclusion. As one of NASA’s first African American female computer scientists, she later became an Equal Employment Opportunity counsellor and mentored students, inspiring many to pursue STEM careers. Her philosophy stated: “I’m out here to get the job done, and I knew I could do it.”

At Codiance, we draw inspiration from Easley’s mindset, a blend of technical rigor, adaptability, and bold thinking. Like Easley, our engineers embrace continuous learning, routinely mastering new languages, frameworks, and challenges.

Precision is paramount. Easley’s code couldn’t afford to fail. Similarly, we apply rigorous standards to our software, from code reviews to testing to ensuring every system is dependable and robust.

We also share her visionary spirit. Easley worked on cutting-edge technologies; we approach our projects with the same curiosity and innovation. We don’t just fulfil specifications, we ask 'why' and 'what if', seeking smarter, future-proof solutions.

Our CEO, Mark Hesketh, founded Codiance with this engineering-first ethos. He fosters a culture that embraces complexity and treats client challenges with the care of a NASA mission. Whether it’s real-time data integration or scaling a global platform, we engineer with purpose.

Our engineering culture, inspired by pioneers like Easley, is at the core of everything we do.

Annie Easley once said, “You can be anything you want to be, but you have to work at it.” That work ethic and pioneering spirit guide us at Codiance. We’re proud to carry the torch of innovation by solving complex problems with bold, brilliant software

To find out more about Codiance and the opportunities here for you, please take a look at codiance.co.uk/careers, or email the team on hello@codiance.com.