After completing a PhD in theoretical physics at Nottingham University, Neil spent 14 years in industry working on computer assisted engineering at Romax Technology. This involved producing software suites to predict the operating conditions of gearboxes and electric vehicles. The predictions were used to improve efficiency, reduce noise and reduce the damage.

This involved finite element analysis, dynamic analysis and quasi-static solving of multiphysics mathematical models. This principally involved producing prototypes of both models and solver algorithms in Python, then productising them into C++.