- Describe your job in 5 words or less
Challenging but very rewarding.
- What is a cool thing you are working on right now?
Right now, I’m working for a pharma company in Germany. The project involves connecting about 100 machines to an MES system. It’s a big project but it’s interesting because there is such a wide range of machines that we are working with. Each one of those machines has its own challenges.
The project is running over about a year, so there is a lot of work in it. It’s mostly remote, but I will be in Germany soon to provide support during OQ (operational qualification) testing.
- As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why?
I grew up on a farm, so I was surrounded by farm equipment and machinery. I was always fascinated by this equipment, and I enjoyed working on the various machines. So, I suppose I have always been interested in engineering. My father was also an engineer, so that also helped create the interest in me.
- How and why did you get into engineering?
Growing up on the farm was the starting point, as I mentioned earlier. This got me into mechanical engineering. Then, in college, I got introduced to the controls side of engineering. I loved that side because it opened up a whole new range of possibilities of what machines could do.
- If you could swap jobs with someone for a day, who would it be?
I am a big Formula 1 fan, so it would have to be someone from that sport. There is one engineer that stands out – Adrian Newey. He is probably the best F1 designer there has ever been, so if I could swap jobs or even work with him for a day, that would be very cool.
- What’s the most engineering thing you do outside of work?
I still spend my weekends on the farm back at home fixing old tractors and equipment and working on old cars.
I also enjoy working on micro controllers like the Raspberry Pi and with 3D printers. There is always a project on the go, so I am always busy.
- What’s the best thing about working for life sciences customers (pharma, MedTech, etc)?
Working for life sciences customers means I get to work with a wide range of different machines. I like the challenge that this involves. I also like traveling to various client sites and meeting new people.
- What is the best thing about being on the SL Controls team?
At SL Controls, there are great opportunities to learn new technologies, which is fantastic. There is also a great level of camaraderie in the team, and there are always people available to bounce ideas off and get a different perspective.
The ability to work flexitime is positive, too, and there is the option to work from home or in the office. It’s a very people-orientated company as well.
From an engineering perspective, I like the fact the job is about taking on challenges and finding solutions.