“SHAKE THINGS UP! If you know everything, it’s time for a change.”
MY WAY TO THALES
The very first contact I had with Thales was indirect during my engineering studies in Turin, Italy. Right next to the university, Thales has a factory, which I always passed on my way to my classes.
During my bachelor’s degree, I worked for Alenia Aeronautica, a subsidiary of Thales in Italy. This was my first direct contact with Thales.
My career took quite a different path over the time. I started as an Assistant Manager of the Norwegian and Italian ice hockey team and later I became a Sports Manager of international ice hockey events. I was excited by these challenges, but after experiencing a lot in the position as a Sports Manager I needed a change. I wanted to be surrounded again by my real passion – engineering.
Later I worked for Airbus Germany, first as a Stress Engineer and then as a Project Manager. Over the time, I gained my first great project – the management of the Airbus Helicopter A350 door. After two years, I switched to CAE for the Eurofighter Simulator Programme in collaboration with Airbus Defence and Space.
In Airbus Defence and Space, I was the Joint Team Project Manager of a Eurofighter (EFA) simulator and I managed the completion of the first payment milestone. At this time, I had an overview of all suppliers for the simulator and Thales was one of them. This was my third and last contact with Thales before I actually started working at Thales at a later stage.
After I had learnt a lot in this job, it was time for a change. I started working as a Product Manager in the technical department of Austrian Airlines. But something was missing. My potential was not used as much as I wished for. When I realised that, I was sure that it was time to leave to discover new challenges and to boost up my skills.
That’s why I decided to apply for a new job that contains more challenges and that I want to work for Thales.
MY CURRENT POSITION
In November 2019 I started working for Thales in Austria. My wish was to better make use of my knowledge and skills in my position and Thales could offer me that.
In my new position, I am a System Engineering Manager (SEM) in the ground transportation business of Thales. The electronic interlocking system ELEKTRA is my area of competence. I am involved in three ongoing projects in Austria and international countries.
THE JOB AS A SYSTEM ENGINEERING MANAGER
Project Managers are the interface to the customers. After they got the customers’ requirements, they contact us, the System Engineering Managers, to develop the requested software. As a SEM, I take care that the customer’s needs will be satisfied with the development of a new software. This means I am responsible for the development, the costs and quality of the product and that we deliver on time.
A CURRENT RESUME ABOUT WORKING AT THALES
I still have a lot to learn about the rail industry. My manager Krist Ndue is a great mentor to me, so I am confident that I will succeed in my mission. He teaches me a lot about the processes, products and the organisation of my new job. I am curious about every little detail in my new job and that is why I am never afraid to ask for more information.
All in all, my new job is challenging me in a positive way. I have found the challenge I was looking for in my life.