What is important in your role?

"As a Mechanical Engineer, ownership is essential. Understanding system engineering skills is crucial, skills that I partly possess naturally and partly developed during my studies. I completed a general design course in mechanical engineering, which provided me with a broad foundational knowledge enabling me to understand the entire process. I believe the biggest challenge in my role is to get to know the people within the organization well and to know their strengths. When faced with a problem, I can now quickly identify the right person who is proficient in it and who can resolve it much faster than I can."

Currently, I am growing more into a managerial role, so these qualities are even more important. You need to understand what your team is going through, from creating the initial design to CE documentation, technical drawings, and the release phase. You should be able to use programs, design neatly, perform calculations, and analyze tolerances, even if you do not do this daily," explains Rick.

What do you enjoy about your job?

‘’As a generalist, I fit well within VDL ETG T&D. I was looking for a role where I spent less time behind the computer, and I found it. In my current project, I work on tooling for the magnetic plate, a project that requires a lot of research and practical testing. Thanks to this hands-on approach to testing – gluing, measuring, adjusting settings, and devising new tests myself – I have a good understanding of the data.

We are continuously working on issues that have not been answered before.  For example, we are trying out various adhesive techniques, some of which present challenges. We searched for specialists and after consulting with about eight professors, we finally found someone in Delft who has expertise in epoxy and could tell us more. The fact that no one really knows yet how to solve this shows that we are pioneering in the technical field.

Additionally, I feel the freedom to undertake activities alongside my role, such as conducting courses in technical drawing and organising digital knowledge sessions.’’

What is the highlight of your career?

‘’One of the highlights of my career was delivering specific tooling during the first six weeks of my career at VDL ETG. This tooling is now in use and I see it frequently. It's great to see the realization of your projects. But actually, I have to say that when I see something with VDL on it, I’m already proud of it. I truly feel the camaraderie in what we do.’’

What advice would you give to someone planning to apply to VDL ETG?

‘’Don’t let yourself be fooled! A lot is being said and asked. It’s important to filter out what is truly relevant. Listen carefully and extract the key information that actually delivers results. In this way, you learn to distinguish what really matters. Technical insight and intuition are crucial. Follow your gut feeling, but make sure you can substantiate your claim.

The freedom to take leave is valuable. At VDL ETG, you have enough days off to take when needed, which is very appreciated. For example, I became a father a year ago, and this freedom contributes to a good work-life balance, so make sure to take advantage of it.