Fabian is Head of Systems Engineering and Operations at HSE. In his interview, he explains what his dual responsibilities mean, and why there’s nothing better than sleeping under the stars.
What do you do at HSE?
Fabian: My current role is Head of Systems Engineering and Operations. These are two completely distinct areas at HSE.
In systems engineering, I lead a team of system engineers, and we also handle verification testing. We work on customer projects to the highest possible standards and adapt and streamline our processes to tailor them to customer needs. It’s important that we work transparently and efficiently. We also continuously deepen our knowledge and expertise, not only in systems engineering but also in other areas such as optics and fluidics.
Operations covers first production and low volume serial production and the entire supply chain management process. At HSE, we maximize the efficiency of our production processes throughout the entire supply chain to enhance customer satisfaction. we setup our production to have a smooth and extremely fast design transfer to production enabling very fast time to market.
What’s your professional background?
Fabian: I hold a Dr. Dipl. Ing. in material sciences from ETH/EMPA and a Dipl. Ing. in material sciences from ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
I’ve worked in medical device and life science project management since 2008. I led R&D teams at BIOTRONIK for medical device development, from idea to post-marketing surveillance and life cycle management. Before I joined HSE, I was Chief Operating Officer at SIS Medical overlooking QA, RA, Operations, RD.
Are specific skills important for your work here?
Fabian: Yes, it’s particularly important that we listen carefully to customers to quickly understand their needs, both on a personal and technical level. We also need to understand which processes are necessary so that we can tailor these to each project. We develop functional laboratory automation – we don’t just demonstrate technical feasibility.
When an instrument has been developed, it goes into serial production in large quantities over a long period of time. This means it is essential to develop a manufacturable instrument precisely for accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the long run.
What do you value most in a team?
Fabian: For me, good teamwork means enjoying work and delivering an outstanding result. One of the most important things for me is that we can speak openly and honestly with each other and say exactly what we think. We have a culture of mutual respect where we listen actively and engage constructively. In decision-making, compelling facts and ideas matter more than hierarchy.
Can you tell us about a project or achievement at HSE you’re especially proud of?
Fabian: Every happy customer makes me proud and therefore I’m very proud about every follow-up project we get. Apart from this it makes me very happy to lead a team that is motivated, highly autonomous, takes initiative, and actively contributes. I feel proud that we have successfully established highly efficient system analysis and a robust requirements engineering process that covers the tools we use and the roles and guidelines involved.
In operations, we have set up our own production facility that also covers production of optics.
What opportunities for learning and developing are you currently pursuing to enhance your skills?
Fabian: The projects we work on with customers mean we can continuously deepen our knowledge. We also stay up to date by participating in workgroups, for example Toolpoint For Lab Science and the System Engineering Society. Attending conferences regularly and giving talks provides us with additional opportunities to stay at the forefront of our field.
What do you like about HSE?
Fabian: I really like the flat hierarchy at HSE and the open-door culture. This fosters an environment in which we can communicate openly and honestly with each other. The extremely high quality of our work also gives me great satisfaction.
What do most people not know about you?
Fabian: When I was younger, I toured around America for 6 months in a station wagon. I traveled with a friend, and we camped in the wild, in dispersed areas. There’s nothing better than lying in a sleeping bag on top of a rock in the middle of nowhere on a moonlit starry night.