Simon is a Mechanical Engineer at HSE. In his interview, he showcases his expertise in forming and production technology and explains how he channels his inner Olympian.
What do you do at HSE?
Simon: I’m a Mechanical Engineer and I’ve been at HSE for about a year. I design products and prototypes based on customer requirements.
My main responsibilities include:
- Designing and developing products and prototypes according to specific customer needs.
- Creating the design and ordering the necessary components.
- Assembling and mechanically testing prototypes and final products.
- Supporting the entire development process through to the finished product.
What’s your professional background?
Simon: I studied Mechanical Engineering, earning both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees, with a focus on production engineering. This covered various techniques such as material forming, milling, and more. I also completed two internships during my studies. One at Kaiser, where we manufactured precision tools. The other was an industrial internship at Audi in Ingolstadt, where I gained expertise in the toolmaking department.
After graduating in 2017, I briefly worked at the Institute for Virtual Production Forming and Technology, and then started at Abbott in the Implant Development Department. There, we developed heart pumps, and I learned how to optimize designs for extremely small dimensions.
Are there specific skills that are important here?
Simon: Absolutely. My knowledge and expertise in forming and production technology are crucial for my work. I understand a wide variety of manufacturing processes and can evaluate from the very beginning of a project how best to proceed.
It's important to remember that while a prototype can be quickly produced via 3D printing, the actual production later imposes very different requirements. We need to approach it differently to ensure the product is precise, cost-effective, and reliable.
Is the role everything you imagined?
Simon: Actually, it’s even more exciting than I expected. Not only do we work on a wide variety of projects, but the development cycles are much faster than what I experienced at previous companies.
Most people work on one to three projects at a time, allowing us to stay fully focused. We also have internal initiatives like continuous improvement tasks within the Mechanical Engineering team.
We even have a monthly “Technology Platform” meeting where team members can present tools, technologies, or innovations they've been working with or find particularly exciting.
What do you like about HSE?
Simon: Professionally, I find the projects very exciting, diverse, and challenging. Because HSE has many highly experienced Mechanical Engineers, there’s a lot of opportunity for personal growth and learning.
Although the company has about 80 employees, the processes are lean and the atmosphere is very familiar and supportive. Colleagues are always willing to help, whether it's jumping in during crunch times or offering a second opinion.
We also have plenty of dedicated development time and aren’t bogged down with endless meetings. But when meetings do take place, they’re well-organized and very efficient.
What do most people not know about you?
Simon: I used to be part of the Swiss Olympic Swimming Team! Alongside my intensive swim training, I also developed a passion for making music. At one point — with my parents’ blessing — I even used my official funding to buy a professional mixing console. Although I didn’t end up becoming a star DJ, my music definitely hyped up the entire team before competitions!
An interdisciplinary team for exciting innovations
Simon is part of a team of highly qualified professionals, each bringing specialized expertise and a shared commitment to engineering excellence.
You can be confident you’re working with some of the best-trained engineers in the industry.
