A tech enthusiast since childhood

Why I chose this profession

I’ve been fascinated by technology in all its forms, and how it works, ever since I was a child. That wasn’t always easy for my parents, since hardly any technical device was safe from my curiosity back then – I always had to see how things worked on the inside. Putting things back together, in those early years, was usually more or less successful, much to my family’s dismay… Looking back, though, it was tuition money well spent… In any case, there was never any doubt that I wanted to work in this field one day.

My education and career so far

I attended the higher technical college (HTL) for electrical engineering in Innsbruck, graduating in 2018 with my school-leaving and diploma exams. Right after finishing school, I was able to make the move from theory to practice at Pfeifer as a junior engineer. Alongside my job, I’ve since completed a diploma degree in electrical engineering with a focus on automation, followed by a master’s degree in the same field. In 2020, the company also gave me the opportunity to pass on my expertise by training as an apprentice instructor for our future skilled workers. It’s important to me to mention that Pfeifer has always supported me on my educational path, both financially and practically – for example, I was able to write my diploma and master’s theses on topics that also benefited the company, working on them internally.

My day-to-day tasks

There’s no such thing as a typical day for me – you never quite know what to expect! The top priority, of course, is keeping production running smoothly. Broadly speaking, I switch between office work and hands-on work on the technical systems. On quieter days, I can focus more on my own projects. For instance, I spend a lot of time programming my own PLC programs and, together with my team, planning and building automation controls – each one a one-off prototype. We also handle optimisations to existing production equipment ourselves. I really enjoy the cross-departmental collaboration and the variety in my day-to-day tasks.

My biggest challenge, then and now

Back then, the biggest challenge was the sheer number of different automation controls at the plant. We have plenty of state-of-the-art systems here, but also some older programs that I had to get to grips with in detail. The sheer size of the company, and especially the scale and diversity of the automation technology, was also a huge adjustment for me as a fresh school leaver. Standing in front of ten-metre-wide switch cabinets with thousands of cables and circuit boards for the first time was a whole new dimension for me.

What fascinates me about working at Pfeifer

It’s a great feeling every single time you track down a fault on a system and fix it yourself. Seeing my own controls and programs work exactly as intended is also hugely satisfying. But what excites me most about the job is the variety. No two days are the same, and we cover a broad range of tasks. Splitting my time between hands-on work and work at the computer keeps the working day varied. Pfeifer both challenges and supports us a great deal in everything we do.

What motivates me in my daily tasks

The team spirit and the successes we achieve together always motivate me to help steer the company’s development in the right direction and to approach tasks with a long-term view. The company recognises the value we create with real appreciation, and that’s a great feeling.

What makes Pfeifer stand out as an employer

I really appreciate the pleasant working atmosphere. Anyone who wants to pursue further training receives generous financial and personal support from Pfeifer. The company generally gives us the greatest possible flexibility and freedom, and places full trust and responsibility even in young employees like me. The hierarchies at Pfeifer really are flat – you can always raise anything, and everyone talks to each other as equals.