Get to know our new application engineer Xandro

What makes VARIODRIVE an interesting employer for young engineers? For Xandro, the answer was clear: a technical working environment, the chance to really deepen his knowledge, and a team where you collaborate and learn from each other. Since March, he has been working as an Application Engineer. In this article, he tells why he chose VARIODRIVE, how his first months went, and what he enjoys most about his work.

Transition to electric drives at VARIODRIVE

Xandro studied Automotive Engineering, a broad program where he learned about aerodynamics, drivetrains, software, and project management. The focus was mainly on vehicles with combustion engines. After his studies, he did an internship as a project manager at a car company, where he eventually got hired. However, it turned out not to be the right fit.

He was approached via LinkedIn with a question if he was interested in the vacancy for Application Engineer at VARIODRIVE. “I was just open to something new and wanted to work with vehicles. The fact that it’s mainly about small electric work machines here makes it only more interesting. The basics remain the same: something needs to move from A to B,” Xandro explains.

This technical foundation comes in handy in his new role. Yet there are plenty of new things to discover, especially in the field of electric drives.

Working and learning at VARIODRIVE

As an Application Engineer at VARIODRIVE, Xandro is fully engaged in learning on the job. “I’m mainly working on experiments based on assignments I received as homework,” he says. “I conduct measurements and make additional calculations. Gradually, I’m starting to get a grasp on the basic applications. This allows me to support requests and solve technical issues for customers.”

Xandro is also diving into the Italsea-controllers and AMER electric motors, focusing on small mobile work machines. He receives support from colleagues and is part of a learning trajectory that he set up together with André and Casper. Switching from combustion engines to electric drives was a challenge. “My education focused on combustion engines. Here, everything is electric. That really took some getting used to, but I can already see how much I’ve learned.”

What Xandro enjoys most about his work is finding technical solutions for customers. “What I’m really looking forward to is the challenge of helping the customer. I’d rather think something through three times than say ‘this won’t work’ at the first try,” Xandro says.

It’s not only the technical content that appeals to him, but also the team spirit and the working environment.

Why Xandro feels at home at VARIODRIVE

The switch from a large car company to the VARIODRIVE team took some getting used to, but it feels like the right move for Xandro. “You can walk into anyone’s office here, everyone wants to help, and there is room to contribute ideas. That feels very comfortable.”

Even outside work, Xandro stays focused. He goes to the gym twice a week, meets friends occasionally, and is mainly busy with his personal development. “There is still plenty to learn, but I’m sure this is the right place for me.”