My story at LEONI
My name is Patrick and I have been with LEONI in Kitzingen since January 2022. After graduating from high school, I studied for a bachelor’s degree in plastics and elastomer technology at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg (THWS) and immediately thereafter added a master’s degree course in product and systems development. As early as my bachelor's and master's dissertations covering the area of simulation, I noticed that I feel comfortable in this field of work. After university, I initially worked as a developer for a start-up company. When a friend, who also works for LEONI, then drew my attention to a vacancy in the Simulation department I applied straight away. I am now part of this Simulation team and, above all, carry out electrical engineering computations and program apps.
My job
Above all, I am responsible for running simulations that map the warming of components under current. These computations give our developers an assessment whether the new components are laid out in the right way or whether, for example, a different cable diameter is needed. I thus bear the responsibility for the simulations having been correctly run and that reality is indeed replicated as well as possible.
In addition to my “day-to-day business” of simulations, I also look after method development and app programming.
Method development concentrates mainly on the efficiency and accuracy of simulations by automating work steps or establishing new measurement data.
In app programming, I develop tools that LEONI staff can use to conduct smaller-scale simulations by themselves. As a team, we have meanwhile created a selection of such apps that colleagues are also already diligently using.
I particularly enjoy developing creative ways to solve complex problems. When we receive a request for an extensive computation, I cannot just import all the data into the simulation software and hit “run”, but most think carefully about what I can discard, simplify, or edit, and what I cannot. Sometimes you must also be inventive if the data situation is poor. Still, you must not deviate too far from reality when doing so, which can often be quite tricky. Usually this can also give you a few lessons or ideas to incorporate in the general workflow. I particularly like the challenges and ongoing improvements.
My daily routine
Start of the day
I usually get out of bed between 7.30 and 8.00 a.m. Before I make myself some coffee, I first look after my two cats. Once they are fed and happy, I see to it that I get away quickly because I like being at work by 9.00 a.m. at the latest and I have a half-hour car drive. When I’ve arrived at LEONI, I first set up the desk that I have booked and then get myself a coffee together with colleagues. This is when we might also first share our thoughts about the issues pending for the day.
Morning
My first official act on my PC is presumably the same as in almost everyone’s case: check emails. Then I can go on to filtering what other tasks might have come in and prioritize them straight away. I try to answer minor queries, for example from the project teams in which I am participating, immediately. We are also informed by email when a new simulation is to be done. If that is the case, I check quickly with my colleagues who would be best to take on the job. And if that is to be me or computations are still pending from the previous day, I will spend the morning setting them up and running them. In between, we will usually throw in a coffee break to give the head a rest.
Lunch break
At midday we always have lunch in our canteen called “Kupferkessel” (copper kettle). The dishes offered are delicious and you’ll really always find something to your taste. Thereafter we walk a lap around the company’s production halls to stretch our legs after all that sitting around.
Afternoon
If I do not need to work any further on the simulations, I like to spend the afternoon on programming apps. That is a more relaxed task if you are, above all, doing creative work. There are also fewer meetings in the afternoon than in the morning, meaning there is less disruption. The obligatory coffee break in between must of course not be overlooked here either.
Evening
Just before finishing, I take a quick look at my calendar for the next day, thereby ensuring that I do not lose sight of meetings for which I must prepare something. I subsequently write myself a note with tasks that are pending for the next day. Usually, I head straight for the gym after work, which is practically just 200 meters away from LEONI.
My highlights
As we are an international team with colleagues from Germany, France, and Slovakia, we see some of the faces only via webcam all year. Once a year, however, we also see to it that all of us meet for a week at one of our sites. Last year, we were in Montigny near Paris, which gave us the opportunity to get to know our French colleagues. A fantastic visit to a LEONI supplier’s facility including a plant tour and a workshop in the region as well as joint team-building event were a perfect enhancement of the whole experience.
A challenge that I mastered together with my team was an important computation that came in at short notice and which we had to prepare for the next day for a scheduled meeting with a customer. When the simulation then repeatedly crashed, I felt quite some stress in the early afternoon. My colleagues were then able to help me with their experience and to resolve the problem in time. We then also shared the still pending tasks, meaning that I did not have work into the evening. I very much appreciate this solidarity as well as the uncomplicated and efficient manner.
My view of LEONI as an employer
As a late riser, the freedom to structure my work in terms of working from home, flextime and trust-based working benefits me. With these arrangements I am much more flexible with when I must get out of bed. What is also great is that, in my own work, I can select my own focal areas and my own subjects, which I then pursue. For instance, i can program apps whose functions I consider to be especially important because they can save our developers or us a lot of time. This then also boosts your own motivation when knowing that your own work has a positive impact on others.
I already noticed the open interaction with each other during my induction. During this time, I had to make many appointments with colleagues from other departments. Without exception, everyone welcomed me in a friendly and helpful manner and helped me as much as possible. I get on very well with my team and we regularly talk not only about work, but also about private matters.
In three words, I would describe LEONI as open, employee-friendly, and challenging.
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