Jobs in the car industry: Team leader SW development and grant projects

(Hier finden Sie die deutsche Version des Beitrags)

The automotive industry and its suppliers are in the midst of a disruptive transformation. The switch from the internal combustion engine to the electric motor alone will fundamentally change one of the key industries, also and especially in the world of work. Numerous jobs will be eliminated, while new ones will be created and many will change. In a thematic focus, we want to shed light on jobs in the automotive industry and its suppliers that did not exist in this form a few years ago, but will grow in importance over the next ten years. Companies will be looking for suitably trained employees to an even greater extent than they are already doing. Their chances on the labor market are likely to be excellent.

Dr. Jessica Harrendorf and her team look at processes, workplaces, robots and IT infrastructure in production to find potential for improvement. She reports on this work and how the team members have benefited from internal training.

What is the core of the job?

I work in the Digital Factory Campus (DFC) at the Berlin-Marienfelde plant, which opened in September 2022. Together with my team, I am driving digitalization in production at Mercedes-Benz. Our goal is to accelerate and optimize manufacturing processes in our production facilities.

What are the typical tasks in it?

We are literally working on the future of the company and are responsible for many transformation processes towards our goal of being fully electric by the end of the decade. The focus of my team is on identifying technology trends and making them usable for our production. My job essentially consists of two parts: firstly, developing value-creating applications for automotive production (we also call them "apps"), and secondly, initiating grant projects.

What makes the job special?

For me, the job is special in that it represents my personal development. I started out as a programmer in production, but since 2014 I have been working more deeply on the topics of Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Cloud. At the same time, I have repeatedly worked in grant projects. My current job combines these experiences perfectly and my team faces the challenges of digital transformation on a daily basis. With my expertise, my courage for new things and my network from science and business, I can thus do a special job from my point of view.

What does the position in the Mercedes-Benz Group mean?

A position as a team leader is only a small part of the big picture. However, this position, or rather: the team, has a pioneering role for the digital transformation of the production area of Mercedes-Benz. All my colleagues originally come from the production area and have actively trained as software developers through additional qualification measures. They are a prime example of the transformation in practice at our Group. I find this very impressive. In the course of this transformation, however, production processes are also evolving at an even faster pace. Our task is to actively drive these changes and make the production network more resilient. For example, tools are being adapted, robot technologies are being changed and workplaces are being optimized. Our task at the Berlin site is to identify these requirements at an early stage and develop effective solutions. These are tested at our site in Berlin before being rolled out from the Digital Factory Campus to all our plants around the world.

How did you end up in this job?

You could say it's luck, but sometimes it's also the right timing. I'm probably in line with the current zeitgeist, my management style is integrative and characterized by working with many students, which helps me a lot in my job when it comes to developing employees' potential. In addition, of course, my knowledge exactly matches the requirements for the job.

The job itself was created in the course of the transformation - an attractive opportunity for me to play an active role in the future of the company. I got the job through a traditional application. In it, I referred to my LinkedIn profile, even though this is not quite so common yet.

What training(s) do people who are interested in the job need?

I myself have a doctorate in engineering in the field of predictive analytics, however this is not a necessity. The important thing is to have a passion for technology and the Mercedes-Benz brand, to enjoy working with people, and to turn your hobby into a career. In my role, a degree is helpful, but as a software developer you can do without.

What interests should you have to be motivated to do the job?

For me, the recipe for success is to stand behind the things you do and truly believe in their purpose. One example of this is the consortium I put together for a grant project. It consists of highly motivated people who come from various business partners and research institutions. I share a vision with them - the joint project "Werk 4.0". This is a comprehensive approach to integrating innovative technologies in automotive production for faster response to unpredictable market and technology requirements.

It is fascinating to see the enthusiasm with which we work together on a project for the future. That motivates me to give my best every day.

Complete the sentence for those interested in this job, "To find your place here, you need ..."

... Ambition and the passion to actively change things, because any form of transformation is a continuous process.

(cgl)