Profile
Mr Daniel Wright
SWSA Automotive
Course of study:
Bachelor of Electronic Engineering (Honours) & Master of Microelectronic Engineering 2011
Has your degree at La Trobe prepared you well for the workplace?
My degree focused significantly on project work and project management, a key factor required in the workforce. You will be surprised how relevant the core subjects can be in the workplace - the other day I took out my lecture notes to design a strain gauge sensor!
La Trobe taught very relevant and up-to-date technologies involved in designing a successful product.
Tell us a little about your work history
During my final year of my degree, I started working at SWSA, which is a Tier 1 automotive-based company working alongside Australian-based car manufacturers. I finished my graduate program and now have the job title of “Project Engineer”. Half the engineering department I work with are ex La Trobe students!
I have been on regular business trips to the UK, Singapore and Indonesia, meeting up with suppliers and manufacturers. Watching the circuit board that I designed being assembled for the first time in mass production was very fulfilling.
What are things you enjoy most about your job?
As the company I work for is very flexible, they have allowed me to further progress my career in a direction I am interested in. Every day is different and I am continuing to learn new skills in quality and project management.
It has been great taking on a large responsibility and designing a solution to a customer’s specification, being involved from the start to the end of the design, and then seeing my product in current model cars. Reading positive reviews in the newspaper about my product was also a great moment.
Besides your career, where has life taken you since graduation?
After leaving university, I have bought my own house and have gone on several overseas trips with my partner. I also now have more time to play and watch sports!
What advice can you offer to current students?
La Trobe staff are very friendly; find your passion and share it with them, and they will help you reach your goals. The staff always took time to help me, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. The lecturers even support and help students with their own personal home projects!
Don’t wait until the end of the course to find a job, you will be surprised at the number of employers looking for casual students to help out. Not only will you get paid for it and earn valuable experience, they might even hire you full time when you have finished your course! Experience is worth more than anything else to an employer.
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