The Techne Connect

This week we sit down with Plato Pathrose the founder of PTS Creative. Plato is a multi-talented individual, not only is he a high-quality consultant, he’s also a published author, and industry expert in automated driving and systems engineering.  Plato has nearly two decades of experience working with major automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, as he shares his journey from software development t...

In this episode, we sit down with Olaf Otto, the President of Rolls-Royce Electrical, to explore his journey to the top of the aerospace industry. Olaf shares insights into his career path—from structural engineering to leading innovation in electric propulsion systems—and the evolving landscape of advanced air mobility. We discuss the future of electric aviation, the challenges of certification a...

This week, we’re thrilled to be joined by Ziad Moussa, Engineering Manager for eBike Systems at Brompton Bicycles. With over nine years of diverse experience, Ziad has excelled in roles ranging from research engineer to product owner and now leads teams in delivering innovative mobility solutions that redefine urban transportation. In this episode, we dive into Ziad’s impressive career journey, in...

This week our guest is Calin Herciu, Founder & Expert Consultant at Xpertrack Engineering Solutions. We explore the importance of identifying your passion and understanding your true motivators when it comes to building a successful, long-term career. We also discuss why it’s crucial to focus on long-term potential rather than chasing immediate rewards—whether that’s titles or money—and the ke...

This week, we’re excited to be joined by Frank Einig , the Technical Director for Global Brake Control Design at ZF Group . Frank has a career that’s nothing short of incredible. With over two decades of experience in the automotive industry, Frank’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and dedication to learning.  In this episode, we explore his insights on cutting-edge technologies l...

We're excited to have Sergio Scabar, Product Cybersecurity Manager at ZF Race Engineering, joining us today. Sergio has over 30 years of experience in the industry and is the recipient of the ZF Excellence Award for developing a groundbreaking automated tool that reduced the calculation time for steering axle geometry by an incredible 99%. In this episode, Sergio will share his extensive know...

Annika is the Head of Safety at Kopernikus Automotive, where she oversees functional safety, cybersecurity, and system development processes. Starting as a working student at a small engineering service firm, she discovered her passion for safety, a field she’s since made her own. After just a year in her first role, she became a technical lead, and within three years, she was leading a team of 25...

This week we’re thrilled to be joined by the brilliant Barbara Panella. Barbara has spent most of her career at ABB, where she began as a research scientist in 2009 and is now the Global Division Technology Manager for Electrification Distribution Solutions. For those who may not know, ABB is a global leader in electrification and automation, dedicated to creating a more sustainable and resource-e...

This week, we’re excited to welcome Eduardo Buján, Team Coordinator at Audi AG, to the podcast.  Eduardo’s remarkable journey in the automotive industry highlights his expertise in vehicle safety, cabin architecture, and project management, alongside his dedication to fostering collaboration and innovation within his teams. At Audi, Eduardo plays a key role in driving excellence, contributing to t...

This week we are speaking to Matt Lewis, the Head of Architecture & Diagnostics at Aston Martin Lagonda.  Matt secured himself a place at the University of Glamorgan in South Wales, where he began a four-year degree in Electronic & Communication Engineering. This honed his engineering ability, as he excelled in the practical aspects of the course, graduating with a First-Class Honours.  Ma...

This week we are speaking to Florian Turke, the Head of Cell Test, System, and Simulation at Skeleton Technologies.  We truly see simulation operating as the heart of our industry at the moment, and it's great to unwrap how Florian has built this skill set up throughout his career. He provides us with some great technical insights into what is coming up in our industry and the role of super-c...

This week we are speaking to Dr Alkiviadis Boulos the Director of Engineering for BRUSA Elektronik.  Alkiviadis’s engineering journey began as he gained a master’s in electrical Power Drives, and a master in Control Engineering. This foundation lead him to gaining a Ph. D in Electrical Engineering Management.  Alkiviadis always had a passion for cars, but never imagined he would work in the automo...

Frank’s background is in electrical engineering, which he studied at the Technical University of Munich. In his final semester in 2010, he was fortunate that battery research was experiencing a resurgence at German universities, leading him to shift his focus from biomedical engineering to battery engineering. In addition to earning his diploma (the equivalent of a master’s degree), Frank went on...

This week we are speaking to Tudi Le Bleis, the Battery Management System Team leader at INVENOX.  He has been a key member of development teams working on both prototypes and serial products. Alongside this, Tudi has extensive experience in customer communication and project leadership.  Tudi’s skills have been used for some fantastic projects, including supporting the renewable energy sector by...

This week we are speaking to Alfred Engler, the Head of Chief Engineering at Liebherr-Electronics and Drives GmbH.  Alfred is a veteran in the field of engineering, having nearly 30 years of experience under his belt.  He has spent over 12 years at ISET e. V., primarily working on research projects, before joining Liebherr as the Head of Predevelopment and Advanced Technology. At the time, Liebher...

This week we are speaking to Mike Kireev, the Engineering Manager for Smart Charging at EVBox.  Mike has had a long and fruitful career in the industry, as he was previously the Head of Product management for Embedded Software Platforms at ABB.  He gives us a fantastic breakdown of his career journey, after University Mike began working as a software developer, focusing on database development. Du...

This week we’re speaking to Stefano Marconi, the Head of Powertrain Controls at Bugatti-Rimac.  Stefano has a brilliant track record, excelling even during his university days. Such a successful academic career led Stefano to Ferrari, in which he did 12 years in various engineering roles. Stefano has since moved over to Bugatti Rimac, to focus his talents on powertrain controls.  He gives us some...

This week we speak to Andrew Johnston, the Director of Quality, Functional Safety and Cybersecurity (Acting) at Imagination Technologies.  Andrew was the Senior Functional Safety & Cybersecurity Manager at Imagination Technologies during the time of his interview, but has since moved upwards.  Not only does Andrew give some brilliant insights for younger engineers, we also discuss the growth i...

This week we're speaking to Dr Joachim Fox, the director of Safety and Cybersecurity at ZF Group.  Joachim has had a brilliant career, spanning nearly 20 years. After gaining a PhD in Robotics and Mathematics, Joachim joined the sector as a manager of control engineering at Siemens. This saw him leading a small team of engineers, as they worked on an automotive brake-by-wire system, electrica...

This week we are speaking to Yike Fang the Vehicle Cybersecurity Manager at Verne.  Yike originally joined ZF, as she started her career as a systems engineer, this opened the door for her to become a cybersecurity engineer.  From ZF, Yike picked up cyber, wanting to progress higher and wanting to take on more responsibility, which lead her to developing future solutions for shared autonomous mobi...

This week we are speaking to Eray Canli, the Engineering Manager at Volocopter GmbH.  Originally Eray studied physics at university, after finishing his degree, Eray moved onto working on a master’s with a focus on the Aerospace sector. This hard work led him to his first career at Andar, working on the electrification of aircraft systems in the Defence and Aerospace industry.  This aerospace expe...

This week we speak to Matus Rakoci, the ePowerTrain Senior Manager at GarrettMotion.  Matus has a strong passion for the automotive industry, stemming from his family having their own small automotive company, allowing him to develop his passion from a young age.  Matus has a solid career history after spending the last 20 years working with mechatronics, with his hard work being recognised he was...

This week we speak to Stephan Prufling, the Product Manager at AVL Software and Functions GmbH.  He started his education at EMZ as a technical apprentice working on old house equipment, whilst training as a Mechatronics Engineer working on both a mixture of mechatronics & electronics. Stephan stuck with education, completing a master’s driven by his love of the hands-on technical projects.  S...

This week we are talking with Lorena Ugarte, the Chief System Engineer at eVersum mobility solutions.  After spending 4 years working on a bachelor's degree in Spain, Lorena kick started her career by working for Indra Systems, designing the Air Traffic management systems. Lorena quickly picked up the technical aspects but moved to a more challenging role after not feeling technically fulfill...

This episode we're speaking with Alex Gechis, the Head of Perception at Kopernikus Automotive.  Alex's journey began with a master’s in mathematics, leading him to work on fascinating projects in Germany, including creating his own “robo car.” This innovation paved the way for his role at Kopernikus. We’ll dive into developments in AI through the OPEN AI Network, the future and sustainab...