Career in our civil sector in Spain

I'm a technical engineer with a degree in industrial electronics and industrial automation engineering and a master in automotive project management. After first working at two technology centres and a company in the automotive sector, I began working at Pierburg, where I've advanced in my professional career as a process engineer since 2005.

Being a member of the engineering team at Pierburg gives me the opportunity to participate in very exciting projects that allow us to develop our potential and intellect. Working in a job environment with multidisciplinary teams that allow you to co-create, come up with ideas, debate them, and to encourage continuous learning are some of the aspects I value the most in my work. This, plus the good work environment within the engineering team, is fundamental for me and hard to find at many companies. I really value being able to feel like I'm part of a team, where I can count on support from my co-workers whenever I need it.

Employment at Pierburg is long term, with an emphasis on both the professional and personal development of the individual. This continuity provides job stability and security, which also transmits to the personal sphere - something important to keep in mind in a labour market that is as dynamic as the one we've had to experience.

Since I had my first child in 2009, I've managed to balance my professional and personal life thanks to the option of working shorter days with a flexible schedule. This is a very positive aspect to note since it allows me to keep advancing in my professional career without having to stop enjoying and taking care of my family.

Pierburg uses the latest and most state-of-the-art technologies. Given the swift pace of new technologies, staying up to date is directly tied to the distinguishing factor this brings to our business. This is done by offering a range of opportunities to innovate and learn, thus allowing us to be at the cutting edge while also setting us apart from the rest of our competitors. This forces us to learn about new technologies every day and to continuously refresh our knowledge.

Looking back, it all started with a work-study internship nine years ago. At that point, I had enrolled in two professional degrees, one in mechanical project development and the other in regulation and control systems, during which I started my work-study experience. It was an innovative program in which the second year of training combined school and work: mornings in class and afternoons at the company.

It's a very interesting job, where no day is the same. The good thing about this position is that it gives me the opportunity to collaborate and work with people from different departments and fields. In addition, I am able to improve processes of all kinds and solve problems. There's no time to slack off; every day bring us new challenges.

Since then, I've been advancing by leaps and bounds – which has made me grow both professionally and personally. After my work-study year, I was given the opportunity to stay on in the maintenance department, which is where everything started. A year and a half later, an opportunity came up for me to transfer to the Business Excellence department.

Since then, I've had the good fortune to keep receiving training both internally (Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Lego training, advanced problem solving, etc.) and externally in order to provide my co-workers with high-quality service.

Right now, I'm also a student mentor, both for professional training and university/master courses. I personally believe it's a good way to pass on everything I've learned to people starting out in the working world. It's enriching for both sides since we are sharing knowledge. This is one of the ways we are giving back to society at Pierburg.

As for the future, there are plenty of plans for new projects, training and certainly new challenges – challenges, we are ready to embrace and that we will address with the best mindset.

My name is Emma García, I'm 32 years old, and I'm the team lead for one of the assembly mini-factories. I've worked at Pierburg since 2014. I studied technical architecture and earned a master’s degree in sustainable construction. I ended my academic career in the middle of an economic crisis and construction was one of the sectors that was hit the hardest. I decided to reinvent myself and looked for other options, which is how I started working as an assembly operator at Pierburg in 2014.

I've always enjoyed interacting with people and with my professional drive to keep growing, I decided to apply for an internal promotion at the company for a job as team lead in 2017. After applying, I was selected for the job, which is my current position.

The company Pierburg is a big name within the Durangaldea region – a place where many people would like to work. Employment aside, the Pierburg brand is highly regarded in the automotive field.

Always focused on innovation and development and with its eyes on the future, the company is a point of reference in various fields, which notably includes its use of 6S and continuous improvement.

The automotive industry is largely dominated by male employees. But the fact alone that most people are men, does not result in a greater difficulty in adapting to it.. The key is to work on communication, regardless of your colleague's gender. In my case, I feel they all truly support and back me, which makes me feel very appreciated and proud to be part of this team.

I should also note that not only have I received all the help I need from my co-workers, but I've also had the chance to train in areas that have helped me improve both personally and professionally. I'd like to take this opportunity to encourage other female colleagues to apply for internal promotions in future.

Safety is one of the most crucial pillars of our work. Familiarity with our work environment is the best measure for preventing any incidents. As a result, courses are taught and we have action protocols and signage throughout the plant, in addition to having production lines with a high level of process security.

Given the Corona pandemic, I can say the response from management has been swift and effective to ensure the well-being of all staff. We've been forced to adapt to a new form of work, in which we keep our distance, implement new safety and hygiene measures at workstations, and act more responsibly at an individual level. All of this has enabled us to perform our work in an environment where we feel safe.

If there's anything that has helped me in my current role, it's adapting to new conditions. It's a continuous learning process, with each day different from the last and brimming with challenges, which has allowed me to develop many qualities.

We are going through a dynamic situation with great uncertainty, and what characterizes Pierburg the most is its great capacity to adapt to change. We are a small great family, and if there's anything they've taught us, it's that anything is possible through teamwork.

Attracted by the professional future it offered, I began to study mechanical engineering in 2010.. Before finishing my degree, I started my internship at Pierburg S.A, where I still work today. How those years have flown by!

I perform different roles in my job, and the main one centres on assembling prototypes before they enter serial production. This preliminary process typically allows us to find future problems early on. It also makes it possible for our customers to test their engines ahead of time.

I also offer support to other departments through different checks and tests. This gives me the chance to work, interact and learn in the midst of many people. I like my work because it isn't monotonous and it gives me the freedom to learn and experiment with our products. I learn new things every day.

The work environment at Pierburg S.A is great. There are tough and stressful days occasionally, but there is always some extra time to socialize with your co-workers. Each year, they organise sports and social events that help create bonds between people and the company and allow us to have a good time.

Since the company is located in a city centre, there is a wide range of transport options to get to work. First, we have the option of taking the train and the bus, with several stops five minutes away on foot. The second option is to commute by car or motorcycle since we have plenty of parking available. Lastly, if you are fortunate enough to live close by, you can simply travel by bike or electric scooter – the first ones are already popping up!

Being part of a company like Pierburg provides job stability with the peace of mind that this implies, but most of all, I truly value going to work happy.