Master Mechatronics - Work Experience First Year After Graduation

Victor Hern andez , Jrgen Haa and Steffen Vangen Victor Hern andez from Venezuela, Jrgen Haa and Steffen Vangen both from Norway both graduated with a Master Degree in Mechatronics from the University of Agder, June 2011. Below are short descriptions of their work experience from the rst year after graduation.
Victor Hern andez: My study experience in Mechatronics at the University of Agder was as vital as enriching; very rewarding to the path I wanted to follow in the exercise of my professional career. There, with the drive and support of the institution, professors and staff, I developed skills in the wide areas of mechanics, hydraulics, electronics, power drives, robotics, as well in the modelling, simulation and control of advanced integrated systems. All these, primarily, to full the requirements of a modern engineer prepared to innovate in this fast changing world. At the present day, Im working as a design engineer in offshore drilling equipment. My current employer, Aker Solutions, is one of the leading companies in state-ofthe-art technology for the Oil & Gas industry, where my work focuses mainly on the development and innovation of hydraulic systems for handling machines. From big robotic arms to heavy duty cranes, this experience not only offers me the satisfaction to form part in the companys progress, but also to travel to the application eld around the world and see the acceptance of my effort and the contribution of many others. Jrgen Haa: After graduating from the Master program in Mechatronics at the University of Agder in 2011, I started working for TTS Energy. TTS Energy is located in Kristiansand and its main focus is manufacturing and developing drilling equipment for the oil and gas industry. My job description is Product Discipline Engineer, Control Systems, which means I am responsible for the system controlling some of our equipment. My main task is to make the software for the roughneck which torques the drill pipes. The software is running on PLCs and is programmed in Simatic Step 7. When a new machine is completed, I travel to the workshop where it is built and test the machine thoroughly before it is shipped to the rig. During my rst six months I have traveled to Estonia several times for completion testing and spent two weeks on a new jack-up rig during commissioning.

V. Hern andez is with Aker Solutions, Kristiansand, Norway. J. Haa is with TTS Energy, Kristiansand, Norway. S. Vangen is with Kongsberg Maritime, Sandefjord, Norway.

Steffen Vangen: After graduating from UiA with a master degree in Mechatronics I was employed by Kongsberg Maritime, a subsidiary of Kongsberg Gruppen, at a department located in Sandefjord. Kongsberg Maritime delivers systems for dynamic positioning and navigation, marine automation, propulsion control and position reference systems. As a project engineer in the Retrot/Cruise & Mega Yacht department I follow projects from planning and engineering to installation and commissioning. My main task is to create automation and control systems for new cruise vessels and yachts or other vessels that want to upgrade their existing automation system. Kongsberg delivers equipment and software to all kinds of vessels all over the world and I get to travel to many new and exciting places. Through my bachelor in Mechatronics I acquired knowledge of the important elds of modern machinery and automation systems such as mechanics, electrical circuits, control systems and hydraulics. In the master program I got more in-depth knowledge and learned to set these building blocks together in complete systems, something that has proven valuable in my current job.

My last trip was to the world record holder in offshore lifts at the coast of Bahamas.