Mona Faber
What can you actually do with an HTL diploma (Austria's technical secondary school qualification)? Since finishing her HTL studies, Mona Faber has worked as a structural draughtswoman in our railway engineering team, and today she tells us what her work at FCP looks like. As part of an interdisciplinary team, she's responsible for drawing up and checking plans, and her technical skills and open nature make her an important link between project partners and the team.
From HTL to Railway Engineering
9:00 a.m. As a night owl, I usually get to the office a bit later and dive straight in after my first coffee. The team's daily check-ins often happen before I arrive, so I can apply my colleagues' input straight into my work without any extra coordination. A big part of my day usually consists of drawings and models that I work on very independently.
So how did I end up here? After my HTL training in construction and environmental engineering, I quickly realised that drawing up plans was something I was good at. I have a good eye for visuals and precision – but I learned my most relevant skills on the job. I originally applied for an open position in bridge construction, and that's when they said: “We'd also have something in railway engineering. If you're interested, feel free to take a look at that too.” This openness to new possibilities won me over right away.
New Software and Project Coordination
Around 1:30 p.m., I take my lunch break today, though I'm often earlier or later. My day-to-day work is hard to pin down to a pattern, since every day is different. Sometimes I develop new planning foundations, sometimes I work directly on inputs from projects. That can also mean getting to grips with new software – you should definitely bring a certain technical curiosity and not be afraid to work your way into new tools or a bit of code.
3:00 p.m. In the afternoon, there are coordination calls with project partners. I'm often the interface between different disciplines and check whether ideas from the planning stage actually work in reality. That gets easier the better you know your team.
Zitat 1
Exactly Where I Belong
What many people don't know: not all design engineers are the same here. There are many different specialisations – but at the same time, you also get the chance to look into different areas and try out new things.
When I wrap up the day at 6:00 p.m. together with my colleagues, I notice once again what I appreciate most about FCP: the team. The collegiality and the way people treat one another here are special. There are so many competent people and specialists – if you have a question, someone always takes the time to explain something. No one is afraid to try new things – and even if something doesn't work the first time, we see it as a chance to learn from it.
For me, working as a design engineer at FCP is the perfect job because it's so visual. If you enjoy thinking spatially, planning and designing, this is exactly the right fit.
Want to find out more about our open positions? Check out our careers page or send us an initial application!
