Wolfgang, Hardware Development Engineer, Defence & Communication Systems
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Hi, I’m Wolfgang and I work at Defence & Communication Systems as a Hardware Development Engineer. I work on developing base stations for the Tetrapol System, so I’m involved on the hardware side and I develop the PC boards etc.
My usual working day starts between eight o’clock and half past eight. The first thing I do is check all my e-mails to see whether I’ve received responses from manufacturers who I’ve asked to supply components and to see whether anything else has come. Then I start my routine work. I switch on the measuring instruments I need. It all depends on exactly what I have to do. First of all, I put a test setup in place and take measurements. Or tests have to be carried out on parts that have been ordered, for example an amplifier. We have to see whether the manufacturer’s data are correct and whether this amplifier can be used by us. Taking this example, an amplifier can be tested using a network analyzer. The amplification is plotted in a curve against frequency. This is a very complex measuring instrument. The results can be stored on a diskette and documented in this manner. The second part of my job after carrying out measurement and testing is documentation. This step is essential so that colleagues can continue working on the project. It’s also important for colleagues who are not involved in the project to be able to find out about the results.
This is all particularly exciting because you don’t always get the result you anticipate. You also get certain additional effects coming into play.
I had my first contact with Defence & Communication Systems and before that with AEG Mobile Communications through a Career Day at the University of Ulm. I went to this event because I wanted to find an interesting topic for my degree dissertation. The company representatives there told me that there were lots of subjects for degree dissertations at AEG Mobile Communications and Defence & Communication Systems. They suggested that I should simply get in touch directly with the personnel in charge of this area. And that’s what I did. The dissertation concerned an investigation into a digital receiver for Tetrapol base stations. I enjoyed this so much that I decided I’d like to start my career here.
I started out with just a qualification from secondary school. I went on to train as a communication electronics technician with Deutsche Telekom AG. But I found that the work I could do with this training didn’t really stretch me enough. I was keen to learn more, and after I’d completed my period of community service, I worked for my entrance qualification to go to a technical college and then studied telecommunications engineering at Ulm Technical College.
What I like most about this company is the friendly atmosphere. Cooperation with colleagues is outstanding. It extends from the person sitting at the next desk right through to the Personnel Department and all the administrative staff.
