Switching Gears with Tom Hulin
In our latest Switching Gears we catch up with Tom, the Test Engineer at Charge Cars. He tells us why acquiring hours of experience is paramount to his job and why reading about sleep is his favourite activity outside of work.
Describe your day as a Test Engineer at Charge Cars?
The very nature of being a test engineer means that every day will throw its unique challenges my way. One day I will be out at test tracks pushing our development vehicle to its limits, next day I will be in the office crunching through sensor data. There is no typical day for a test engineer, which is why I love what I do!
Top tip for someone entering your field of work.
My biggest tip for anyone trying to enter the exciting world of vehicle testing and development is to attempt and find relevant experience. There is a large aspect of vehicle testing that cannot be learnt in a classroom, so getting hours under your belt at proving grounds / tracks is key to becoming successful in this field.
What trend, if any, is shaping your area of work right now?
Prior to this role I was testing military vehicles where mechanical data was of highest importance (durability, off road capability, armour performance etc.). Starting at Charge required a shift of mindset and a great deal of new learning! Electric vehicles are advancing at such an accelerated rate that it is crucial to stay informed and up to date with where the industry is heading.
Working here, what are you most looking forward to?
As much as I like crunching numbers and playing with sensors, nothing compares to being out on track with the vehicle and being able to see fundamental changes in its performance. I am most excited to get into validation testing, which involves long weeks spent at proving grounds around the world getting the vehicle certified for production.
What book would you recommend?
As someone that will sleep at any given opportunity, reading about why we need sleep and the effects it has on the body was eye opening. Give it a go, worst case is you doze off reading it…
