Meet Our People: Marcel, Application Engineer

Marcel’s journey with Zuken has been an incredible one, spanning nearly a decade. Throughout this time, he has consistently made a significant impact and has become an invaluable member of our team. I am thrilled to share his story on the blog.

My journey into the field of EDA (Electronic Design Automation) began with an apprenticeship as an electrical engineering assistant at bbs|me in Hannover. This program covered a wide range of theoretical knowledge, including electrical engineering, electronics, and layouting. One of the outstanding aspects of the apprenticeship was working with an EDA tool called Pulsonix, which is an indirect successor to Cadstar. During this time, I had the opportunity to design a small device from start to finish, including planning, layout, manufacturing, and testing a PCB.

After a brief interruption due to my military service in the German Navy, I joined teconotron elektronik gmbh as a support engineer, providing support for Pulsonix. Soon after, an exciting opportunity opened up and I joined Zuken in December 2013.

My role at Zuken

Throughout my career at Zuken, I have primarily worked as a Customer Support Engineer, providing training, consulting, and hotline support. This diverse mix of activities, revolving around our various CR-8000 tools, has kept my job interesting and allowed me to gain insight from both our side and the user’s perspective. Recently, I moved into the role of Application Engineer, which has presented me with new challenges and opportunities for personal growth. Exploring the needs of our current and potential customers, getting to know our tools, and constantly learning are all part of this role. But let’s take a closer look at my current role, which involves presenting our software to curious customers, introducing them to the power of CR-8000, and helping them explore other aspects of our comprehensive solution. I believe that being genuine and authentic is key. While smooth sales talk can be effective, it’s essential to provide accurate information and realistic expectations. Customers truly appreciate this approach as it fosters both sides’ strong and trustworthy relationships.

Working with my colleagues is always a pleasure, and this is a good time to point out that there is no peer pressure to say otherwise. All joking aside, the TCC team is always fun to work with. Even if there’s sometimes a deafening silence, it’s often broken by jokes and laughter, which creates a positive atmosphere that you enjoy working in. If I ever encounter a roadblock and need help, my colleagues are always willing to lend a helping hand and guide me in the right direction.

My typical day

Let’s talk about a typical day in my professional life. It all starts with turning on my computer and, of course, grabbing that much-needed coffee and hiding until the day ends. Just kidding – once settled, I check my OneNote overview to prioritize tasks, check my calendar for any upcoming meetings or commitments, and check my mailbox.

With a clear plan in mind, I dive into various projects and interact with customers. In between tasks, I enjoy having relaxed chats with my colleagues about personal things, the day’s events, what’s happening at Zuken, or any other job-related topics. These interactions not only help me unwind and destress but also ensure that I stay updated with the latest news and developments. Maybe a colleague is pondering over something, I already have a solution for, or vice versa.

Among the many projects I work on, the annual update webinars for maintenance customers stand out the most. Since 2014, I have been creating updated materials, and over time, we decided to turn them into a webinar format. Working with our marketing team, we have been successful in making this format highly anticipated and well-received by our users.

Video games and motorcycles

Outside of work, I have a few hobbies that I really enjoy. One of them is video games, where I don’t limit myself to a particular genre. Whether it’s racing, strategy, or FPS games, I enjoy exploring virtual worlds. But there’s more to life than gaming. A few years ago, I got my motorcycle license, and since then I’ve been enjoying taking motorcycle trips, cruising around the state, and enjoying the freedom of the open road. Traveling is also something I like to do, although it was rudely put on hold because of Covid until now. Where to go next? I don’t know maybe Canada; I got some distant relatives over there.