What skills, attributes, and experience make you a great Caliber engineer?
My machine design skills & CAD modelling skills, makes me a great Caliber engineer. Also, my communication skills and good sense of humour as well.
I always design with a manufacturing or fabrication mindset while considering the cost and efficiency of the machine.
My experience as a draughtsman in a CNC machining company was a great starting point to develop my design skills for manufacturing.
Since I joined Caliber, I have worked for a variety of clients and designed a variety of things. I designed automated gates for hospitals, helped with designing parts for smart hair cutting machine, designed machines for mining industry, and worked on product design for electronic navigation.
How did you get into engineering?
Since childhood I had great interest in how thing works, I loved playing with remote-controlled cars and taking them apart to fix them. I enjoyed playing with the mechanics-set making windmills, and toy-robots assembling parts with nuts and bolts. So, it was quite evident that I was going to be an engineer. So after finishing my school at the age of 15 I took a diploma course in mechanical engineering.
Where / what did you study?
I completed my Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Mumbai University India, and then I completed a Graduate Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Manukau Institute of technology in Auckland as a study to work pathway to New Zealand.
What do you enjoy most about mechanical engineering?
As a mechanical engineer, I get this opportunity or a challenge to make things better, faster, efficient every day. Designing solutions and making machines to solve real life problems is what excites me.
What engineering experience did you have before you came to Caliber?
Before coming to Caliber, I was a Mechanical engineering draughtsman for a CNC machining company, where I helped the production staff with my detailed drawings and assembly instructions to make various components and assemblies. I also have worked as a CAD support Engineer for Architectural Hardware company. I have also worked as a Design Detailer making creative displays for retail stores.
What makes working for Caliber different from the other engineering companies you’ve worked for?
As said by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus “Change is the only Constant” feels true when you are working for Caliber.
The variety in work while engaging with clients from different industries keeps us toes. The constant learning keeps the brain stimulated. Everyday is a different experience.
Is there a particular project that’s been a highlight of your career?
The most interesting one I worked so far was at Hairspace. Hairspace aims to develop a device that can accurately replicate a haircut, The device is designed to glide through the user’s hair, which would scans and pick up the length of the hair at every possible point on the head. The device stores this data in an application. When the hair grows longer and is time for a haircut, the user can simply glide the device through the hair to cut the hair and replicate the same haircut as before, using the data stored in the application.
What would your dream project be?
Working on a big hydroelectric power plant project like the Three Gorges Dam.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
In the evenings after a busy day at work, I like to go for a quick swim to the nearby pool and then come home to cook a nice Indian curry and enjoy dinner with my wife. I have started a new hobby which is 3D Printing which keeps me busy otherwise. Apart from that I enjoy travelling, hiking and camping.