Siemens Energy Engineering Career Acceleration Program

Two years ago, Sergio Vera, a University of Central Florida (UCF) mechanical engineering graduate, found himself at an exciting point in his new career. He had just joined Siemens Energy’s 18-month Engineering Career Acceleration Program, consisting of three rotations designed to fast-track the careers of promising talent. For Sergio, it would become an amazing opportunity to make an impact. In his first rotation, he was introduced to the complexities of project management with a role in a groundbreaking project — the Sunrise Wind project.

Set to be the largest offshore wind farm in the US, it will power 600,000 homes in New York with clean electricity. Teams across the US and Germany are collaborating to ensure the state of New York has reliable, cost-efficient, and clean energy by building substations with High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)  technology.

Sergio’s subsequent rotations were equally enriching. In Richland, Mississippi, he contributed to the innovation of eco-friendly blue circuit breakers, which use clean air instead of sulfur hexafluoride. His final rotation placed him in the field as a service engineer with the FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission System) team, where he gained insights from seasoned engineers. 

“The time I spent traveling to sites around the country, learning from field service engineers with decades of experience underneath their belt, was invaluable. Being able to work hands-on with projects, talk directly with customers, and learn what goes into maintaining these sites was an eye-opener,” he recalls.

Sergio says the entire 18-month journey has had a profound impact on his professional growth.  

“Thanks to the leadership within the Grid Technology business, I learned about the energy industry, the grid, different types of transmission technology, and much more,” explains Sergio. “Because I went through three unique rotations, where I had a different job function each time, I gained a wealth of experience in a short amount of time.”

Through his rotations, Sergio discovered that Siemens Energy’s diverse workforce is its greatest strength. Having a collaborative team with different backgrounds from across the globe ensured he was using the best practices to overcome any challenge. He believes an open, inclusive work culture is key to the company's success.

“Everyone here is helpful and willing to give advice,” says Sergio. “The greatest part is we’re able to pull in the best talent from around the world, gathering expertise from the best people in India, Germany, Romania, Brazil and Colombia.”

Sergio credits his positive work experience to Sanya King, program manager for the development programs.

“I don’t know how she does it all,” he says, “from managing the classes, to organizing the graduation ceremony, yet she always makes time to listen. She has a vision for the result but allows everyone else to shine. She’s a ‘superhero.’”

Sergio hopes to inspire other students to explore Siemen Energy’s development programs. Leveraging his connections with university engineering clubs, he invited students to a site tour, which resulted in a few recruits. This year, he has included North Carolina and Duke University with the goal to double the number of students they attract.

Today, Sergio sits in Orlando, where he is a project manager for transformers. With classwork and training behind him, Sergio now has more time to visit his family in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and explore new countries. Born in Germany, Sergio hopes to revisit his birthplace, potentially exploring career opportunities there in the future. Armed with the experience gained and connections made in the development program, Sergio is sure to succeed wherever his next Siemens Energy adventure takes him.