R&D Engineer, Kingspan Insulated Panels, Ireland - Kingspan Group

Description

"I've always had a keen interest in product design and innovation, and being able to do that with a company like Kingspan, you have the opportunity to develop products that are essential to achieving a 'net-zero' future."

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Working as a Research and Development engineer is a very exciting role. I've always had a keen interest in product design and innovation, and being able to do that with a company like Kingspan, you have the opportunity to develop products that are essential to achieving a 'net-zero' future. I enjoy the responsibility and challenges that come with each project, when working on new product developments there is a great deal of satisfaction when you solve a problem.

It's a very dynamic working environment and you are always facing new challenges, no day is the same and the projects always evolve into new phases which keeps it interesting.

What makes you proud to work for Kingspan?

The thing that makes me most proud to work for Kingspan is the scale of the company and the fact that it originated in my home county. I never seen myself re-locating for work, so being able to work for a global company on my doorstep is fantastic. Kingspan are very employee focused and your opinion is valued, everyone is very approachable no matter their title or role. It's great to be able to work in Kingspan's newly built innovation centre (IKON) which is also the HQ for Kingspan Group so there is always a good buzz around the place with tours and events happening weekly.

What professional qualities are helpful in your role?

Being open-minded and willing to learn. A big part of the role is keeping up with market trends to develop products that customers want, so being dynamic and open to new ideas is very important as customers' needs are always changing, especially now with an ever increasing demand for highly efficient and lower embodied carbon products.

What's the best piece of career advice you've received?

Do everything to the best of your ability. Take everybody's advice on board and be a team player. Also being adaptable and able to work within a team is very important as some projects require you to work with international stakeholders.

How could someone get started in your division of the Kingspan Group?

The R&D department is rapidly growing due to the demand for the renewable technologies and energy efficient products that Kingspan produce, so keeping an eye on all the careers platforms would be the best place to look.

The graduate programme is a great way to start out in Kingspan – it provides a fantastic opportunity to develop professional skills and to travel the world. You get to meet people from across all the Divisions, network and make new contacts – it is hugely beneficial. One of the projects I am working on started as a group project in the graduate programme which we presented to senior management and got approval to bring it into the R&D phase. It was a great experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of joining the company.

What does the future hold for Kingspan?

The future is very bright - you can see the absolute drive towards being the market leader in every annual report. You can see it in the investment in product development and innovation, and the focus on reducing the embodied carbon of existing products, which will help reduce the net carbon in the built environment. The launch of QuadCore LEC is a clear steppingstone towards this ambition.

Planet Passionate is what ties it all together. It's great to see a company that acts on its targets and achieves them. People in the business really believe in the programme and that it can be achieved. As we grow, the acquisitions that are made align with our core values and what we are trying to do – it isn't growth for growths sake.

The continued growth of the graduate programme is also a great way to attract talent and keep the business moving forward.