Hey there! I’m Dan, a Junior Technical Hardware Engineer (aka Auto Electrician) at Microlise. Ever since I left education, I’ve been all about Electrical Engineering, and that passion has led me to where I am today. I joined Microlise just under a year ago, and it’s been an amazing ride so far!

Outside of work, I’m really into hockey and love a good DIY project. Life’s pretty busy (in the best way) with my two daughters, especially now my youngest has just arrived!

Before Microlise, I tried my hand at a bit of everything. I kicked things off with an electrical apprenticeship, then had a few different roles, including maintenance engineering and test work at Bombardier and Kannegeisser. When it came time for my next move, Microlise really stood out, and I was excited to see what the future would hold. Safe to say, I’ve not been disappointed!

My Journey with Microlise

Microlise really caught my eye when I was looking for a new role. During the interview process, one thing that really appealed to me was the level of autonomy. I love traveling and exploring new places, so having a role that lets me move around instead of being stuck in one location was a perfect fit – I’m currently working in Australia for a few months!

While researching the company, I stumbled across a blog post from another employee sharing their experience at Microlise; It was really inspiring and made me even more excited to join the team. It looked like an incredible place to work, and I knew I wanted to be part of that journey.

Training & Onboarding

My journey started at the Head Office in Nottingham, where we spent time working on installs at our desks, which was a great way to get familiar with the kit before heading out into the field. The office experience was really insightful, and gave me a chance to learn more about the company, meet all the team leaders and my colleagues. Everyone was super welcoming and made it clear that no question was a silly question – which made learning the ropes so much easier.

I was out in the field pretty quickly, getting stuck into my first project. The onboarding process was smooth too. Starting a new job can be overwhelming; learning new systems, getting to grips with tasks. But I never felt lost because there was always someone ready to help. I spent time with Adam, who answered all my questions, and also had inductions with the HR team and even the CEO, Nadeem Raza! Meeting key people so early on really reinforced the friendly, supportive culture at Microlise. It felt like joining a family rather than just starting a new job.

My First Projects

One of my first major projects as a Junior Technical Hardware Engineer was the PSS installs with Sports Direct. Our team was the first to fit equipment into 80 trucks, which at the time that number felt huge! The goal was to complete the job as quickly and efficiently as possible as part of a big team effort.

Beyond the large-scale projects, I’ve also been trusted with more solo tasks that reflect my experience in engineering. That was a big confidence boost for me as it showed my team leaders believed in my abilities. I’ve always said, “I don’t just want a job, I want a career,” and I feel like that mindset has really been recognised here.

Since joining Microlise, I’ve travelled all over the UK, from Devon to Glasgow. One of the biggest projects I’ve worked on was Tesco installs, where we serviced around 200 trailers between the junior team for Tesco – an incredible achievement!

Highlights so far

Hands down, the biggest highlight of my time at Microlise so far has been traveling to Australia for work — twice! During the day, I worked hard, and in the evenings, I made the most of my time exploring Australia. It’s been an unforgettable experience  travelling all over, from Cairns to Melbourne.

Majority of the work has been for Woolworths and their delivery vans. There’s plenty of repetitive work, which is great for getting the skills down and becoming second nature, but there are also loads of new projects to keep things fresh.

Every day, I teamed up with other engineers to handle service calls more efficiently. We had a solid work ethic, always helping each other out, and the whole team was incredibly supportive and proactive. The experience has been fantastic – not just for the work itself, but also for the people I’ve met along the way.

Thinking About Joining Microlise?

If you’re considering it, I’d 100% recommend it. Microlise is a fantastic company to work for, and if you’re willing to put the effort in, you’ll see the rewards fast. I started as a junior in the role, worked hard, and ended up getting the opportunity to travel to Australia. That kind of experience so early on is amazing!

At the end of the day, everyone wants to enjoy what they do, and I can honestly say I love working for Microlise. If you join, my advice is simple: trust the process, take pride in your work, and enjoy the ride!