Ruddy Guerrero
Interview
Product Engineer at Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze Spain (SEBN-SE)
Joined the company in 2021
Spain
I started at the company in 2021 on an internship while I was studying for a master's degree in computer engineering, and the following year I started working on a full-time contract as a Product Engineer. My work can be divided into three areas. First is the engineering of high-voltage wiring harnesses for a new project in collaboration with the Cuenca plant in Spain. Second is production order calculation, which involves making sure that production orders align with the production concept – in German, this is known as Modulverknüpfer (module linkers). Third is the development of software tools to support my colleagues, especially those working at manufacturing sites.
Finding SEBN was a stroke of luck. I was looking for job opportunities as I was completing my master’s degree, and a classmate who had interviewed for an internship at SEBN in Pamplona had to forego the internship and so he sent them my CV instead. The next day, I was called for an interview. It was my first job interview, with four of my current colleagues present. That went well and as a result I was offered an internship with the company. This was the beginning of my journey at SEBN: a mixture of coincidence and luck.
The work environment in Pamplona is exceptional, thanks to the dedication of a management team that prioritizes people and the core values of Sumitomo (the Sumitomo Spirit). I am fortunate to collaborate with supportive, skilled, and proactive teammates. Also, I truly enjoy the constant variety of tasks that challenge me. Since joining SEBN-SE Pamplona, I have never stopped learning new processes and meeting excellent people.
The wiring harness is one of the most complex components in the automotive supply chain due to its thousands of components, hundreds of production variants, and the fact that production is difficult to automate and thus highly manual. Last year, a new automated production plant was inaugurated in Cuenca. This factory is a pioneer within the group, achieving a high degree of automation. It represents both a great challenge and a big opportunity to improve.
A memorable moment occurred two years ago when, together with colleagues from the engineering department in Pamplona, we developed a software tool for the Drobeta-Turnu Severin plant team in Romania to enhance material control in the production area. We worked closely with the people in the plant to develop it. Watching on-site how this tool was effectively utilized in production, making our colleagues' work easier and more efficient, was truly unforgettable. Helping my colleagues and developing useful tools is incredibly motivating.
One of my hobbies is competitive programming, through which I have participated in numerous competitions, including the 2018 World Finals in Beijing, China. I discovered programming at the age of 15 in Cuba, and from that moment I knew that computer science would be an integral part of my life. Outside of my work at SEBN, I teach programming to children at a coding school. I strive to ignite their enthusiasm for coding and problem solving.
