February 18, 2020 | 5 minute read
At John Crane, engineers are the cornerstone of our business and we are proud to celebrate their many achievements and contributions—especially during National Engineers Week.
The work our engineers deliver each day is vital to making life better for our customers and the many industries we’re privileged to serve. National Engineers Week encourages public dialogue about the need for engineers and brings practical applications to life to continue advancing the industry.
The theme of this year’s National Engineers Week is “Pioneers of Progress.” The event has been celebrated in the United States since 1951 to highlight the important contributions engineers have made to our society, and to also promote the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among future generations of engineers.
As our industry continues to transform itself in a time of widespread technological innovation and changing customer expectations, it is our responsibility to ensure the next generation of employees has the imagination and skills necessary to thrive in a world of new challenges and opportunities.
In recognition of National Engineers Week, we would like to recognize several of our engineers from around the globe who make it possible for John Crane to continue its trajectory of innovation and outstanding service.
Name: Maria Romero
Location: Zaragoza, Spain
Job Title: Mechanical Engineer II
What are the primary responsibilities of your role?
I support dry gas seal application engineers and designers, as well as research and develop tools to minimize lead times. I also support the standardization of the dry gas seal systems by providing calculation tools and resources.
What made you choose engineering as a career field?
As a teenager, I was confused on which career path to follow. I was good at math and physics, and enjoyed technology and technical drawing related subjects, so my parents advised me to follow a path that would allow me to focus on these subjects.
Reflecting on my past, I am proud I listened to them. I first studied civil engineering, and then because I enjoyed the mechanical side of it, I studied mechatronics engineering. What advice do you have to anyone considering pursuing a career in engineering?
Don’t be afraid! At the beginning, it may seem like a difficult career, but once you are completely immersed in it you quickly realize all the things you can do that you didn’t know.
Name: Bhushnan Vasudev Narvekar
Location: Dubai, UAE
Job Title: Senior Field Service Engineer
What are the primary responsibilities of your role?
I support our customers when it comes to the installation of John Crane products, as well as any troubleshooting needs that may arise. I also support our end user market to provide upgrade and retrofit product solutions to enhance machine reliability and performance.
What made you choose engineering as a career field?
My school used to participate in a science exhibition, and my friends and I would eagerly await this event to showcase our creativity. This event became an outlet for both fun and problem-solving creativity, and allowed me to develop an interest in engineering.
I believe engineering is a field that helps to solve the world’s problems by offering inventive solutions that have a real effect on people’s lives, and I always wanted to be a part of the problem-solving process.
What advice do you have to anyone considering pursuing a career in engineering?
Find your passion! There are great opportunities available in engineering, and it’s important to find a specialized field that suits you. In addition, be prepared to open yourself up to new experiences and ideas.
Name: Rui Liu
Location: Tianjin, China
Job Title: Gas Seal Design Leader
What are the primary responsibilities of your role?
I am a dry gas seal application and design engineer working on the dry gas seal product line. I am responsible for the general assembly of dry gas seals, designing and drawing new seal parts, and seal standardization.
What made you choose engineering as a career field?
When I was a child, I liked to disassemble and assemble toys. As a student, I enjoyed studying mathematics, physics and chemistry. I am specifically interested in geometry, mechanical design and mechanical drawing. I have a Master’s degree in chemical process engineering, and after I graduated from college, I chose John Crane to work as a design engineer. I am proud to say I am still working here after 11 years.
What advice do you have to anyone considering pursuing a career in engineering?
Engineering is an exciting career field, and I encourage everyone who is interested—especially young girls—to pursue it.
Name: Ritesh Kothari
Location: Qatar
Job Title: Senior Field Service Engineer
What are the primary responsibilities of your role?
My responsibilities include:
- Attending field service jobs for all the Qatar-based onshore and offshore customers
- Analysis of technical problems and creation of a resolution plan with necessary recommendations
- Identification of root cause for repetitive seal failures by close coordination with the customer reliability team and John Crane’s Application Engineering team
- Commissioning and troubleshooting site support based on customer requests
- Supporting the Sales team for retrofit and upgrade opportunities
What made you choose engineering as a career field?
From my early school days, I was always curious to know the science behind everything around us. I strongly believe that engineering gives me the ability for critical thinking to solve most of the complex technical problems we face. I also feel that engineering forces me to have an innovative attitude when it comes to exploring engineered solutions for the well-being of society.
What advice do you have to anyone considering pursuing a career in engineering?
I would recommend engineering to all the young talents looking to make a mark in the world. Engineering gives you the visionary approach and ability for the creation of ideas for industrial revolutions and technological innovations to fulfill the demand of power and energy for future generations.
Name: Subbu Narasimman Ramakrishnan
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Job Title: Senior Field Service Engineer
What are the primary responsibilities of your role?
I am responsible for customer service visits, including:
- Dry gas and wet seal installation and commissioning
- New product development, drawing checks and site surveys
- Mechanical seal dismantling, root cause analysis and report making, as well seal cartridge assembly
What made you choose engineering as a career field?
From a young age I was always good at math, and my teachers constantly encouraged me to become engineer. I eventually decided that I wanted to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
What advice do you have to anyone considering pursuing a career in engineering?
Engineering is the field where you can apply what you studied to create valuable solutions. I recommend that anyone considering an engineering career evaluate their long-term career goals and interests, as well as their own technical skills.
Name: Sterling Shulver
Location: Manchester, U.K.
Job Title: Design Engineer
What are the primary responsibilities of your role?
My team and I act as the Global Design Authority for John Crane’s complete Power Transmission Couplings range. This role includes anything from new product development, failure analysis, application support, documentation creation and much more.
What made you choose engineering as a career field?
I always enjoyed math and the science in school, as well as the practical element of working in my school’s workshop. I would often disassemble things around my house to see how they workedandmanaged to put them back together! These interests and skills naturally directed me toward my eventual career in engineering.
What advice do you have to anyone considering pursuing a career in engineering?
First—go for it! I’ve found it to be an immensely rewarding field to work in, with endless options for career progression. There really is something for everyone.
I think it’s important to be passionate about what you do. Engineering as a term has a massively broad scope and there is a huge variety of topics and specializations available. Find something you love and grow yourself a career you will enjoy.