Building a multifaceted engineering career through consultancy

Seven years ago, Jasper Verhoeven, armed with a dual master’s degree in mechanical engineering and Nuclear Fusion from the Eindhoven University of Technology, took his first steps into the engineering world. Fresh from academia, he was eager to explore the dynamics of the corporate world. “I wanted to look around first and try different things to find out what suits me best,” Jasper explains. Rather than committing to one single company, he chose to become a consultant for Nobleo Technology, being seconded to different companies. A decision that would prove transformative for his career, offering him the opportunity to explore different industries, technologies, and working environments while building valuable experience.

Engineering at the frontier

After a short internal onboarding period, Jasper went straight to the high-tech frontline of a major lithography system manufacturer for his first assignment. Followed by what he describes as his career highlight: a project focused on designing a completely new type of medical isotopes production facility. Jasper: “Traditionally, this requires a nuclear fission reactor, but our goal was to achieve this using an electron beam instead.” The challenge demanded expertise across multiple disciplines, precisely the kind of complex problem-solving that attracted him to engineering.  

“We were dealing with significant radioactivity and extreme temperatures requiring liquid metal cooling,” he adds. “We essentially had to build something from scratch, figuring it out on the go. We developed experimental setups, conducted simulations, and created comprehensive designs for an entirely new approach to medical isotope production. Requiring us pioneering solutions across multiple domains simultaneously.” This project perfectly showcases the potential of the secondment program and represented everything Jasper had hoped to find in engineering: technical innovation, scientific precision, and real-world impact. 

Professional evolution

Since he started working for Nobleo, Jasper has taken on various external roles in on-site client projects, allowing him to grow from junior to senior engineer and now to team lead as part of an internal project. In his current role, Jasper is mentoring junior colleagues, a responsibility he embraces enthusiastically. “I find my current team lead role quite rewarding. Particularly when it comes to helping colleagues develop and grow,” he adds.  

This perfectly illustrates the strength of Nobleo’s consultancy program: continuously nurturing the personal and professional development of its engineering consultants. “Group leads regularly check-in while you are seconded to another company to discuss your development and to check whether you are still happy with your current assignment or if you are ready to take on a new challenge. This enables me to build expertise across multiple domains and learn how to function in teams of all shapes and sizes.” 

Looking forward, Jasper would also like to work as a systems architect in a next project. Allowing him to explore yet another part of the engineering spectrum. “This is exactly why I like working for Nobleo. They not only allow me to work in different kinds of working environments, but also to try different roles. Giving me the opportunity to broaden my horizon and skill set.” 

Beyond office hours

Outside work, Jasper is as multi-faceted as the projects he chooses. His hobbies reflect the same curiosity that drives his career choices. Since age eleven, he has pursued fencing—a sport requiring agility, precision, and strategic thinking. In addition, he also plays piano, and he has a passion for baking. “With baking, I also find it fascinating to understand exactly how things work to be able to create the specific effects I want,” he explains.  

But what’s most intriguing is that he spends one morning every week designing board games with his cousin. “We’ve already developed and tested several prototypes,” he explains. The ultimate dream is to bring a game to market. Their creations range from accessible family games to more complex strategic challenges. “In game design, I find it fascinating to ensure theme and rules are in complete harmony, creating the envisioned experience,” Jasper says. Whether it’s the strategic thinking in fencing, the precision and creativity required for baking, or the systematic approach to game design, his hobbies consistently mirror the engineering mindset that defines his professional work. 

The Nobleo factor

For organisations considering specialised engineering partnerships, Jasper’s journey illustrates the value proposition of working with Nobleo’s engineering consultants. Rather than simply providing temporary technical resources, Nobleo Explorers delivers engineers who combine deep expertise with proven adaptability. Thanks to that focus on continuous development, Nobleo’s consultants can tackle challenges from different angles and grow with changing project requirements.  

But what sets Nobleo truly apart according to Jasper is its unique combination of intellectual rigor and collegial atmosphere. “The calibre here is quite high, yet everyone remains approachable, collaborative, and genuinely invested in collective success.” he reflects. “The fact that we go on annual skiing trips with almost the entire company speaks to our company culture.” This high-level environment, coupled with Nobleo’s strong reputation and extensive network, opens doors to cutting-edge projects with established companies that would be difficult to find access to otherwise.