From Jodhpur to Eindhoven: an engineer's journey

Some people are driven by curiosity. Others by ambition. For Arpit Gupta, Project Manager and Electrical Engineer at Nobleo, the two are inseparable. Whether he is leading a complex engineering project, learning a new language, exploring a new hobby, or organising a social gathering, he is always looking for the next challenge. “My family and girlfriend often tell me that I just cannot sit still,” Arpit laughs. “And they are right. I always want to broaden my horizon and learn something new.” That mindset has taken him from India to Sweden and eventually the Netherlands, where he found the environment he was looking for at Nobleo: challenging technology, talented people, and the freedom to keep growing.

Never standing still

Arpit grew up in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, a desert region in western India, before studying electrical engineering in New Delhi. His international journey began during his studies, when a self-built bidirectional Inverter-Battery Storage project earned his team a place among the world’s finalists in the UK. The experience sparked his interest in power electronics and strengthened his ambition to pursue a master’s degree abroad. While many of his fellow students chose the United States, Arpit had his sights set on Europe. “I have always been fascinated by Europe. The balance between work and life, the nature, the whole package actually. So, I applied for a master’s at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.”

During his studies, his hands-on approach opened doors to research projects and eventually the automotive industry. After graduating, he contributed to the development of electric vehicles. When the pandemic brought many activities to a standstill, Arpit took a different path. He joined several hackathons, which ultimately led to co-founding a start-up. “After a year of building a business however, I realised I missed engineering too much.” Looking for a place where technology and innovation came together, he eventually found his way to the Netherlands.

From engineer to project manager

When Arpit joined Nobleo, he was ready for a new challenge. After years as an engineer, he wanted to move closer to project leadership while staying connected to technology. That transition proved to be a natural fit. His first assignment involved the development of a complex prototype in the defence domain, bringing together multiple engineering disciplines, and coordinating a multidisciplinary team. Since then, he has managed projects across different industries, each bringing new technical and organisational challenges.

“The projects keep changing,” he says. “One moment you’re working in healthcare, the next you’re solving challenges in energy or high-tech systems. That variety keeps me sharp.” What motivates him most is not just delivering a project, but creating clarity when things become complex. Whether coordinating stakeholders, managing uncertainty, or aligning technical teams, he enjoys bringing structure to challenging situations.

People first

Although Arpit now spends his time managing projects, he still thinks like an engineer. That perspective shapes his leadership style. “I believe engineers do their best work when they feel comfortable sharing concerns. If people can openly discuss risks, you solve problems much earlier.” This approach proved valuable when he took over a challenging medical project. By creating an environment where both engineers and the customer could openly discuss uncertainties, collaboration improved and the project regained momentum.

For Arpit, project management is ultimately about connecting people. “My role is to make sure everyone has the information they need to make good decisions. When engineers and customers understand each other, solutions usually follow.” His approachable style, combined with thorough preparation and genuine enthusiasm, helps him build trust quickly with both colleagues and customers.

Finding the right place

Despite spending much of his time working on customer sites, Arpit never feels disconnected from Nobleo. The short communication lines, willingness to help each other, and openness throughout the organisation create an environment where he continues to learn and develop. Having deliberately chosen Eindhoven because of its reputation of hosting ‘the smartest square kilometre in Europe,’ Arpit believes he ended up in exactly the right place. In fact, he takes it one step further: “I think Nobleo hosts the smartest square metre in Eindhoven,” he says with a smile.

For him, that reflects the combination of ambitious projects and talented colleagues. “Nobleo works with many of the region’s most innovative companies, giving me exposure to a remarkable variety of technologies and engineering challenges.” Just as important are the people around him.

“Every conversation is an opportunity to learn. I’m surrounded by people who are incredibly smart. That constant exchange of knowledge keeps me energised and helps me keep moving forward.”

Driven by curiosity

That same curiosity shapes Arpit’s life outside work. His evenings and weekends are rarely quiet. Latin dancing, learning bass guitar to accompany his girlfriend’s band, running, pottery, snowboarding, and bringing friends together for social events: he embraces new experiences with the same enthusiasm he brings to engineering. “I don’t want my identity to be defined only by my work. Life should be the full package.”

Arpit has now made the Netherlands his home. He is learning Dutch, building a life in Eindhoven, and looking towards the future. Professionally, his ambition remains strong: he wants to continue leading increasingly complex projects, particularly in sustainable energy, while helping organisations turn technical challenges into successful collaborations.

Looking back, his journey has been shaped by curiosity, opportunity, and the courage to embrace the unknown. Today, he has found a place where all of those elements come together. “I’ve always enjoyed solving difficult problems,” he says. “Now I get to do that together with talented people, on projects that really matter. For me, that’s exactly where I want to be.”

Interested in joining our team? Take a look at our vacancy page!