A Graduate role with Vision

To find out what you can expect from a Graduate Vision Engineer role with Olmec, we questioned 2 of our most recently employed graduates about their experiences….both H & A started their employment with Olmec in March 2022.

What Degree did you graduate before starting a job with Olmec?

Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics and Robotics at the University of Hull.

What drew you to the role of Graduate Vision Engineer at Olmec?

The role of a Vision Engineer allows you to be involved for the whole product life cycle. From concept to installation, you are included in making important decisions and completing testing. That covers: aiding the mechanical team in design; using electronics skills to set up cameras, lights and encoders for testing; and software development by writing inspections for products and any machine-specific tasks.

Have you always been interested in electronics/vision engineering?

Just by engineering in general. Finding out how things work has always been of big interest. That was the allure to Robotics as a University course as it included software, mechanical and electronic engineering. Offering a way to gain experience in multiple disciplines and allowing us the freedom and opportunity to discover which of them interested us the most.

Was the job description and information subsequently given at THE interview useful and proved to be an honest assessment of your role now?

Since we joined, the direction of Olmec has evolved and so too has our job role. With the introduction of new technologies, such as Machine Learning, to our workflow, the role is constantly changing. It is important for the company, but also as an individual, to be looking at emerging technologies and other opportunities to stay ahead of the competition.

WHat kind of team collaboration is involved with your work?

Every project is different. On the whole, we try to work together on projects so that we all have an understanding of how things work. Part of our role involves supporting customers with live systems. So, it helps for everyone to have an understanding of each machine. That way, it is relatively straightforward for any of us to pick up support when required. It also means that when someone in another team has a question about a project any of us can normally answer (or at the very least give an educated guess). 

Does the work you do match up to your initial PERCEPTION OF the role of a Vision Engineer?

Since the role of a Vision Engineer is so broad, there are always going to be unexpected challenges. The core of the role, however, is as expected. Largely focusing on getting the best possible images of products to ensure our inspections work as well as possible. 

Is there the opportunity to take your learning further?

We have attended multiple conferences/learning days. Mainly related to Halcon, the software we use to write inspections, and hardware (i.e. cameras, lenses and lights). 

What other roles and projects do you find yourself working on?

I (A) have spent time working on optimising processes within the business. Helping to change the way new inspections get added into Alchemy as well as automating part of the process for getting designs of parts in SolidWorks ready for machining. Most recently, I have been working on software to speed up the process of taking bills of materials from SolidWorks and adding them into our MRP (Material Requirements Planning) software. 

Do you enjoy the hybrid working ethic?

Yes, being able to work from home, especially when writing software, allows for a tranquil work environment. Of course, when working with hardware it is important to be on site. So, the hybrid setup works well. Also, being able to sleep in is a nice extra, when working from home. 

Have you had the opportunity to visit customer sites or conferences etc?

We have been involved in the installation and upkeep of machines on multiple different sites. Mainly in Swindon, Ipswich and Hull. 

How do you feel you have grown and developed personally in the last year?

For me (H) my main growth can be found doing proof of proposal work for future business including 3D laser work, bacteria detection and deep learning work. Deep learning allows the company to easily add more inspections of varying materials and defects.