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Career Story Pascal Callaert

As a child, Pascal Callaert spent countless hours building things in his parents' toolshed. One of his favourite projects was making wooden toy guns that could shoot tiny rubber bands, which might explain why he used to tell people he wanted to become an inventor. Today, he works as a Mechanical Engineer within ACE's Industrial Automation team, but his enthusiasm for creating, learning and exploring new technologies remains exactly the same. As Pascal puts it:"Taking on tasks outside my own discipline is usually where I learn the most."

ENGINEERING IN PRACTICE

Pascal joined ACE immediately after graduating in Mechanical Engineering from TU Delft. While university provided a strong theoretical foundation, he was eager to discover how engineering works in the real world. "While university provided me with a strong theoretical foundation, I was eager to gain hands-on experience and learn how engineering works in practice. ACE offered exactly that opportunity."

From the beginning, he was exposed to real projects, real clients and real production environments. One of his first major projects involved large bulk handling machines, some reaching heights of more than 15 metres. "Since these machines were primarily constructed from sheet metal, a field in which I initially had limited experience, the project challenged me to learn quickly and expand my technical skill set." 

Looking back, those early experiences helped him develop both technically and professionally much faster than he expected.

The story that convinced him to apply

Interestingly, it was an ACE career story that first caught Pascal's attention. "The story of Pascal Frijns especially resonated with me. He spoke about how his activities changed with every project and how that allowed him to grow. I wanted that for myself."  That variety remains one of the things Pascal values most about working at ACE today. Every new project brings unfamiliar technologies, different ways of working and new colleagues to learn from. "You often learn the most during the first few months of a new project. You're introduced to unfamiliar technologies, different ways of working and new people. Especially at the start of your career, I believe that kind of variety is extremely valuable."

Learning beyond the comfort zone

For Pascal, the most enjoyable challenges are often the ones that push him beyond his existing knowledge. "For me, a challenge becomes enjoyable when it pushes me beyond my current level of knowledge or experience."  Whether that means learning a new technology, taking on additional responsibilities or gaining experience outside mechanical engineering, he sees every unfamiliar situation as an opportunity to grow. "If there is something new to learn, there is usually something to enjoy."

A recent project, for example, exposed him to far more electronics than he would normally encounter as a mechanical engineer, giving him new insights into multidisciplinary engineering and the way electrical specialists approach problems.

Confidence comes with experience

One of the most important lessons Pascal has learned since joining ACE is that confidence develops naturally over time. "Confidence grows naturally with experience. It is not a goal on its own and it should therefore not be a source of worry."  He also believes that professional growth is not about knowing everything. "Professionality does not come from knowing everything. In fact, it grows faster when you are willing to be open about what you do not know."  By asking questions, being willing to learn from others and embracing vulnerability when necessary, Pascal believes both engineers and projects become stronger.

Variety without changing employers

Working on different projects for different companies has given Pascal the opportunity to broaden his experience without having to change employers. "ACE has given me the opportunity to work for different companies and take on a variety of responsibilities without changing employers." He particularly enjoys collaborating with specialists from different disciplines and discovering new technologies, challenges and ways of working with every assignment. "One thing I particularly appreciate is the opportunity to collaborate with specialists from different disciplines.

Beyond engineering

When asked to describe himself, Pascal says he is known for his positive attitude, occasionally bordering on what he calls "cheerful provocation", usually combined with either hyperfocus or the occasional playful comment. Outside work, he enjoys sailing with his wife on their boat in Zeeland, appropriately named Zeezuiper after his father-in-law's favourite beer. Summer weekends are often spent visiting islands with friends, surrounded by campfires, barbecues and the occasional swim in water that is, according to Pascal,"unreasonably cold."

During the week, he regularly plays tennis, while longer holidays usually involve visiting mountainous and sparsely populated regions in search of beauty and adventure.

Still building things

Although his projects have changed considerably over the years, one thing has not. "You will still find me in the toolshed regularly. These days I am more likely to be building something for my house or working on a metal-lathe project rather than making wooden toy guns."  For Pascal, engineering has never really been just a job. Whether in a workshop as a child, on a project for a client or at home working on a new idea, the motivation remains the same: learning, building and discovering how things work.

ACE has given me an excellent start to my career by exposing me to a wide range of people, industries, and engineering challenges, all of which have accelerated my growth as an engineer.

Pascal Callaert
Mechanical Engineer

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