Sabrina specialised in Mechatronics at the University of Auckland and graduated in 2022. She is now a Product Development Engineer at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare where she gets to develop life-saving medical devices!
What is your role and what do you do?
As a Product Development Engineer at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (FPH), my day-to-day tasks are always changing. Recently, I’ve been focused on analyzing potential harm that our devices might cause, ensuring patient safety. On other days, I might be designing a testing jig to verify that a component can withstand specific forces or coding an alarm system to detect disconnections in the device. The variety of tasks keeps my role dynamic and offers endless learning opportunities throughout my time at FPH.
Why did you choose mechatronics?
I was drawn to mechatronics because of its broad scope—it allows me to explore a blend of three subjects rather than being confined to just one. I first discovered mechatronics through my sister, which sparked my interest. After high school, I was still uncertain about my career direction, so I chose this field to keep my options open and explore various pathways.
How does your mechatronics degree translate into your role?
I would say the most transferable skill from my university experience to my current role is communication. Whether it was through different roles in university clubs or working on team projects, I learned how to effectively collaborate with others. In my role, teamwork is essential because we’re solving complex problems that directly impact patient safety. It requires a multidisciplinary team to ensure every detail is thoroughly considered.
I wouldn’t stress too much about memorizing exact equations or terminology from university. Maintaining a mindset of curiosity and a willingness to learn is far more valuable. Once you have that mindset, you can learn anything. I struggled with this myself, feeling inadequate about my technical skills during my first year at work. However, I soon realized that being able to communicate your ideas is just as important—without that skill, you can’t move forward.
My advice as a young professional is to try everything! Take on leadership roles, join clubs, and have fun exploring different opportunities. Don’t worry too much—life is long, and there’s plenty of time to find your path!
What’s most fulfilling about the work you do?
Long-term: The thought that the product my team is developing will one day make a real difference in patients’ lives inspires me every day.
Short-term: I’m motivated by the opportunity to work alongside my incredible colleagues and learn from their expertise. For instance, I’ve gained insights into how the heart functions from a colleague—knowledge I wouldn’t have encountered in my own studies since I’m not in medicine.
Any advice for students trying to figure out their specialisation?
I believe it’s important to follow your interests rather than focusing solely on money. Even if you choose a specialization that doesn’t feel right later on, it’s not the end of the world—there will always be opportunities to pivot and explore new career paths in the future!