I would love to get connected with a data scientist at Alstom to learn about their work!

Hello Annie, thank you for reaching out and I hope you enjoyed the SWE conference and our booth! I would recommend you to check out our opportunities first here: https://jobsearch.alstom.com/ . Today unfortunnately we do not have a data scientist connected but could you then share with me what you would like to know so we can try to answer ?

Of course! I'd love to know what kinds of skills data scientists use most in their work at Alstom. On a somewhat unrelated note, it would also be great to hear about the LEAD programs at Alstom and what kinds of groups I might rotate through. I am most interested in doing data science/data analyst work, as well as working on cloud or cybersecurity projects!

Hello Annie, as a LEAD myself I can definitely attest to the fact that no matter the rotation position you are placed in, you can always implement data science / data analyst skills.

Hi Annie! We have a cybersecurity team and a demand for more cybersecurity content in Alstom! I personally do not know whether we have specific openings for entry level cybersecurity but one way to get into cybersecurity as a post graduate would be through our LEAD program! One or more of your rotations could be within the cybersecurity department. The program is designed to be customizable based on the person's interests as well as the company's. I completed the program in June so I can certainly elaborate on my personal experience if you would like me to.

This is great to hear! Yes, I'd love to hear more about both of your experiences!

I joined as a LEAD in Signaling two years ago!
I had a computer science background and was not really sure what I wanted to do as far as my career was concerned so the ability to experience 4 different rotations was really appealing to me!
My 4 rotations were:
Application Engineer
V&V Engineer
Bid Technical Manager
Engineering Management Office Manager

I can go into more detail about a specific rotation if you would like me to!

Hi Alejandro,

Yes, please go into more detail! I am not super familiar with what each of these rotation titles mean, so feel free to choose any to delve into.

I got hired on as a lead fresh from college. I was first placed in a Supply Chain Planning role, where I utilized Data analysis to create new metrics and KPI (Key Performance Indicators) to track our company's progress on time to delivery. I also chose to take on a side project of working on a dashboard where I learned and implemented HTML & CSS & Python coding. I am now in a Customer Service role where I have been perfecting my Microsoft excel skills to better my team's efficiency as well as improve KPI tracking, readability, and visibility. Lastly, my next rotation is going to be Manufacturing Engineering where I will be working on Six Sigma improvement projects.

Sure I can talk at a high level for each
Application Engineering- it was kind of like computer programming(in my personal opinion based on my experience) because I had to design vital and non vital logic for a specific project. This logic is what helps the trains adjust speed and timing so that there are no collisions!

V&V Engineering: Verification and Validation. This Rotation involved reviewing and executing test procedures for a specific project. I got to work down in a lab with a ton of hardware! Coming from a pure software background it was a great learning experience for me!

Bid Technical Management: This is the role that I actually ended up in! Bids and Tenders is the group I work in and we work together with Engineering to propose solutions to our customers that will then win the company projects (and money)!

Engineering Management Office Manager: In this rotation I actually got to oversee the local LEAD program and help facilitate it! It involved managing the other LEADs and ensuring all of their needs were met, finding their next potential rotations as well as improving the program as a whole!

Hi Rebecca,

Thank you for this! Super cool that you got to work on a side project. How would you describe the balance between taking on tasks that are delegated to you by your manager vs. being able to propose ideas of your own that can contribute to the goals of the group you are in?

Hi Alejandro,

Thank you for these summaries! How did you decide to go with Bid as a permanent role?

It was the one I had the most fun in! It requires a lot of communication with many different groups and individuals which I found to be really interesting! I am very much a people person and curious about what all of the groups do so overseeing the technical side of a proposal gives me the opportunity to learn about what all of the engineering groups do at a high level!