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What started as a graduation internship grew into a long-standing and versatile career at AAE. Joost developed from a young Mechanical Engineer into an experienced NPI Engineer with a keen eye for manufacturability and collaboration. Over the past 12.5 years, he has witnessed AAE evolve and grew right along with it. We spoke to Joost about his career journey, his role as a vital connector in complex projects, and what motivates him every day to make a difference.
The start of a versatile career
Joost began his AAE journey as a graduation intern. After completing his studies, he joined as a mechanical engineer and contributed to a wide variety of projects. “Those were valuable years in which I had the chance to discover a lot. But things really became interesting when I found my passion: translating customer designs into reproducible production processes.”
In his current role as an NPI engineer, Joost is involved from the very start. “Our customers design something that works functionally, but often pushes the boundaries of what’s manufacturable. It’s up to us to make the design manufacturable—not just once, but consistently in serial production for years to come. We define the entire process: from material selection and machining to quality control. Everything has to be spot on.”
Complex technology
Large-scale projects come with high demands. “In one of the projects, we work on components that must withstand high pressure and comply with strict regulations. That means: knowing exactly where the materials come from, what treatments they undergo, who does what, and securing that information throughout the entire product lifecycle.”
Joost acts as the connecting link between various departments. “Right now, we’re in the early stages of a new project. That means I spend one day a week on-site with the customer. This way, I can align directly with their designers, our factory, the cleanroom, and our suppliers. It’s all about collaboration. I don’t need to know everything myself, but I do need to know who to turn to.”
Insight and responsibility through experience
Joost now knows his way around AAE like no other. “That helps tremendously. I know how things work on the shop floor, I know the systems, the people, the workflows.” This experience makes him not only effective, but also brings responsibility. “In a fast-moving company like AAE, you can’t rely on how things were done 10 years ago. You have to keep evolving.”
Where things used to be handled more ad hoc, AAE now works with structured processes, defined roles, and clear frameworks. “That demands something different from you. You have to stay adaptable, keep learning, and keep asking questions. New colleagues definitely contribute to that. They often bring fresh perspectives, and that keeps me sharp.”
Depth
AAE’s growth has not only brought in many new colleagues, but also created more depth in the work. “We’ve become more specialized. Where I used to solve a welding issue directly with a welder, we now have a welding engineer in our team. We work in multidisciplinary teams, which allows us to really go deeper. As a result, we structurally improve our processes and elevate the quality of the products we deliver to our customers.”
Highlights
Looking back on 12.5 years at AAE, Joost can easily recall the highlights. “Like many colleagues, for me climbing the Stelvio for charity was unforgettable. Professionally, there have been many great moments too. The first delivery of the Flow Vane modules, for example—after an intense project phase under enormous time pressure, that was truly a milestone.”
Why AAE?
What’s kept him at AAE for 12.5 years? Joost’s answer is clear: “Because AAE never stands still. Every day brings a new challenge. That’s what keeps me motivated. If things here were still the same as 12 years ago, I probably would’ve started looking for a new challenge elsewhere.”
And perhaps most important of all: “We truly do it together. That might sound like a slogan, but it’s simply the truth. If you’re not on board with that, you won’t last long here. But if you are, then you’re absolutely in the right place.”
Curious to read more stories from long-time colleagues who have helped shape AAE’s success?
Visit our blog page and discover how they’ve built their careers at AAE.
