Where are they now? Let’s find out what our MSc&T graduates have become!
Eduard, Photovoltaic Engineer & alumnus of the STEEM Master program.
Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Eduard Foved and I am coming from Barcelona, Spain. I graduated in 2018 from the MSc&T in Energy Environment: Science Technology & Management (STEEM).
I am currently working at ENGIE (a French multinational energy group) as a photovoltaic engineer. To be more precise, I am part of a team developing a residential PV offer for the French market, Engie My Power, within the business unit France BtoC.
Could you please tell us more about your current position?
We are a young team with a start-up environment that is reflected in the varied and wide scope of my missions: from the technical sizing of PV installations to managing innovation projects and collaborations with our R&D department. My job also includes being aware and following up the solar technology innovation landscape (modules, inverters, energy management systems, etc.) and advising on the selection of new products and technologies.
Was it easy for you to find a job once graduated?
Regarding the job seeking process, it is always a difficult time for young graduates, with many uncertainties. But, honestly, the high reputation of Ecole Polytechnique and the multidisciplinary approach of the STEEM master can help a lot in that process.
What skills gained during the STEEM program have you been using in your current position?
The STEEM master provided me with a great combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, both from research and industry perspectives. In my case, I did a specialization in solar technologies. There were many research insights that today are very useful in my career.
In my case, I can affirm that it played an important role in getting the job I was looking for.
Although I am working more in the downstream sector (where we use the technologies), the knowledge about solar cells and manufacturing is key to understand new technologies and to try to see where the market is headed next. The STEEM master definitely increased my interest in pursuing a career in the solar industry.
What do you like in your work?
What I really like about my job is the fast dynamics it involves: everything in the sector evolves really fast and my missions and responsibilities follow the same pace, which is really exciting in the first years of my career. There are of course many challenges to face, like dealing with stakeholders from very different backgrounds, but it is part of the learning journey!
And of course, there is a great purpose in my career, being part of the solution to the climate crisis. By the end of my career (mid-2060s), we should be living in a climate neutral and sustainable world. It is exciting to think that all these changes and challenges will happen during my working lifetime.
What memories do you have of your time spent at l'X and in the STEEM program?
From my time spent at l'X, I have very nice memories. It was a great opportunity to get to know people from all over the world, but at the same time getting to know the French country and its culture. The master program makes it very easy to combine the study and the living abroad experiences.