Career Story Thomas Nauwelaerts

Thomas Nauwelaerts first walked into NiniX Technologies in 2013 as an intern. More than ten years later, he leads product development at the Bruges company, with expertise that has grown from mechanics and software into embedded software and electronics. What motivates him has not changed. As Thomas puts it: "What really energises me is transforming an abstract idea into a tangible product that actually makes a difference."

From intern to Product Development Manager

During his internship, Thomas worked on the development of an isokinetic motion simulator, a project that combined mechanical and software engineering. "That experience gave me the opportunity to engage deeply with the technical side of product development and with the NiniX team." After the internship he was offered a full-time position, and in 2014 his professional career officially began.

What drew him in was the way NiniX works. "What particularly attracted me was the open work culture and the opportunity to contribute to real projects. It gave me a sense of responsibility and involvement from the start." Over the years, he specialised more and more in embedded software and electronics. Today, he is responsible for product development at NiniX.

Many disciplines, one product

For Thomas, the appeal of product development lies in its breadth. Mechanics, electronics, software and even chemistry come together in a single project. "Each project brings new challenges and opportunities to learn."

The Resus project is a good example. It focuses on corrosion detection in central heating systems and started as a rough concept. Today, it is a complete product on the market. "That process, from an idea in someone's head to a solution being implemented, is extremely motivating."

Projects that stand out

Besides Resus, Thomas looks back with pride on an embedded software solution for industrial automation. The project combined advanced microcontroller technology with real-time control software, and it required close collaboration between different areas of expertise within NiniX.

According to Thomas, that collaboration is what sets the company apart. "We don't just work with current technology; we also encourage a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration. That allows us to keep innovating and improving our products."

Looking ahead

Thomas wants to keep growing in his role and to position NiniX as a centre of expertise within the group it belongs to, by developing its knowledge of product development and electronics and sharing it across the wider organisation. He follows emerging technologies such as AI and new sensor technologies closely. "I see great potential in integrating them into our products."

He also wants to contribute to further professionalising the production processes. His dream project? "A complete product development from A to Z, where we not only handle the design and engineering, but also the production and implementation."