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Welcome to the first edition of the ’A day in the life of’ series, where we talk to some of our extraordinary colleagues. Through this series, you’ll learn more about their job backgrounds, what motivates them, and how they contribute while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Today, we learn what it’s like to be a mechanical engineer in the fast-paced manufacturing world. Meet Rukayat Oyedele, our mechanical engineer from Farmington Hills, Michigan.
What does it mean to be a Mechanical Engineer at Flex?
In my role, the mechanical engineer wears a dual hat. Not only are you the mechanical engineer, but you are also the product lead/development engineer. You’ll often be the one that communicates the technical aspects with the customer.
In addition, you may be exposed to many trending technologies. For example, technology opportunities in the automotive industry at Flex include autonomous vehicles, electrification, connectivity, shared mobility, etc.
What are some of the lessons you’ve learned since joining a global company?
We’re all interconnected and can help each other out. Everyone works on a different piece of the Flex puzzle, yet we’re all contributing towards the same goal. Even though our tasks and accomplishments may seem small, they all impact the primary objectives.
I like my role as a product engineer for a global and accomplished company like Flex; it’s given me the opportunity to network with many great people. I also like the ethics and diverse viewpoint that Flex provides — and of course I’m proud of my relationships with my customers.
What does a good day look like for you?
A good day is where I’m able to accomplish most of my family, work, and personal goals. And even when I don’t completely meet the goal, if I have a relatively feasible plan to make up for what I missed, I’ll be content.
What’s the best career decision you’ve made?
Starting my career in bioengineering is one of the best career decisions I’ve ever made. It helped me see that there’s more to mechanical engineering and that we humans are made up of features that follow the same mechanical principles. It’s one of the reasons I chose mechanical engineering, and I’m glad I stayed with it.
How did you navigate work and life before this role, and has anything changed in the past year?
Before this role, work and life balance was a little easy, though I didn’t know it then. However, after I moved to Michigan and started this new role, my need for family time also increased. In addition, I became a mother this past year, so balancing work and life has become even more important to me.
I’m currently playing it by ear. I carve out time to spend with my baby. I plan to improve spending time with other family members, but it can be a bit challenging at times.
What do you most like about your job, and what can a candidate expect when joining your team?
I enjoy seeing my design come to life and celebrating the victories of a launched product. I also enjoy building and nurturing relationships with my customers. I’ve learned so much from my interactions with them, and it’s helped enrich and diversify my experience.
If you’re on my team, you’ll have the opportunity to develop yourself, not just for the benefit of Flex, but for your growth through the multiple programs you’ll lead. You’ll also have the opportunity to gain global leadership experience within Flex Employee resource groups (ERGs) such as Women in Flex, Black Flex Network, Women in Tech, and so much more. To top it off, you’ll get the honor of having some of the best coworkers within Flex.
Hear more about #LifeatFlex from Ruka here.
We’re always looking for bright talent to join our extraordinary teams. Whether you’re just starting or looking for a new challenge, find your next opportunity at Flex.
