Career Talk with Samuel Oliveira, project engineer at TBF + Partner

Hi Samuel, are you ready to tell us a bit about your professional background?

Sure! My name is Samuel Olivera. I’m from the canton of Fribourg, and I studied electronics at the University of Applied Sciences for Engineering and Architecture.

Where are you working today, and what exactly do you do?

I currently work at TBF + Partner. My work is divided into two main areas: public transportation and waste incineration.

We support companies from start to finish. That means we handle everything – from feasibility studies to full implementation. This includes ordering materials, managing construction, and finally, inspecting the completed work on site.

What do you particularly enjoy about your job?

What I personally enjoy most is going to work every day and using infrastructure that I – or my company – helped develop. You can directly see the impact of your own work.

Did you expect that during your studies?

Yes, we were often told at university: “You’ll work for companies in the region, you’ll carry out very practical work.” And now I can see how true that is. It’s really satisfying to see the results of your own work every day. That makes me proud.

Are there other aspects that motivate you?

Yes, I really like walking around with friends and being able to say, “Look, I worked on that line,” or “I helped implement that depot.” That feels great.

What qualities do you think are important for success in your field?

You have to be independent and self-motivated. When you finish a project, you need to proactively take on the next task. That’s not comfortable for everyone – you also need to handle pressure and stress.

And how do you personally deal with that?

That’s exactly what motivates me. I need to feel like time isn’t just slipping away. And honestly, my eight and a half hour workdays fly by – and that’s what keeps me going every single day.

Thank you so much for your time!