A Day in the Lives of Alexis and Soledad, Stress Engineers

We looked into a day in the lives of Alexis De Jesus Mendes and Soledad Minguez Gomez, Stress Engineers in Basel, Switzerland, to learn more about them and their fascinating jobs.

How long have the both of you worked for Jet Aviation?

Alexis: I have been working for Jet Aviation for almost 10 years, including two internships, one of four months, and one of nine months.

Soledad: I have been working for Jet Aviation for a little over a year.

Why did you choose a profession in the aviation industry?

Alexis: I have been flying as a private pilot even before driving a car and since then I have been into the aviation world. After my studies it was an obvious choice for me to continue my professional career in the aviation industry.

Soledad: I have always loved technology. The aviation industry, which is constantly pushing its boundaries for innovation, felt like the perfect place for me to be. The other key factor was that aviation is an international business that connects many cultures, so working for this industry would not limit myself just to one place or country.

Please tell us about your journey to become a Stress & Acoustic Engineer

Alexis: I started as a junior Stress Engineer during a six-month internship within the Completions team before becoming a permanent employee as a stress engineer in a Completions project. A few years later I had the opportunity to add Acoustic activities to my scope of work. Acoustic and Stress are two disciplines closely related, and having both under my umbrella allows us to push the boundaries every day.

Soledad:  During my studies, I developed a great interest in structural calculation, taking part in many projects related to it. Looking for a new approach for my thesis, I discovered and got involved in the field of aeroacoustics. At Jet Aviation I found the opportunity to develop myself in both fields.

“As we actively pursue innovation, we have many opportunities to propose new ideas, and a significant number of these ideas are actually implemented.”

Can you tell us a little about your role? What does a typical day look like?

It is difficult to describe a typical day in our work since the range of activities is vast. We engage in every project phase, starting with quotations where we must outline achievable goals based on customer expectations, our prior experience, and ongoing developments. Additionally, we offer support in interior design when necessary, advising in the selection of optimal finishes to ensure a quiet interior.

Moving to the detail engineering phase, we work closely with mechanical team to make sure that our designs meet the structural and acoustic requirements. This involves some testing of new materials and concepts. In parallel, we develop an acoustic model of the entire aircraft, enabling us to identify any deviations promptly and make necessary corrections.

Another key part of our job lies in research and development, where we investigate in new technologies to provide our customers with the best in-flight experience possible.

Production is also a crucial element of success for us. Before leaving the production center, we ensure that the final product aligns with our expectations prior to the installation in the aircraft.

Last but not least, we have the chance to be part of the flight test and to experience the feeling of flying in a low noise environment. During these tests, we ensure all sound targets are met while gathering valuable data for future projects, closing the circle of our continuous improvement.

Do you face any challenges in your role? 

The aviation industry has always been pushing for the lightest weight. Lately, we are aiming for a really challenging noise target that has never been achieved before. This adds a big layer of complexity because it’s very difficult to achieve a quiet environment without compromising the weight. The only way to do even quieter and lighter aircraft is to create innovative and more efficient solutions.

Could you explain what are you doing to create more innovative solutions?

Innovation is the key if we want to stay ahead of our competitors in such a fast-paced industry. We invest significant resources into R&D and new technologies, such as acoustic tools that allows us to identify the noise source.

Additionally, we created a robust database of in-flight measurements. With this data, we build and correlate 3D acoustics models that help us to identify and de-risk future projects.

Recently, we developed a brand-new reverberation chamber, enabling us to conduct acoustic measurements. This capability empowers us to make critical decisions when faced with complex interiors that have stringent sound targets.

What do you find the most rewarding?

One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is the variety of tasks we undertake: no two days look the same and monotony is almost non-existent. At the same time, as we actively pursue innovation, we have many opportunities to propose new ideas, and a significant number of these ideas are actually implemented. As a result, we see a direct impact of our work on the final product the customer receives.

What advice would you give to someone who would like to start in a similar role?

Have an interest for aviation and be ready to stay open minded and flexible in this ever-changing, fast paced environment. Dare to think out of the box and push for innovations while keeping the traditions and know-how that made Jet Aviation successful over the years – not an easy balance, but definitely worth the effort!