Meet Shailendra Tiwari, our design services manager in India, who became part of our Mumbai team back in 2012 as a senior design engineer. With a background in civil and aerospace engineering, he has built up a wealth of engineering and design through his work at various companies, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Eager to learn more about his career journey and expertise? Dive into the full interview below!
Could you share some information about your educational background and an overview of your professional journey?
I embarked on my educational journey driven by a passion for engineering, earning a degree in civil engineering. Subsequently, I deepened my expertise in aerospace engineering through post-graduate studies. In the early stages of my career, I accumulated valuable experience in aerospace engineering and structural domains, refining my skills in design, project management, team leadership, and strategic planning in various industry roles.
For example, I had the privilege of working at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Infosys. At VSSC – the lead Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India – I applied aerospace principles to space and launch vehicle structure design projects. During my tenure at TCS, I applied my aerospace engineering proficiency to develop design tools for Boeing. At Infosys, I held the position of engineering manager, overseeing the design of MJET fuselage structures.
In August 2012, I started my journey with Altrad Sparrows' Mumbai as a senior design engineer, using my expertise in civil and aerospace engineering throughout various projects. After a few years, I became a team lead, overseeing a dedicated crew of engineers and designers and steering them towards successful project outcomes, before being promoted to design services manager in 2015.
Please outline some of the key responsibilities that shaped your daily routine as our design services manager in India.
Primarily, my role centres around effective team management. Leading a diverse group of designers and engineers, I offer guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure their optimal performance and goal attainment. I oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of service design projects. This involves defining project scope, establishing timelines, allocating resources, and closely monitoring progress to ensure projects remain on track within budget constraints.
Another critical aspect is ensuring the consistent application of our design policies and guidelines across all projects to uphold our quality standards.
Effective collaboration with other departments is vital for success. Therefore, I work closely with teams such as marketing, sales, IT, and operations, integrating service design principles into cross-functional initiatives and ensuring alignment with broader organisational strategies. Last but not least, continuous learning and development are integral to staying at the forefront of the field. I try to stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in service design and management.
What aspects of design do you find most appealing, and what motivated you to pursue a career in this field?
What captivates me most about design is its scope diversity and the opportunity this field provides to tackle intricate problems. The motivation behind my career choice in this area stems from the distinctive nature of design challenges and the gratification from crafting innovative solutions to address them.
Over your journey at the company, could you tell us about one challenging project you were involved in and the factors that made it particularly demanding?
Honestly, I've engaged in a deluge of challenging projects, but two came into my mind now! The first one involved designing a crane for a small US defense vessel. Meeting stringent operational requirements, such as functioning in 1ft to 4ft wave heights and complying with API2C eighth edition standards, required continuous adjustments for structural integrity and safety.
At the same time, I spearheaded a demanding project for a key client in the Middle East, involving the analysis of 13 cranes for future use. This project tested our technical capabilities and planning skills. With meticulous execution, we met high technical requirements and delivered accurate analyses within the allocated timeframe and budget.
Last but not least, how would you sum up your expertise?
Drawing from my educational background and professional experience at Altrad Sparrows, as well as my previous roles in other companies, I have developed expertise in structural and aerospace engineering, particularly in design, project management, and team leadership.
Within this scope, I try my best to conduct thorough analyses and reviews, oversee projects from inception to completion, and handle Front End Engineering Design studies. I also aim to be proficient in crane analysis, finite element analysis, and lift plan approval, all while striving to uphold standards of quality and compliance. Finally, my familiarity with industry codes and software tools allows me to pursue precision and adhere to established standards. In essence, these aspects collectively underpin my overall expertise.