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During his first year at Siemens Energy Mohammad Mshaleh has completed a trainee programme to gain insight into the company's different divisions and where he would like his career.

Image: Daniel Al Mailea

“The future will be based on AI. Every company today wants to implement artificial intelligence, machine learning and digitalisation to become more efficient,” he says. “During my trainee period, I travelled to Dubai, where Siemens Energy has a large office with many clients in the Middle East and Africa. There’s a boom there in the expansion of data centres to support all the chatbots and AI services, which also requires a huge amount of energy.”

When Mohammad Mshaleh was about to start his master’s thesis in the Artificial Intelligence programme, he came across a job ad on LinkedIn. Siemens Energy in Finspång was looking for someone with expertise in AI and machine learning for their research and development department.

Mohammad applied and got the assignment – and suddenly had to learn what a gas turbine is. Siemens Energy in Finspång manufactures gas turbines that are exported worldwide.

Gas turbines stabilise the power grid

A gas turbine looks somewhat like a jet engine but operates on the ground. Gas turbines are used to generate electricity, often as backup to stabilise the power grid and compensate for sudden outages – for example, when wind power produces too little energy on a calm day. They can run on various fuels such as natural gas, diesel, hydrogen and ethanol.

“Before my thesis, I had no insight into the energy sector, but I started reading up and discovered it’s a huge and growing field. I felt I wanted to be part of that development. We will always need energy!”

During his thesis work in the R&D department, Mohammad developed a machine learning algorithm to help researchers and engineers analyse the data they collected. He then got a summer job continuing the work on the tool.

“During the summer, I was informed that I had been accepted into the Siemens Graduate Trainee Programme.”

Before my thesis, I had no insight into the energy sector, but I started reading up and discovered it’s a huge and growing field

“You get to design your own career”

Through the programme, he has rotated between five different departments, three months at a time.

“You get to design your own career, so to speak, by choosing your rotations, learning what each department does and getting to know their processes – while also running a small project.”

Three months in Dubai

When in use, gas turbines generate large amounts of data. One challenge is interpreting and utilising these datasets. Mohammad began his trainee period in a department that analyses this data to identify new development opportunities for the machines. He contributed to an automation project that helps analysts visualise their data.

Image:Adam Zahari Schiller

During his trainee period Mohammad Mshaleh worked three months in Siemens Energy's office in Dubai.

“Then I moved on to something completely new to me – a department called Sales and Operational Planning. The company sells service contracts along with the machines, so this department plans inspections, identifies which components may need replacing and what expertise is required. They wanted help with a machine learning-based tool that predicts when inspections are needed and what should be checked.”

After that, he explored how internal work processes could be improved and tried leading a project. His fourth rotation was at Siemens’ office in Dubai, where he and a colleague worked on a market analysis for the Middle East and the ongoing expansion of data centres.

“We looked at which centres needed to be built and which of our products they would require to meet energy demands.”

“It was amazing to explore a new country and see how business models differ from those in Europe. And it was fun to work with colleagues from all over the world.”

Would you like to work abroad again?

“Yes, absolutely!”

Will work with AI project management and development

When we speak, Mohammad is in the final stage of his trainee period. He is currently in the sales department, where the tasks are less connected to AI and more focused on strategies and market analysis of the European energy market.

The trainee programme has given him a broad understanding of the company. Siemens Energy has around 100,000 employees in 90 countries, so there are plenty of opportunities to explore new areas, he notes. Siemens Energy offers products and services across all types of energy.

What’s next, now that the trainee period is ending?

“During the final rotation, you have to decide what you want to work with. I received a few offers and eventually chose to work with AI project management and business development. My role will be to explore how we can solve various operational challenges using AI, automation and robotics. In this role, I’ll be involved from idea to implementation and final product.”

A multicultural workplace

Mohammad commutes from Norrköping to Finspång, where around 4,000 people work at Siemens Energy in everything from development and manufacturing to sales and logistics.

“The entire value chain is here.”

What’s most rewarding about your job?

“That you learn something new every day you go to work. I also really appreciate the multicultural workplace. We have over 60 nationalities just in Finspång.”

He studied the technology programme in upper secondary school in Uddevalla and has always enjoyed mathematics and analysis.

Why did you choose to study computer science?

“When I read about different engineering programmes, I felt that computing science would suit me best. I wasn’t sure what level to study at, so I chose a bachelor’s programme. Then you can always add a master’s later.”

Hungry for more knowledge

The job market in the IT sector is strong, and Mohammad could easily have started working after completing his bachelor’s degree. But he was eager to learn more and chose the Master’s programme in Artificial Intelligence to combine computing science with mathematics courses.

Did the programme meet your expectations?

“Yes, absolutely. I had a great class and teachers who were always helpful. The programme was international – I had classmates from different parts of the world, including Pakistan, the Netherlands and France. I think it was a really good education, especially now that AI is so prominent. The job market is not a problem. If I had the chance to choose again, I’d pick the same programme.”

Do you use what you learned in your studies in your job, or have you had to learn a lot of new things?

“I’ve had to learn a lot of new things, but I still use much of what I learned at university. If not the exact technology, then the way of thinking and knowing what to focus on.”