Date added: 2025-07-24
Career after WIMiO: Piotr Jędrzejewski [ALUMNUS PROFILE]

He began by designing hydraulic systems, selecting individual components, and supporting the sales department. For him, the first stage of professional life after graduation is a time of intensive learning—when theoretical knowledge and skills gained during studies are complemented by the practical realities of engineering work. A major milestone came with his involvement in implementing a new ERP system. Being part of the implementation team gave Piotr insight into resource management within the company and broadened his understanding of commercial operations. His next step was working on a research and development project focused on applying metal 3D printing in hydraulic systems.
“R&D work is incredibly rewarding because it gives you the chance to create unique solutions and contribute to bringing new technologies to market—technologies that have been developing rapidly in recent years. My first contact with 3D printing came through my job, and it quickly became a real passion,” says the FMEST graduate.
What opportunities do FMEST studies open up, in your view?
A degree from FMEST opens up a wide range of engineering career paths. And if your education is supported by a genuine interest in the field and a willingness to keep developing, it’s definitely possible to find exciting, meaningful work.
Your greatest achievement during your studies?
Receiving a distinction in the 2020 Prof. Romuald Szczęsny Competition for the best thesis at Gdańsk University of Technology. Together with my colleague, Mateusz Kuczyk, we designed a conceptual electric traction system for a suspended railway as part of our master’s thesis. Based on this work, we published a series of four academic articles.
What did you learn during your studies?
First of all, the program gave me a strong foundation in computer-aided design and modelling. Second, the knowledge I gained in hydraulic systems has been genuinely useful—and I still refer to my class notes at work today.
One less obvious but equally important takeaway is how to manage your time. There were semesters filled with overlapping projects and courses, and learning to prioritize and stay organized has proven crucial in the workplace, where time pressure is often part of the job.
What advice would you give to first-year students?
Be open to every opportunity your studies offer. Take advantage of extra courses and training. Look for internships and placements—every bit of experience helps develop your skills. Early on, the curriculum includes a lot of theory, but don’t let that discourage you—it becomes useful when working on practical projects later. I also think it’s worth identifying one specific area within your field that really interests you and developing your expertise in that niche. That one area can become a real driver for your career. For me, that was hydraulic systems. I tried to do as many projects as possible in that area, and eventually found a job in that exact field.
Your greatest professional achievement?
Rather than a single achievement, I’d point to the entire process of implementing metal 3D printing as an innovative technology. I’m now working on things I couldn’t have imagined back when I was a student. Designing for metal 3D printing is a major challenge, but it also creates huge opportunities for optimizing components and assemblies—sometimes reducing structural weight by several dozen percent, which can’t be achieved using conventional manufacturing methods.
Interesting projects you’ve worked on?
Since I started designing for metal 3D printing, most of my projects have been both unique and technically interesting. They usually require a completely different approach than traditional subtractive machining, and sometimes the two methods must be combined. That kind of work takes close collaboration between different specialists to ensure the best outcome. And when you add generative design—which complements 3D printing perfectly—the possibilities for engineering projects become incredibly broad.