Gilles, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your career path?

Gilles Parxes : I am a Team Manager and I am 55 years old. I started my career in 1997 in press shop operations at PSA, before spending 7 years working as a supplier for national and international automotive manufacturers. I joined Matra Automotive in 2011 as a process lead, and subsequently progressed within the company to become a Team Manager. Today, I lead a team of 15 to 25 people at the Trappes site.

Timothée, what made you want to join SEGULA and pursue this profession?

Timothée Perrin : After an initial work-study experience within a small structure, I wanted to join a major corporation to work on larger-scale projects with more stimulating objectives. This is precisely what I am doing now, as I am working on the Alpine A110. I was also keen to evolve within a more demanding technical environment, and SEGULA was particularly well-regarded at my university for the high quality of support and training it provides to its work-study students.

Learning on the ground

What expertise or approach to work do you consider essential to pass on, Gilles?

Gilles Parxes : For me, the most crucial element is inspiring a desire to build projects, to move forward, to have a clear purpose, and to take pride in one’s achievements. Beyond technical skills and rigour, it is vital to be aware that we all carry a shared responsibility.

And for you, Timothée, what is the most valuable lesson you have learned since arriving at SEGULA?

Timothée Perrin : Teamwork. It was something I had caught a glimpse of at university, but that remained a very academic exercise. As for the simulation side of the profession, I have learned never to limit oneself strictly to theory.

Is there a lesson that you don’t learn in the classroom, but only through practical experience? 

Gilles Parxes : Accountability. You are part of a team and, as such, you have a responsibility to take ownership of and contribute to a project. You have to adapt to a context that does not exist in an academic environment: on the ground, nothing is set in stone.

What surprised you most when working alongside experienced colleagues?

Timothée Perrin : The sheer depth of knowledge. Not a single week goes by without me learning something new, so I find myself asking questions very frequently.

Daily collaboration 

What do you bring to each other in your day-to-day collaboration?

Gilles Parxes : Timothée brings a youthful, external perspective that we have somewhat lost over time. He tries things that we no longer dare to do because of our routines. This fresh outlook is paramount within a team; it helps us grow and forces us to step outside our comfort zone.

Timothée Perrin : For my part, my colleagues’ experience enables me to deliver results much more quickly, progress in my learning curve, and benefit from excellent guidance.

Which project or technical challenge has made a particular impression on you together?

Gilles Parxes : Our current project, the Alpine, is undoubtedly one of the most complex I have ever managed, particularly in terms of stress and pressure management. For a work-study student entering a project of this scale, it is essential to step back and gain perspective in order to stay focused and avoid getting lost in the intricacies of the technology.

Pride and the future

Gilles, what makes you proudest when you see the younger generations taking over?

Gilles Parxes : Seeing them graduate, watching their capacity to question themselves, and witnessing their self-respect and commitment to a job well done. I am proud when we succeed in passing on that “fight spirit” : the drive to work hard, never give up to achieve a goal, and take pride in it.

Timothée, where do you see yourself in a few years’ time?

Timothée Perrin : I really enjoy the higher apprenticeship model. In the future, I would like to step into the mentor role myself to pass on both technical and human knowledge, just as Gilles has done for me throughout this year.

Gilles Parxes : Hearing that response is a true source of pride! At every level, I need them just as much as they need me.

In one sentence, what does passing on knowledge mean at SEGULA Technologies?

Timothée Perrin : Transforming individual experience into collective success by growing the teams of today and tomorrow.

Gilles Parxes : Using the past to build the future.