During her studies in mathematics at TU Graz, Lea Jordan was already clear that her great interest lay in information technology. Pursuing a master's degree in IT was the logical next step, she recalls: "At the end of my bachelor's degree, I had the option to start as a student trainee at AVL and put what I had learned to the test. It fit so well that I wrote my master's thesis at AVL and became a permanent team member."

Lea Jordan works as an Application Developer. The Data Scientist works at the globally active Styrian company in the Powertrain Dynamics department in the Advanced Simulation Technologies (AST) area. In addition to application development, her tasks include conception and design as well as project coordination.

"Our product group," Lea reports, "is called AVL EXCITE™. It's about modeling, simulating, and evaluating models. For example, the development of drivetrains of all kinds should be improved and accelerated through virtual methods. The main focus is on improving noise behavior and efficiency, as well as increasing the lifespan of drives and their components."

Transformation Process

With her education, Lea is one of the sought-after experts on the market, as the automotive industry is currently undergoing a transformation process, leading to significant changes in sought-after professions. At AVL, experts in areas such as software development, data science, big data, AI, and simulation are particularly in demand.

"We have an international team here in Graz," Lea reports, "which I find very exciting. Additionally, it's enormously enriching for me to work with colleagues from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or physics. This way, I constantly receive new input and a different perspective on the product."

Team Spirit

One of her professional challenges, according to the expert, is also to bring together various parties or team members, for example, when restructuring the software is necessary. "Then you have to show sensitivity. But that's exactly what I find so beautiful about my job. It takes me away from the computer and programming to some extent, and it's more about the human aspect, about communication."

For her professional future, Lea could imagine transitioning into AVL project management. There, she would like to encourage employees to engage in even more intensive exchange and to think in different directions. "Because that's exactly AVL's philosophy: to connect various disciplines to develop the optimal product for the customers."