MEET OUR TEAM- ENGINEERING STORIES FROM THE INSIDE. FEATURING Michael Klofac, R&D Product Architect
In this edition of “Meet Our Team”, we speak with Michael Klofac, R&D Product Architect at Engibex. Over 11 years, Michael has grown from Test Engineer to Product Architect– navigating a 9.5-year journey at a single client while taking on roles of increasing complexity and responsibility. From defining test strategies for transmission systems to presenting directly to the CEO of Stellantis, he shares his story of technical growth, the challenges of senior consulting, and what it truly means to have the right support behind you.
“Can you tell us about your first months at Engibex? What role did you start in, and what were your first impression?“
I started in April 2015. My first assignment was as a Test Engineer at a client in the automotive sector– I was actually transferring from another consultancy on a project that had just been terminated, and a colleague put me in touch with Engibex. My first interview was with David (CEO and founder of Engibex) and the HR team, and I immediately had a sense of how Engibex treats its people.
One phrase stuck with me from that very first conversation: Engibex looks for a project for the person, not the other way around. That’s a powerful sentence. It says everything about the personal approach they take.
“How did you initially adapt to consulting life, especially working long-term at one client?“
I ended up spending 9,5 years at the same client. But despite that continuity, I took on different roles with increasing levels of responsibility, much like an in-house employee would. I was able to follow a genuine career path aligned with both my interests and my growing competencies.
“You started as a Test Engineer, can you describe how your role and responsibilities evolved over the years?“
As a Test Engineer, my responsibilities centred on defining, together with the development team, the tests needed for transmission validation. I focused especially on the system level– how hardware interacts with control or embedded systems. My early work involved helping define which test equipment was needed, then designing, executing, and reporting on those tests.
After three years, I had built up a strong foundation of technical knowledge about transmission systems and the product we were developing. At that point, I felt it was time to take a new step– moving from pure testing towards development. So I transitioned to an Application Engineer role on the customer side, which meant direct contact with external parties and customers.
That role allowed me to leverage everything I had learned about transmission as a system. I was drafting technical proposals to acquire new customers, analysing customer requirements, assessing compliance, and evaluating scope– how many people we needed, what activities were involved. It was much more business development oriented.
Around that time, the client was going through a significant restructuring towards Agile methodology. That reorganisation opened the door for a promotion to Product Architect– my final role there. It was a highly varied position. We were a team of 4, fully engaged in a new product development cycle. My focus shifted to industrialisation and production, and I took the lead on the end-of-line test bench and factory side. The essence of my role was to ensure the process capability of the test– that we were testing the right things in the right way, and that we could statistically prove our production capability.
“What were the key moments or projects that pushed your growth the most?“
The biggest milestone in that last role was the start of mass production. There was an intense preparation phase leading up to it: we had to prove the test bench’s capability, ensure cycle times were respected, and demonstrate that everything was ready.
During that period, I came into contact with very senior managers– from the client side, from the production facility, and from the end customer. I even had the opportunity to present the CEO of the end customer with the status of the end-of-line test bench: defects, capability, approval plans for cycle time and production targets. That was a defining moment.
“Were there any challenges in moving from hands-on testing to more autonomous, senior responsibilities? How did you navigate them?“
Absolutely. When you’re operating at that level, you’re working alongside high-level management who have hard production targets to meet. You’re in the final stretch of development where every day requires delivery. And if you become a bottleneck, which will happen at some point, the pressure falls on you directly.
It challenged my problem-solving skills in a very real way. But it also made me grow faster than anything else could have.
“How did Engibex support or facilitate your professional evolution?“
Engibex fully supported my transition from Test Engineer all the way to Product Architect. I was in direct contact with David, Engibex’s founder, throughout. He supported me enormously: how to approach difficult conversations, how to handle stress during tough moments, how to address challenges constructively with my direct manager at the client.
That external perspective was invaluable. Someone outside the client environment who listens to your thoughts and frustrations, gives advice on both a personal and professional level, and when needed, calls your manager directly to emphasise a point. That kind of support is something you rarely find elsewhere.
“Looking back, what aspects of being part of Engibex made you more confident or skilled as an engineer?“
At the beginning of your career, you come out of university with technical knowledge– but actually working inside a company can be overwhelming. The technical challenges, the organisational complexity, all of it hits at once. Having a consultancy means having someone on the outside who you can talk to openly, someone who can guide you and prepare you for what’s ahead.
That’s what Engibex was for me. And it matters enormously, especially in those early years.
“If you could go back to your first year, what advice would you give yourself?“
Communication is everything. Having a technical background doesn’t mean you can operate in isolation. Communicate openly, don’t try to solve everything alone, use the resources around you, and be transparent about problems when they arise. That’s the one thing I’d tell myself on day one.
“What are the most valuable lessons you take from these 11 years of consulting?”
In the first couple of years, you have to build confidence in how a company works. You have to be able to defend yourself, be proud of what you do, and recognise that your work brings real value, even when the technical challenges feel enormous. Everyone is human, everyone makes mistakes. Do your best, and keep going.
“What would you tell someone joining Engibex today about growing in a consulting career?“
You’ve made a very good choice choosing Engibex. Give it your best, keep the bigger picture in mind, and know that you can count on the Engibex team to support you in making your mission a success.
