"What on earth are you doing there?" Strange. A man is kneeling behind a car in the parking bay and taking a photo with his cell phone. "You have really interesting headlamps and rear lamps. Is it OK if I take a closer look?" asks the young man. "Work-related illness," he adds with a grin. When Jannes is walking through the city, such encounters are a frequent occurrence. Although the car owners are surprised, the 26-year-old remains unruffled and thanks them with a winning smile.
Jannes is at home in the world of light. The lights inside and outside the car to be precise. "From an engineering point of view, an incredible number of aspects come together here: from light sources and light control, through design and electrics, to software and integration into the vehicle. To these are added the entire testing and validation spectrum and compliance with the various legal requirements. Super complex - super exciting," finds Jannes.
Jannes is especially fascinated by the wide range of light that determines his daily work routine. For example, when it comes to teaching light to "speak" in the Design & Visualization department in cooperation with EDAG FEYNSINN. Or studying the effect of the temperature on light both in simulations and in climate alternating test chambers. The lighting experts in Jannes' team also pay close attention to software integration in the tests they carry out on HiL test benches, laboratory vehicles and vehicles. "The many different light studies we carry out in our own light lab are always extremely enlightening," says Jannes with huge enthusiasm.
Although just 26 years old, Jannes, who was born in Kiel, is nevertheless already an old hand in the field of technology. After graduating from high school in 2015, he was looking for a technical challenge where he could combine theory and practice in a dual study program. He was keen on working in shipbuilding at the renowned Blohm+Voss shipyard. When, however, parallel to this an opportunity arose for him to join EDAG in Wolfsburg, he very quickly changed his mind. "I have always loved cars. This offer really tempted me."
He says his expectations were more than met as soon as he joined the dual study program. Jannes took his Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering design technology, while at the same time doing an apprenticeship to become a technical production designer.
A dual study program at EDAG is always structured to give students the chance to get to know the entire company and gain an impression of different divisions and departments. But it didn't take Jannes long to discover that the Light & Sight department was perfect for him. "I then pestered my team leaders and training supervisors until they finally agreed that I didn't have to change departments any more, but could stay there. And for that, I am still very grateful."
The combination of theory and practice was entirely to Jannes' taste - and to the taste of his light development team at EDAG. The subject of his Bachelor's thesis was modular pixel light modules in rear lamps, and how these become visual information transmitters. A patent for the results has recently been applied for. What a milestone!
Jannes enjoyed every moment of his dual study course, and immediately went on to do a Master's degree in value-added management in mechanical engineering, focusing on product development. But that's not all. In 2021, he enrolled for another part-time Master's master's program, this time at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, to gain an MBA in corporate management.
Meeting challenging situations with perseverance and determination is something the engineer knows all about. Before starting his career, he was a competitive swimmer, and even made it into the Lower Saxony squad. Competitive swimming at this level is demanding. It means a great deal of training and counting endless tiles during training sessions. Jannes was not training to Olympic level, but as lifeguard. In the "Super Lifesaver" discipline, he had to master numerous skills: diving, swimming with flippers, rescuing an 80-kilo dummy then bringing it to safety – "a bit like Baywatch, but as a competitive sport without all the posing," says Jannes. "What I enjoyed most was entering the competitions as a team."
At EDAG in Wolfsburg, Jannes was part of a dynamic, international team from day one. "There is a great sense of unity here, both personally and professionally," says Jannes. "We are also very well networked with all of EDAG's light-related competence groups worldwide, and involved in a constant exchange of information."
In his MBA course, Jannes is currently looking at issues relating to corporate management. "If your aim is to increase the pace of development and bring agility to all processes, traditional top-down hierarchies and silo thinking will no longer do the job. These methods have long since been replaced in our lighting team. We work together on an equal footing, are involved in a constant cross-divisional exchange of information, and will always help each other. Not only does this make us flexible and successful. Above all, this kind of team play is fun," explains Jannes.
One thing he really enjoys are the international projects that he supervises. In the US, Mexico and Brazil, and also in Europe, China, India and other countries. "I really do get around," says Jannes. "And I love traveling, getting to know other people and cultures, and constantly expanding my horizons." And if he should happen to come across a few interesting headlights or rear lamps here and there, so much the better. His cell phone camera is always ready for the next shot.
