A Graduate Systems engineer’s first month at Epitome Living

Last month we welcomed Epitome Living’s first graduate hire to the team. 

Jacob Vallelly joins us as a graduate systems engineer fresh from a Software and Electronic Systems Engineering masters at Queen's University, Belfast.

Jacob's taken on a first-of-its-kind hybrid role at Epitome Living, splitting his time between configuring technology systems in our workshop and installing the tech on site. 

He's also the fourth of our team members trained to engineer live audio, so AV installations will continue to be in very good hands. 

We sat down with Jacob after his first month at Epitome Living to hear his perspective on what we do and find out what he's looking forward to as he learns more of the ropes of home automation and smart building technology systems.

Creating this role for Jacob means that we can pair the wealth of academic knowledge he’s ready to put into action with practical on-site experience. 

Alongside this knowledge, he’s also brought fresh energy to the team, and his appointment is a testament to the hard work of the rest of the team who’ve got us to the point of needing an extra pair of hands in the workshop and on site. 

Now without further ado, let’s hear from Jacob…

Amy: What were you most looking forward to about joining Epitome Living?

Jacob: I was most looking forward to working with consumer oriented technology. Most graduate roles available this year were in commercial or industrial environments, so it's nice to be involved in something that's a bit more relatable   

A: What's your favourite aspect of the job so far? Why?

J: The best thing about the job so far is the variety. Every day is different, I might be on site helping with installation and commissioning, or in the office working on the software side of things.

A: What's been your biggest learning so far?

J: My biggest learning so far has been the Loxone system. I had experience with other building automation softwares during my placement year; they were powerful but limited in certain areas. Loxone strikes the balance between ease of use and performance.

A: What are you looking forward to learning next? Why?

J: I'm looking forward to learning more about home networks. From what I've seen so far, it's one of the most effective upgrades you can make to your home. 

A: How do you think your degree will help you in your role?

J: I think my degree will help quite a lot. It's only been about a month, and many concepts from my final year have come into play, specifically, sensor network topologies and wireless communication. They say that you learn the most when you're on the job, but having the academic foundation is certainly a big help!

A: How would you sum up Epitome Living to someone who doesn't know about us? 

J: Epitome Living makes having a smart home accessible. The sky is the limit when it comes to the level of integration in your home, but it doesn't have to be an all-singing, all-dancing system. You can start with better lighting, or improved heating and take it from there.

A: Why should a new client choose us as their technology partner?

J: I may be biased, but I think we're the obvious choice. The quality of the completed and ongoing projects has really impressed me. It's a brilliant team here that really cares about the work they're doing and knows their stuff! 

Interested in finding out if what Jacob has to say about us is true? Get in touch to kick off your project at info@epitomeliving.com.