Vivek Khistariya joined Sprint Electric as senior test and validation engineer in August 2023. His story is fascinating, with a background of working at some of the biggest automotive companies in the UK, before returning to his original vocation of electrical engineering with Sprint Electric.
Vivek is based at the Jubilee campus at the University of Nottingham as part of the development of the groundbreaking Generis drive. Vivek comments: “As the test and validation senior engineer with Sprint, my role is primarily to test the drive, push its limits and ensure it is ready for market, focusing on development of the product.
“I work closely with Matias Urrutia, our test and validation engineer, to develop Generis. Matias and I have a really good working relationship. The advantage of having a colleague from academia is that they are willing to try ideas that more experienced engineers may not. He came to the University of Nottingham to complete his PhD and he is currently working on developing an intelligent system with sinusoidal waves that is really unique. I appreciate his ideas greatly.
Vivek Khistariya joined Sprint Electric as senior test and validation engineer in 2023.
“I’m a very hands-on person and like to keep things straightforward. The simplest idea is usually the best idea, so I try to not over complicate things and Matias appreciates that approach. Between us, we have a great balance of using practical simplicity and creative ideas to find the best solution.
“My background is quite unorthodox. I studied in India and earned a diploma in Electricals and Electronics and returned to the UK in 2003, working various jobs because my degrees were not valid in this country, and I did not have the finances to resume my education here.
“I was fortunate to be offered a job with a British automotive engineering firm as a cable tester. Luckily, the management quickly found out that I was a lot more capable than testing cable continuity. Taking the opportunities presented, I worked my way up to the position of facilities engineer engine test, specialising in automotive research and testing with some of the biggest names in the automotive industry.
“After four and a half years, I joined a renowned British automotive engineering firm, as a senior engineer test and electronics, leading teams on product requirement definition and change management programmes. I worked on testing high performance engines and was instrumental on designing and developing innovative products for new corporate markets. After three years, I moved to Sprint Electric.
“Joining Sprint gave me the opportunity to work in my original speciality of electrical engineering. Being based in Nottingham at the Jubilee campus means that my commute from Leicester is much shorter, so I am working with technology that I excel in and have extra time at home.
“With those extra hours, I renovated my house which allowed me to do the electrical circuits throughout. I also have my own workshop where I can make my own PCB’s because I find manufacturers 2 weeks lead time a bit too long. I make simple 2 layers PCB’s and I have got enough sort of equipment at home, CNC machines, 3D printers amongst others. I am very fortunate to love my job so much that I do the same work at home!” said Vivek.
