?? Projects, Innovation & Expertise: A Day in the Life of a Tech Expert ??

Q. What is the role of a Technical Expert Engineer?

Adeline Monet: My main role is to support our clients by addressing their needs and technical questions.

In our department, there are two levels of expertise:

• Level 1, equivalent to a hotline, which answers common inquiries and recurring technical issues.
• Level 2, where I work, which handles more complex problems and projects with specific constraints.

For example, when a client wants to migrate from an obsolete technology to a secure system, my role involves training (awareness, mastering badges and tools) followed by guidance in migration strategy. This often requires several months of follow-up and multiple trips.

Beyond tailoring solutions, I also focus on training and raising awareness about security challenges and future developments. My work consists of four key phases:

1. Understanding the client's needs,
2. Proof of Concept (POC),
3. Designing and integrating solutions,
4. Training clients.

Q. What was your career path before joining STid Group?

I joined STid in 2013 right after graduating, as part of the research and development team. At that time, the company had only 35 employees. I applied without knowing much about the company or the RFID field, which I gradually became passionate about.

In 2018, I left STid but returned in 2022 as a Technical Expert Engineer in the Customer Care team. In this role, I focus on three key areas:

• Project management,
• Customer support responsiveness,
• Innovation, to develop smart and adapted solutions.

Q. Do you have a typical workday?

Not at all—no two days are alike!

Some days are entirely dedicated to travel, whether within France or neighboring countries, while others focus on core topics like demonstrations and training.

Unexpected urgencies can also disrupt my schedule, in which case priority is given to projects or departments needing an immediate response.

Q. How do you collaborate with other departments?

Customer Care acts as an expert hub and interacts with various teams:

• Marketing??: Reporting bugs, validating and sending fixes, and evolving products based on client feedback.
• R&D (Research & Development)??: Discussing needs, new features, and bug fixes to streamline designers' work.
• Quality Assurance (QA)?: Occasionally assisting in final project validation.
• Sales??: Supporting sales teams during pre-sales and providing product training.
• Internal training??: Helping onboard new employees and upskill colleagues.

Q. What key skills are essential for your job?

• Technical knowledge: Staying up to date on high-frequency (HF) and security markets, as well as product evolution.
• Client relations: Being service-oriented, communicating effectively, and staying calm under pressure??. There have been times when I had to prove my expertise simply because I’m a woman.
• Availability: Responding quickly to urgent issues and departmental needs.
• Pedagogy: Clearly transmitting knowledge to clients and colleagues, ensuring they fully understand the information.

Q. How has your job evolved in recent years?

The rise of new hacking tools (such as the Flipper Zero) forces engineers to anticipate and raise awareness about cybersecurity.

Since access control systems are updated infrequently (about every 10 years), it’s crucial to develop long-lasting solutions and stay ahead of future threats and regulations.

Q. What do you see as the future of high-frequency technology?

The industry is clearly moving toward Smart Cities and Smart Buildings,??? where everything is interconnected.

For instance, physical badges are gradually being replaced by dematerialized solutions that manage:

• Access control,
• Lighting,
• Transportation,
• Temperature,
• Corporate catering,
• Security services.

Q. What advice would you give to a future female Technical Expert Engineer?

Women have every right to be in technical fields! Don’t hesitate to take on the challenge of working in a male-dominated industry. It’s a demanding but incredibly rewarding environment, where skills and determination matter more than gender.