Employee spotlight on Erik
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
“I see my work as a challenging, creative process.”
In a Nutshell
Summary
- Position: System Architect
- Duties: Designing, developing, and maintaining hardware and software for traffic products such as traffic light installations, traffic light applications, and V2I communication systems; defining product requirements; creating and verifying designs; supporting testing and production processes
- One word that describes my job: Creative
- Must-haves: Strong technical understanding (especially electronics), creativity, problem-solving skills, teamwork, attention to detail
QUOTE
“I have an office job, but that certainly doesn’t make my work any less challenging. What I enjoy most is creating new technical products from nothing or very little. It’s a real thrill when your product is eventually out on the street. I think that’s also why my colleagues and I have been working here for so long. The work never gets boring.”
With our reliable products and services, we prepare cities for the mobility of the future. From various roles, our employees conceive, design, develop, and maintain these products. Erik Vonkeman explains his role as a System Architect in this process.
Erik has been working at SWARCO for over 20 years. He has been involved in several acquisitions, but the core of his work has always remained the same. As a System Architect, he is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining hardware and traffic products that enable smart mobility and ensure safe and efficient traffic flow. These include traffic control systems, traffic control applications, and public transport V2I communication systems such as VECOM.
A challenging creative process
“I see my work as a challenging, creative process,” says Erik.
What does that look like in practice?
When an assignment for a new (sub) product comes in, the project starts like any other—with a structured briefing and a clear kick-off.
“Together with the team, which usually consists of a Lead Engineer, System Architect, and Hardware and/or Software Engineers, we discuss what the final product should be. What is the goal of the product? What should it be able to do? What should it deliver? We define the requirements and starting points in detail. That way, everyone knows exactly what we are working towards, and we ensure the final product meets the client’s specifications.”
The product is then divided into sub-projects, and each component is analyzed to determine how it can be realized. This thinking process is carried out individually or in teams. “We don’t just develop the product functionally; we also consider other factors such as climate conditions. How do we ensure the product continues to function during extreme heat or cold? How do we make a roadside product resistant to vibrations from heavy traffic?” This process can sometimes take weeks or even months.
Bringing the design to life
Once all functionalities have been defined, the first design is created. The team reviews and refines this design. Once it is finalized, a first prototype is built.
“This is an important moment,” Erik explains. “We want to physically see, hold, and test the product. This allows us to verify whether it works as we envisioned on paper.” Often, the team returns to the drawing board to further refine the design based on initial findings.
“When we have sufficient confidence in the product, it is thoroughly tested.” Naturally, the product must comply with various (safety) regulations and standards. It is extensively tested using different methods, often by or in collaboration with an external party.
“It’s quite an exciting moment to see whether what you’ve designed works as intended and meets all the requirements.”
Handover to production
Once the testing phase has been successfully completed, another exciting moment follows: the product is ready for production. “We hand over the product to the manufacturer. This is done in close coordination and with a detailed briefing to ensure it is produced correctly.”
Deployment on the street
In this phase, the main responsibility lies with our installation teams, technicians, and commissioning engineers. “I’m not responsible for installing or commissioning the product, but I’m often involved in pilot projects on the street.”
Advice for future colleagues
Erik’s tip for future colleagues: “If you want to do this job, you really need to enjoy creating new products from scratch. You also need to enjoy working with electronics all day. Just having an interest in electronics isn’t really enough—you almost need to have a passion for it, especially if you want to do this work long-term. Fortunately, I’ve turned my hobby into my job!”
Looking ahead
In the coming period, Erik will focus on redesigning the ACU processor module.
“The system has been operating in the field for quite some time now. We’re going to define and develop the next generation of this product based on data, experience, and customer needs.”
Shape the future of mobility
If you are motivated to shape complex traffic systems from concept to deployment, this role offers a high level of responsibility and technical depth from day one. You should bring a solid background in electronics and system design, combined with analytical thinking and the ability to translate requirements into robust, real-world solutions. Curiosity, precision, and persistence are critical - especially when developing products that must perform reliably under demanding environmental and regulatory conditions. What makes this role particularly compelling is the direct impact: you are not working on abstract concepts, but on systems that are deployed in real traffic environments, improving safety, efficiency, and future mobility.