1. How did you join SPIE?
Virginie Spitznagel: After my studies in Chemical Engineering in Clermont-Ferrand,
in central France, I was very much attracted to commissioning in the field. It’s the phase
that consists of testing an installation before it’s handed over to the customer. I was hired
by SPIE in 2006, and I worked first of all on EPC (Engineering, Procurement and
Construction) projects as a process engineer for a year and a half. But then the company
showed its faith in me by letting me move into commissioning.
How did you come to go abroad?
V.S.: I always wanted to have the experience of living in other countries, and here again,
SPIE very soon gave me such an opportunity. My first commissioning assignment took me
to Qatar for two years. Then I returned to work in south-eastern France for a while before
leaving for China. Beyond the richness of these two experiences on a human level, they
allowed me to become familiar with a number of fields, including gas and silicone products,
for instance, and to work on assignments with a variety of scopes. I came back to France
n 2013, and I’m now working on preparing technical and commercial bids for EPC
(Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contracts. I’m able to make full use of the
expertise I acquired in the field.
Have you suffered by being one of a small number of women in a very male environment?
V.S.: Not at all. What’s more, I was very rapidly allowed to work in the field. In my sector,
when you’re on an assignment, there are sometimes very few women involved and,
as we have a lot of work to do, it’s true that it can sometimes be very difficult. My advice
is to maintain a balance by keeping up links and activities away from the work environment.
Virginie Spitznagel, 33, has had an interesting career, gaining experience both in France and abroad.
She is currently a bid engineer in the System Projects Business Unit at SPIE Oil & Gas Services.
Find more about our job offers on www.spie-job.com/en
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