Louise Bonthoux joined SPIE as an intern while still a student and was hired as a costing engineer after completing a successful seven-month internship. Now 26, she has thrived in her career at SPIE for the past four years, grateful for the responsibility given to her from the start. As a costing engineer, her duties include analyzing resources and materials to provide cost estimates for heating and ventilation system installation projects, requiring rigor, multitasking abilities, and responsibility.

1. A former intern who now works as a costing engineer, Louise Bonthoux has thrived in her work
for the past four years. Aged only 26, she is grateful to SPIE for giving her so much responsibility
from the very start of her career.
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INTERVIEWS
WITHOURSO SPIEPEOPLE
How did you join SPIE?
Louise Bonthoux: In 2013, I was still a student at Polytech Nancy engineering school in
the east of France. I has specialised in energy and I was trying to find my final internship.
There was a partnership between SPIE and my engineering school, so I went for it! I managed
to arrange a seven-month internship in the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
engineering department at SPIE Est, as an assistant business manager. I loved it!
What kind of support did you get in the first phase of your career?
L.B.: Two of my colleagues trained me. They were both alumni of the same engineering
school as me, so we spoke the same language, which made things a lot easier at the
beginning. I was reassured by being in good hands so that I could learn the tricks of the
trade. Don’t forget this was my very first job. I was given responsibility very quickly, and
after seven months, I was hired as a costing engineer. SPIE really does give young people
an opportunity!
What are your duties today?
L.B.: It’s my job to reply to calls for tenders. Concretely, I analyse the resources and
materials needed to install heating and ventilation systems and I come up with a financial
evaluation. My work covers many different aspects, and entails costing a wide variety of
projects. It requires a high level of rigour, the ability to handle several projects at the same
time and a great sense of responsibility. I work autonomously, which makes time
management a lot easier. What I like the most is contact with customers, with the design
office and with our suppliers.
“SPIE gives young
people an opportunity!”