Attila Zalezak is a Program Manager for our projects in Hungary, which are modernising the nation’s railway with digital signalling.
It’s his priority to empower his team and to work harmoniously with everyone on the projects that he manages. From team-oriented goals to hands-on involvement with the processes at every stage of the project life cycle, Attila has a thoroughly integrated approach to getting the best results.
In a recent interview, we gained an interesting insight into his career in Hungarian turnkey projects. He also told us about the skillset and rewards that are linked to his career. Read the following Q&A to find out more.
Tell us about your career with Hitachi Rail
My Hitachi Rail career started in 2017, as Project Manager for Hungarian projects. I am Hungarian and a native speaker of the language, making me a highly apt candidate for the role. When I first started, I was assigned several projects which are close to completion, so I was in “deep water” with complex closing stages, it was a great learning curve.
Midway through my career, I really began to benefit from supportive colleagues, over the years we have delivered the best results as a team. As a way of bolstering successful team performance, I studied other projects in the market, because there are often intersections with customers and resources. This approach gave me full visibility of all running projects, it changed my whole viewpoint.
The Director of Bids & Projects saw potential in my general approach and personality, so he moved me to the next level on the market and promoted me to HU Program Manager – responsible for all projects in the country.
Can you describe the sector that you work in?
My focus is on Turnkey Projects which are deployed in Hungary. Besides the fact that our company is generating a future vision for operators, we are constantly delivering new products and solutions to the HU market.
Specific business units include: EBO2 Remote Op. Concept, NIC Interface, Signal SEC solution, Aramis and AzLM.
Which skills and attitudes help you thrive as a Programme Manager?
I deem the following skills and attitudes to be essential in my role:
It’s important to be SOLUTION focused. Every day there is a new problem to solve, routine approaches to problems do not achieve results. It can take years (and many challenges along the way) to master this skill!
FOCUS on team-oriented goals. I try to be the one showing and proving a working example/model, this lifts the confidence level of the whole team, when they believe that great outcomes are possible. If everyone can see the same goal and vision, it can be achieved.
INTEGRATION. I actively take part in each stage of a given project, from installation through to testing and commissioning. This helps with my learning the process and supports other stakeholders. By being directly involved in their tasks, it provides clarity for me and them, in their individual work packages.
How do you connect with teams globally?
In most of the projects we are working together with Hitachi in Germany, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. Traveling of course is more needed in the country where the project runs, but from time-to-time there is a demand to visit other sites.
Which piece of technology interests you most?
ETCS – after delivering the solution to multiple projects I am more than convinced and sure that this solution is the future. It enables a much more “relaxed environment” for train drivers, with longer visibility and certainty about the unforeseen. Overall, this solution provides the highest safety for the railway.
Can you describe the most memorable project that you’ve worked on?
It was a project in Hungary, connecting Rákos and Hatvan with 6 new stations, and ETCS over the line.
We renovated the whole line with new tracks, new buildings, elevators, perons, bridges and underpasses. The result was beautiful, tangible and touching. The project resulted in a reduced traveling time to Budapest - enabling more trains to run at a higher speed with elevated safety.
What impact does your work make on the railway?
With every product we deliver and plan to deliver to the market we are one step closer to the digitised railway.
It is an interesting journey and has a lot of challenges, but this is the future. At present, it’s key to convince operators to take on new technology and adapt to digitisation. The biggest game changers with digitisation are:
Less cables, and material. Reducing the installation space required and drives faster delivery and deployment. It is also more environmentally economical
More reliability for the operators, also enhanced diagnostics for maintenance purposes, faster and more safe solutions.
Do you have any sentiments for people looking for a career in engineering?
Engineers have the power to meet customer requirements, we are the ones developing and delivering results. Every engineering action is visible, and the outcomes provide strong benefits for operators and passengers.
I believe the difference between a great engineer and an extraordinary engineer is involvement. The more involvement for the engineer the more details, the smaller the differences he/she is then able to identify and discover.
