Within the Engineering and Maintenance Business Units of Bilfinger, Ivo Welzen and Alex Maessen are joining forces to spark young people’s interest in the field of high and low voltage. Ivo has worked as an Electrical Engineer since 2018 and also teaches secondary vocational education at Vista College Maastricht. Alex has been in the high-voltage world for over 32 years and works within the Maintenance Business Unit as a product specialist. Their shared mission: opening up the high-voltage sector to the next generation of technicians.

A recent internship exchange marked a turning point. “One of my students showed interest in high voltage,” Ivo explains. “She first joined Alex in Maintenance, then spent time with me in Engineering.” It was the first time an intern worked across both business units. “This is a unique opportunity offered by Bilfinger, and a valuable experience for all of us.”

The intern did not just observe, she actively contributed to a major project at the Chemelot industrial site. “She experienced the full process: from customer meetings and engineering to implementation,” says Alex. “Not every intern gets such an opportunity, but it clearly shows how versatile and educational our field is.”

Still, high voltage remains unfamiliar territory for many students. “Without excursions or dedicated lessons, they often don’t even know it is a career path,” says Ivo. “Only when you expose them to it, their curiosity kicks in.” Both Ivo and Alex see a growing need for young talent in this sector. “The electrification of the Netherlands demands major investment, yet proper training programs in this field are scarce, especially in regions like Limburg.”

Through their work at Bilfinger and their ties with education, they hope to change that. “We want to raise awareness, give guest lectures and let students truly experience the field,” says Alex. “Interns help shape their own program here. That keeps them motivated and matches the way the new generation wants to learn.”

Working at Bilfinger means sharing knowledge, encouraging collaboration, and building the future of engineering and society.

“Every intern should come and take a look behind the scenes. I ended up in this field by chance, but I stayed for the variety in this branch, the people, and the technology. It does not get much better than this.” – Alex Maessen

“High voltage is about more than pylons along the highway. If you are highly educated and love technology and challenges, then our department is a great place to start your career.” – Ivo Welzen

Curious to learn more?

Interested in joining us for an internship or exploring career opportunities in High Voltage? Feel free to reach out to Annemarie Rossingh.