Meet Julien, Optical Technician at Optech

Interview with Julien, Optical Technician at Optech for Over 10 Years

Hello Julien, can you tell us a little about your background and briefly introduce yourself?

Hi! I grew up in St-Hyacinthe. I followed a fairly typical school path until I got to Cégep de St-Hyacinthe, where I started in the computer management program — without much success. The 2003 student strike, in which I was actively involved, was one of the main reasons my first attempt at Cégep didn’t work out.

I then left Cégep and moved to Montréal. I joined a metal band and played with them for three years. During that time, I became a bike mechanic. After two years of working for less than minimum wage with people who weren’t very knowledgeable, I decided it was time to return to school seriously.

My search for a college program led me to Techno-Physique. I did my internships at INRS and, right after graduating, I joined Optech — which makes this my first job.

What inspired you to choose this career?

The main reason I joined Optech was thanks to Mathieu Riendeau, who was the lab technician for the Techno-Physique program I completed. He offered me the position of Optical Technician at Optech. I trusted him, so I accepted.

How would you describe your role as an Optical Technician at Optech?

I make sure Optech’s equipment is functional and properly calibrated. Some devices are very specialized. I’m one of the few Optech employees who knows all of the company’s instruments and can operate them. Because of that, my expertise is often required on Optech’s more specialized projects.

Tell us about the best project you’ve worked on at Optech.

Depending on the day, my answer might change, but right now I’d say one of my very first projects. The goal was to find the right laser parameters to cut dental ceramics. I was still new, and I was honestly afraid of setting the place on fire!

To avoid that, I took a lot of precautions. I felt a lot of adrenaline, realizing that most of the project tasks were my responsibility. With the support of my colleagues, we eventually found the right parameters, and the project was a success.

What do you enjoy most about working at Optech?

What’s kept me at Optech for more than 10 years is that I really love light. I’m a big Star Wars fan, so working with high-powered lasers was a childhood dream come true. On top of that, the projects are varied and exciting. But above all, what I appreciate the most is the kindness and dedication of the Optech team.

Do you have a personal mantra? Any last words?

“Be happy!” It’s important to stay joyful at work.

Thank you very much for your answers, Julien, and we wish you continued success at Optech!