Jacques Ungerer: “I’ve really found my feet here”

These qualities also come in handy at home, where he built a racing simulator in his spare time that he and his children thoroughly enjoy.

Since April 2024, Jacques has worked in ICT Group’s Managed Services unit. Based in Deventer, he works on infrastructure projects throughout the Netherlands. Much of his work takes place in tunnels. “We manage the technical systems in quite a few railway tunnels for ProRail,” he explains. “These systems ensure that everything in a tunnel works properly, from ventilation and lighting to emergency facilities and the control of all sorts of components.” The province of Friesland is another major client. There, Jacques and his colleagues are responsible for the technical management of tunnels, bridges and locks.

Like a mole

“We carry out a lot of end-to-end tests,” Jacques explains, “to check whether all parts of the system work together properly. If a train comes to a standstill, does the detection system work? Are the right alarms triggered? Do the fans and other safety systems operate as they should? And what happens if a fault occurs or a component is replaced?” It is this variety that makes his work interesting.

“No two situations are the same. A fault might be caused by software, but it could just as easily be a broken component or a network problem. I spend a lot of time underground and sometimes feel like a mole,” he laughs.

From electrician to programmer

His broad technical understanding is no coincidence. Jacques grew up in South Africa, where he started his career as an electrician. Over the years, he gradually moved towards automation and ICT. “I now understand how everything fits together, from start to finish, from the electrical connections to the control systems.”

That combination of knowledge serves him well. “When there’s a fault, I don’t just look at the ICT side. That makes it easier to identify and resolve the problem quickly.”

In 2020, he moved from South Africa to the Netherlands with his family. It was a major step. “We really started a new life in a different culture.” The family now feels completely at home. Professionally, Jacques has also found his place. “At ICT Group, I feel appreciated. My manager regularly says, ‘Hey Jacques, well done.’ That matters to me. Showing appreciation doesn’t always have to involve money. Words can do that too. People also listen when you raise something. The organisation isn’t hierarchical at all. I have great colleagues, we get on well and enjoy working together.”

Formula 1 in the living room

In South Africa, Jacques took part in circuit racing and partly built his own race car. When he moved to the Netherlands, he no longer had a garage. But giving up his hobby? That was out of the question.

He started with a small steering wheel and screen in his living room. Today, an impressive racing simulator stands there. “You move just as you would in a real race car,” Jacques explains. “The seat even has belts that tighten when the simulator takes a corner.” Jacques built most of the simulator himself and wrote 60 per cent of its software. He 3D-printed all the plastic components himself. Four actuators he built himself make the simulator move. From the aluminium frame and motors to the electronics and software, Jacques designed, built, assembled and programmed it all himself. “I’m really proud of it.” This is exactly where his work and hobby meet, “and it never gets boring,” Jacques adds.

Continuous improvement

Perhaps the most important thing is his commitment to continuous improvement. “That’s what I want in my work, and it’s how I approach my hobby too.” When others say something is “good enough”, Jacques is not satisfied. That is why he keeps experimenting at home as well. He recently started exploring home automation. Using Home Assistant, he has even linked his children’s school schedules to the lighting and a smart speaker. “Half an hour before they need to leave for school, the speaker says, ‘Come on, boys, hurry up.’ It repeats that every five minutes until they’re on their bikes.” His children needed some time to get used to it, “but it works,” Jacques laughs.

Jacques believes it is important to keep developing his skills. At ICT Group, he takes training courses, including a recent Siemens Safety Training course on programming safety PLC systems. “That brings me right up to date again.” His conclusion about working at ICT Group is clear: “I’m in the right place, both in terms of the work itself and the people I work with. I’ve really found my feet here.”