Raimond Vaba
My journey in Starship actually began 8 years ago during my mechatronics studies at TalTech. There, I gained practical experience at the TTÜ Robotics Club, which eventually led me to discover Starship through a short job posting sent to our organization's email. I vividly remember my first interview, held in the company's then-4th-floor warehouse. I was practically thrown into the mix right from the start, not knowing much about Starship or what my role as a robot tester would entail.
Could you walk us through your first day experience?
I vividly remember arriving at the office for my first day, dressed to impress in a formal outfit and shoes. Little did I know that most of my day would be spent braving the bone-chilling outdoors, testing robots in -15-degrees. Despite the biting cold that had me shivering uncontrollably, I did my best to maintain a composed face, not wanting to make a bad impression. Of course, as a young professional starting out, the complimentary coffee and snacks in the fridge felt like a big win, something we didn't have at the robotics club.
How was life in Starship 8 years ago?
The team was relatively small back then. I quickly found myself transitioning from a contractor to a full-time employee. Still remember that my contract was number 42. There wasn't a strict hierarchy and I didn't even understand who was in what role. All team members were approachable and roles didn't carry much weight. It was organized chaos, the kind you expect in a startup – we were all learning on the fly. Everything did change fairly quickly; it felt almost overnight. Today, things are much more structured, with planning and measurements in place – believe it or not!
In the beginning, we only had two C-model robots. We'd literally walk one around while the other was constantly being developed. I remember those early days of communicating via Skype calls – one person operating the robot from the office while the other walked alongside it outdoors. Looking back, it's incredible how much time we spent just walking around with those robots!
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Over the years, I've taken on various roles within the company, but currently, I serve as a Continuous Improvement Engineer. It's a role that allows me the freedom to pursue tasks that align with my interests, which I find incredibly fulfilling.
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What advice would you give to someone joining Starship?
My advice would be to immerse yourself in the company culture and operations. Take every opportunity to learn and ask questions. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself and embrace new experiences.
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If you could trade jobs with anyone else in the company for a day, who would it be and why?
Definitely not a meeting-filled role, I'd be curious to job shadow someone who works onsite and gets to be in the midst of merchants and people interacting with robots on the ground
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If you could have any superpower to help you with your job, what would it be and how would you use it?
Teleportation for faster lunch breaks sounds tempting! But more seriously, telepathy would be amazing. It could make it so much easier to communicate complex concepts without misunderstandings.
Any memorable experiences with your colleagues at Starship?
Especially memorable are the moments from our work-related travels. For instance, hiking in San Francisco with our former COO, Allan Martinson, to his favorite mountain. Then there was the time Sandra Beaumont and I belted out Estonian patriotic songs in the back of a U.S. cab on Estonia's birthday – a little loud for a taxi ride, I'm sure! And who could forget Chris Neider's playful banter? He'd constantly pretend to be room service to wake me up in the mornings. Each of these experiences holds a special place in my memory.
In the midst of our usual banter with Chris, inspired by our "Engineering Act of the Week" tradition, we decided to add a humorous twist: the "Scapegoat of the Week. He found a goat picture, I jokingly added his face and the playful exchange began.
Looking ahead, what do you envision for the future of Starship?
Ten years ago, I could not have imagined where we are today. So, I know that I'm probably not any smarter in that sense right now either, and simply don't have the ability to predict the future perfectly. However, I believe the future is full of possibilities, as the industry continues to evolve, I anticipate advancements in robotics and new business ventures.
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