Career pivots, passion projects, helpful mentors: Growth is part of the job for these engineers

When you feel your career needs fresh momentum, all it takes is speaking up.

That is exactly what Mr Wong Sheng Ye did, after eight years of working on flight simulation and network infrastructure projects at the

Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)

.

“I told the management that while I had learnt a lot where I was, I wanted to move into a new field to broaden my horizons,” says Mr Wong, 36.

To his surprise, they offered him not one, but multiple roles to choose from.

“It’s not often that an organisation can be so open about employees wanting to change roles,” he says.

“To allow me to do so, they would have to find people to take over my previous role. This shows that the DSTA management truly cares about what we do and the diverse opportunities that we have here.”

Mr Wong was eventually appointed deputy head of the Cloud Adoption team, which is part of DSTA’s Infocomm Infrastructure Programme Centre. He helps project teams in the Singapore Armed Forces adopt and onboard cloud technologies – a major pivot from his previous role.

The transition meant having to learn many things from scratch – but he appreciates being able to count on DSTA’s strong support system.

“When I first joined, the team organised a training session for me,” says Mr Wong.

“The leaders of the different cloud initiatives had one-on-one sessions to guide me on what they were doing and answered all my questions to get me up to speed.”

That same level of support also helped his colleague, Ms Wong Shu Qi, 26, grow her career in new ways.

Fresh out of university, she joined DSTA’s Advanced Systems Programme Centre in 2022, working on the Republic of Singapore Navy’s next generation of radar systems.

Just three years into the job, she has already travelled to France four times with the project team.

Working on radar systems is complex; it requires coordination with dozens of people – a pace and rhythm that did not come naturally to Ms Wong at first.

“I’m quite an introvert, so the job has really challenged me to be more confident, especially with people that I’m not familiar with,” she says.

Like many others at DSTA, both Mr Wong and Ms Wong credit their growth to caring mentors who encouraged them to go beyond their comfort zones and pick up new skills.

This is what sets the organisation apart among

Singapore’s best employers

in a

list by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista

.

Mentors who matter

Throughout his career, Mr Wong has been shaped by three mentors – each leaving a distinct impact on his growth as an engineer and a leader.

The first mentor patiently walked him through the complexities of network infrastructure, explaining the details until he fully understood them.

The second led with trust, giving Mr Wong and his teammates the autonomy to make decisions – and mistakes – and creating a psychologically safe space where they felt empowered to take ownership.

His current mentor challenges him in new ways, often pushing him into uncharted territory, encouraging him to approach problems from wider perspectives.

Mr Wong explains: “His tough-love approach got me to think more strategically, which is important as we climb up the career ladder.”

For Ms Wong, having good mentorship helped her navigate the steep learning curve when she first joined DSTA as a new engineer.

When she started off, she had to conduct overseas inspections, which involved reviewing radar systems and flagging potential design flaws.

“I was unfamiliar with project management and the technical aspects of radar systems,” she says.

One mentor helped to guide her through the complex tasks – not by simplifying the work, but by sharpening her strategic thinking skills.

“He showed me what to look out for, so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed by all the details,” she says.

Now, Ms Wong’s mentors are nudging her towards the next step – a role in leadership.

“Sometimes it’s scary,” she admits, “but learning from mistakes is how we grow. I’ve learnt to be more resilient and to solve problems from different angles.”

Built for teamwork and creative sparks

The same spirit of support that defines mentorship at DSTA also drives how teams work – openly, face-to-face and focused on solving problems together.

“Instead of sending e-mails, we just book a room to thrash it out and discuss the solutions,” says Mr Wong.

“Even if we disagree with one another, we will go for coffee afterwards as friends. This is something I value a lot, and it makes it fun and enriching to work here.”

Ms Wong‘s projects are equally collaborative – often involving interactions and problem solving with multiple project teams from different programme centres at DSTA.

As part of the team developing radar systems for the Republic of Singapore Navy, she works closely with colleagues handling electro-optics and guided weapons to ensure that systems integrate seamlessly during operations. With many teams involved, building trust is critical.

That camaraderie does not end when the day ends – sometimes it carries into karaoke nights, a game of pool or friendly rounds on the basketball machines at DSTA’s mini arcade zone.

These shared spaces help DSTA build cohesion among colleagues, which is vital when navigating complex, high-stakes work.

Employees are also encouraged to pursue side innovation projects – ideas that reflect their passions or problems they want to solve.

On top of her main duties, Ms Wong is experimenting with ways to enhance the capability of radar systems through the use of artificial intelligence.

“My mentors give me the time to work on my innovation project, and even avoid scheduling meetings during that time,” she says.

Mr Wong, too, is developing a proof-of-concept initiative that could reduce administrative paperwork.

“Management encourages us to step out of our comfort zones, try something new, and see where it takes us,” he says.

“That’s why people here aren’t afraid to take that first step.”

Read more about Singapore’s Best Employers 2025.