From first jobs to mid-career pivots: These public officers found the right fit at HTX

A robotics lab that doubles as a hangout spot. A midcareerist in a table tennis game with the CEO. When work and play converge, a culture of fun and collaboration develops.
 
And that is the formula necessary for driving innovation in an organisation like the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), where

science and technology are leveraged to enhance public safety an

d security.

For these two officers, HTX has become more than a workplace – it is a community where

bold ideas take flight

and meaningful connections are made. It is no wonder that the agency is one of

Singapore’s best employers

, as

ranked by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista

.

Seeking meaning in midlife career switch

On weekdays, from 9am to 6pm, Ms Cheryl Tan deep dives into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and helps drive national-level tech initiatives at HTX.

Come Friday, the 43-year-old trades her work gear for a paddle, expertly exchanging shots with colleagues from the Table Tennis Community of Interest – one of the many activities staff can join during HTX’s weekly Feel Good Fridays, a time set aside to relax, recharge and connect with each other.

In 2025, Ms Tan represented HTX at the Home Team’s annual sports tournament. Despite the stiff competition, the HTX team clinched its third consecutive table tennis championship title.

“We work hard and play hard – even our chief executive officer and deputy chief executives play table tennis,” says Ms Tan with a laugh. “I never imagined bonding with senior management in this way.”

It is this culture of camaraderie and purpose at HTX that she finds meaningful.

Prior to joining, Ms Tan built a diverse career spanning two decades, at the Singapore Exchange, British bank Barclays and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, where she held various roles in tech strategy and digital innovation.

One and a half years ago, a moment of reflection pushed her to seek something more fulfilling.

“I’d worked for 20 years, and I had another 20 to go, but I didn’t want to keep doing the same thing,” she recalls. “I asked myself: ‘How could I be doing more with my knowledge and experience?’”

A computer engineering graduate, Ms Tan learnt about HTX in 2023 from a former colleague. “HTX is about solving real problems; this really got me interested.”

Today, as deputy director at HTX’s AI Central, she leads efforts across three key areas: long-term AI masterplanning for the Home Team, ensuring ethical and secure AI governance, and forging strategic collaborations with industry partners and research institutions such as Google, Meta, Amazon, A*Star and local universities.

“I get to shape the future of AI, build trusted systems, and work with some of the brightest minds in tech – all while contributing to national security. It’s incredibly meaningful.”

Supportive work environment by design

HTX’s work culture has also been a perfect fit for Ms Tan’s family life. A mother of two children in Primary 4 and 6, she values the flexibility that allows her to be present, both at home and at work.

“HTX has been really accommodating in terms of home and work balance. When my kids are at home and my parents can’t watch them, I would take meetings over a call.”

She adds that everyone is also considerate about not scheduling meetings too early in the morning, giving their colleagues the space to manage their family commitments.

“This is not spelt out in the employee’s handbook but something we practise,” notes Ms Tan.
 
Teams are also organised to cover one another. “Both my director and I have a second-in-charge,” she adds. “I know that if I have to take time off work, nothing will collapse. Recently, the school called to inform me my son was unwell and I was able to quickly ask someone to cover for me and take a few hours off work.”

Ms Tan believes employees today are looking for more than just fair pay – they also want work that aligns meaningfully with their own values and priorities. “The work has to matter. Purpose is just as important as pay. HTX offers both. It helps that HTX pays competitively,” she says.

Her advice for other midcareerists: “I always encourage people who are making a switch to be clear about what they’re passionate about and why it matters to them.”  

Introverted engineer finds his tribe and space to grow

For Mr Joseph Wong, the lab is his second home. By day, this open-concept multi-purpose space at HTX’s office hums with activity. Filled with soldering tools and robotics gear, it is the birthplace of cutting-edge technology, equipped with meeting areas and working tables.

After work, the space transforms into a hangout spot. “We order food, play board games and the Nintendo Switch. Sometimes we even bring in a KTV set and sing together in the lab,” says Mr Wong.

The 27-year-old is part of HTX’s Robotics, Automation and Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise, where he works alongside a dedicated team of permanent staff and interns. “In my lab, I work with like-minded people from a similar age group and phase of life. We are comfortable with each other, can joke around and step in to help each other,” he adds. 

This was certainly not what Mr Wong expected when he first joined the organisation: “I was more introverted. I thought my working life would be more transactional: Come into office, do what I do and call it a day.
 
“I was worried I couldn’t connect with my colleagues. Now, they are my close-knit family.”

Not just an entry-level job

As a 3i mechatronics engineer, Mr Wong works with advanced technology which requires testing and evaluation.
 
“We work with cutting-edge technologies, building prototypes and trialling them with Home Team officers,” the engineer explains. “As the technology matures, we collaborate with industry partners to scale for operational deployment, while continuing to enhance capabilities.”
 
One example is HTX’s advanced quadruped robot dog, which is designed to support frontline officers in high-risk or hard-to-reach environments – such as hazardous material incidents or search-and-rescue operations. For this project, the team integrated a robotic arm that moves like a human limb, along with a touch-feedback system. 

As the technology evolves, the aim is to achieve full autonomy. “We’re gathering high-quality robot data to train the robot to perform a wide variety of tasks autonomously,” he says.

Mr Wong is also exploring flapping wing drones – quieter, bird-like machines designed for discreet operations. “With HTX, I get to build technologies that keep our frontline officers safe and augment their operations,” he adds.

Two and half years into his role, Mr Wong is glad to have found a job that helps him develop not only technical skills in robotics, but also soft skills.
 
“I’ve taken a wide range of courses – from technical ones like Architecting on Amazon Web Services to soft skills training such as minute-taking and pitching. I’ve also had the opportunity to organise international events, and all these lessons have helped me grow both as an engineer and as a person,” he says.
 
Mr Wong has also been pleasantly surprised by how approachable and accessible the HTX leadership team is.
 
“I like that the workplace is not hierarchical. We can share any feedback we have with the bosses openly.”

This culture of trust and autonomy, he points out, is what empowers him to stay focused and self-driven.

“Our work arrangement is quite flexible, as long as you get the job done. There is a strong sense of ownership here. If you are driven and willing to push yourself, you can achieve a lot,” he says.

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