As population in urban centers is poised to grow exponentially, our rail systems play a key role in helping the infrastructure growth in our country.
Mohit Malik, our next pathbreaker, Principal System Engineer at Hitachi Rail, works on Driverless Metro Solutions and advanced signalling technologies.
Mohit talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about the opportunity to lead complex, high-stakes projects from initial concept through to execution, and the challenges involved !
For students, there isn’t a greater satisfaction than seeing a project being commissioned after years of hard work!
Mohit, can you share your background with our young readers?
I Grew up in a middle class family with parents having govt jobs. I eas involved in a few extra curricular activities – Sports (Cricket and Badminton), Singing and Acting.
Coming from a middle-class family where resources were limited but dreams were vast, the only path to reaching my dream job was relentless hard work, focus and determination—and that unwavering drive turned ambition into achievement.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
I did my BTech in Electrical Engineering and Executive Program in leadership and management from IIM Calcutta.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Infrastructural Engineering?
With a surge in engineering graduates, job opportunities became scarce, and competition intensified. To break into the industry, I chose to start as an intern and completed my industrial internship while pursuing my degree.
As part of my engineering program, I undertook a six-month industrial training with Siemens, where I was assigned to the Delhi Metro Project. During this period, I worked closely with the site execution team, gaining hands-on exposure to the fundamentals of metro rail systems and their practical implementation. Under the guidance of experienced engineers, I not only learned the technical aspects of system execution but also developed an appreciation for the precision and discipline required in large-scale infrastructure projects.
At that time, the metro rail industry in India was still emerging, which created an environment of curiosity and enthusiasm among professionals. This collective inquisitiveness motivated me to explore new dimensions of the railway sector that were previously unfamiliar to me. The experience broadened my perspective and sparked a deeper interest in the industry’s potential.
Upon completing my industrial training and subsequently earning my engineering degree, I applied for a position at a competitor company that had a job opening. Given the niche nature of the metro rail industry and the limited availability of skilled professionals, I was entrusted with responsibilities despite my relatively modest experience. This opportunity allowed me to contribute meaningfully while simultaneously expanding my knowledge base. It became a stepping stone for continuous learning and growth in a specialized field where adaptability and eagerness to learn were highly valued.
The key driver behind my career choice was the compelling vision of infrastructure growth in India, a nation rapidly evolving as a developing economy. With urbanization accelerating and government initiatives fueling massive investments in roads, railways, smart cities, and energy projects, I saw a future brimming with opportunity in the Railway sector.
Tell us about your career path
After my BTech, I started my career at Alstom Transport.
I served as a Site Testing and Commissioning Engineer with ALSTOM, where I was responsible for the execution scope of Signaling Systems in the Delhi Metro Project. Our primary clients during this period were metro authority bodies, notably DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) and BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation).
Over the course of five years, my role enabled me to gain extensive hands-on experience across Site Execution, Testing Commissioning, Interface Management and Design Engineering.
This hands-on experience, combined with a rising demand for skilled professionals in this niche sector, ultimately led to a job offer and marked the beginning of my career journey.
As my career progressed, I was presented with new opportunities within the railway industry, which allowed me to broaden my knowledge and explore different phases of the sector across diverse regions. During my assignment on the Singapore Metro Project, I gained valuable experience not only in site execution but also in customer management, working closely with stakeholders to ensure project success.
After acquiring insights from this international exposure, I returned to India and took on the role of Team Leader at Bombardier. In this capacity, I successfully built and guided a team, applying the skills and lessons learned abroad to make a more substantial contribution to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Project. This transition marked a significant step in my career, enabling me to combine technical expertise with leadership and customer-focused delivery.
How did you get your first break?
Internship in my first company and working with industrial professionals thereby increasing network and knowledge, helped in getting my first break.
Upon completing my industrial training and subsequently earning my engineering degree, I applied for a position at a competitor company that had a job opening. Given the niche nature of the metro rail industry and the limited availability of skilled professionals, I was entrusted with responsibilities despite my relatively modest experience. This opportunity allowed me to contribute meaningfully while simultaneously expanding my knowledge base. It became a stepping stone for continuous learning and growth in a specialized field where adaptability and eagerness to learn were highly valued.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: Deciding to enter the profession of a niche Industry.
How I addressed – By talking to Industry professionals and understanding the vision of companies.
Challenge 2: Time Management and Deadliness.
How I addressed – Balancing multiple tasks, tight deadlines, and unexpected issues can be stressful but with the focused approach and trusting my mentors it was possible to achieve targets.
Challenge 3: Navigating Workplace Culture.
How I addressed – Understanding company norms, hierarchy, and expectations takes time. We had to adjust to formal communication, meetings, and performance reviews.
Where do you work now?
Hitachi Rail is an OEM, and our mandate is to deliver a Driverless Metro Solution for our client, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). I serve as one of the select Technical Managers for System Integration, where my role involves overseeing the seamless coordination of subsystems to ensure successful project execution.
What problems do you solve?
We design Metro Solutions for METRO Rail Projects and manage project executions
What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills?
Technical and Project management skills are required
What’s a typical day like?
A typical day is spent in meetings and working of common goal with customer
Our Clients are Engineers from CMRL and Railway officers.
What is it you love about this job?
The pride to support the infrastructure growth in India
How does your work benefit society?
We are contributing to the growth of the Rail Industry and helping the infrastructure growth in our country.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
Project Commissioning after years of hard work and new metro sections that are inaugurated are always memorable.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
Stay Curious, Be Resilient, Network Wisely and own your journey.
Future Plans?
Continue to contribute towards growth of our economy thereby working in Rail Infrastructure projects.