In the latest instalment of the University of Limerick Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to Micheál Lambe, Senior R&D Engineer at Analog Devices and graduate of UL's BE in Electronic & Computer Engineering.
Micheál reflects on the pivotal moment when he was able to experience the UL campus for the first time and how his course prepared him for an exciting and varied career in electronic engineering.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I come from a small rural parish in north Tipperary. I grew up on a family-run farm, where I still play an active role today. From an early age, I was always more interested in machinery than animals. We had a lot of farm machinery, and we carried out most of the repairs and maintenance work ourselves. I loved learning about how the machines worked and this fascination with how machines worked naturally led me toward a career in engineering.
I attended a small rural primary school which had just thirteen pupils in total across the 8 classes when I was in 6th class. After primary school, I attended Portumna Community School in County Galway and completed my Leaving Cert in 2012 before starting at UL later that year.
Why did you choose to study Electronic and Computer Engineering at UL?
I always knew I wanted to study engineering, but by the time I was doing my Leaving Cert, I wasn’t sure which field to specialize in. I considered biomedical, mechanical, electronic, and aeronautical engineering.
Fortunately, several universities in Ireland offered a generic engineering program in first year, allowing students to choose a specialization from second year onward. That approach suited me, so I decided to pursue a general engineering course for first year before narrowing my focus.
Once I made that decision, the next step was choosing a university. UL quickly stood out because of its 8-month work placement program, which was one of the best in the country at the time. Attending the UL Open Day in October during my Leaving Cert year was a pivotal moment. Seeing the campus firsthand, speaking with current students and lecturers, and learning about the engineering program gave me a real sense of what studying at UL would be like.
I can’t emphasize enough how valuable it is to attend Open Days when considering universities. Reading course brochures or browsing university websites is helpful, but nothing compares to experiencing the campus atmosphere, speaking to people in the course, and getting a feel for student life. Plus, I got to experience UL’s nightlife while visiting, which was an added bonus!
What did you enjoy most about the course?
The Electronic & Computer Engineering course struck a great balance between theoretical learning and hands-on lab work. Our studies were divided into three main components: lectures, tutorials, and labs.
While the lectures were essential for understanding the theory, the real excitement came in the lab sessions, where we designed, built, and tested electronic circuits. Seeing the theory come to life in a practical setting was incredibly enjoyable. We also had fantastic lab technicians who provided great support and guidance throughout our projects.
Can you tell me about your Co-Op experience/work placement and your FYP/thesis?
My Co-Op experience was fantastic. I was lucky enough to secure a placement with Boston Scientific in Galway. I jumped at the chance to move to a new city and experience life in a multinational company.
As a Co-Op engineer, I worked on a variety of tasks, gaining exposure to multiple projects from working with production equipment in cleanrooms to writing code for some systems. It was a great opportunity to develop real-world engineering skills while also earning some money for a few months!
For my FYP, I combined my passion for farming and technology by developing a prototype device that could track cattle movements and alert farmers if an animal’s behaviour was unusual or if it strayed beyond its designated boundary. This project allowed me to apply multiple aspects of my coursework to a real-world problem.
I developed both an Android application and a small prototype tracking device, which gave me hands-on experience with embedded programming. The project presented its fair share of challenges, but the support from my FYP supervisor and academic staff was invaluable. The experience reinforced my problem-solving skills and deepened my technical knowledge.
What did you enjoy about UL? What is student life like there?
UL student life was incredible. Because the university is located outside the city, most students lived close to campus rather than being spread across the city, as is common in other universities. This created a strong sense of community and friends were rarely living too far away.
The campus itself was fantastic, with plenty of open spaces and pitches for students to play hurling or kick a football around in the evenings. It was a great way to unwind and socialize with friends. I have very fond memories of sunny afternoons spent doing this. UL also had a great social scene. There were any number of clubs and societies to join as well as a great student bar in the Stables!
How did your studies prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?
UL provided me with a very well-rounded education that prepared me for a career in electronic engineering. The combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on lab work gave me the technical skills I needed, while the 8-month work placement was particularly valuable.
It allowed me to gain real-world experience, understand how large companies operate, and transition smoothly into a graduate engineering role. When I started my career at Analog Devices, I felt confident in my abilities thanks to the solid foundation I had built at UL.
Tell us about your career journey so far.
I joined Analog Devices in July 2016, just two months after finishing at UL, and I’ve been here ever since. Almost nine years later, my role continues to evolve, and every day brings new challenges.
Over the years, I’ve held multiple roles and worked on several exciting projects across the company. I’ve also had lots of opportunity to travel - whether it’s visiting customers, attending trade shows, or collaborating with teams in other company offices.
In addition, I’m nearing completion of an Executive MBA at UCD Michael Smurfit Business School. As my career progressed, I became more interested in how business decisions are made—why certain technologies receive investment over others and how company strategy is developed.
Analog Devices has been incredibly supportive of my MBA journey, and the program has provided me with a well-rounded understanding of business operations. I plan to leverage these skills as I move into more business development and management roles.
What advice would you offer to students considering studying Electronic and Computer Engineering at third level, and what career pathways can they expect?
My biggest piece of advice is to speak with as many people as possible, whether they are current or former students, university lecturers, or engineers working in the field. Getting firsthand insights can help you make an informed decision about your course and career path.
I also highly recommend attending Open Days and talking to students and lecturers to get a real sense of what a course involves. Don’t limit yourself to just one university’s Open Day - exploring multiple options will give you a broader perspective on what’s available.
Are there any lessons or insights you wish you had known when starting your career?
To be honest, I wouldn’t say there’s anything I wish I had known in advance - I’ve learned so much along the way. However, I’d reiterate the importance of networking and speaking with people in the industry.
Connecting with those who have already completed the course you’re considering is one of the best ways to understand what to expect and ensure you’re making the right choice for your future.