Stephen Lee

Certification Engineer, Product Safety/Senior Product at TÜV SÜD

#FutureInYourHands – This motto properly describes how TÜV SÜD empowers its employees. It’s best to hear from TÜV SÜD executives and staff members what their personal experiences are working for TÜV SÜD.

Can you describe your role within the company?
I am a Certification Engineer working for the US Certification Body (UCB), additionally supporting the Quality department. I am responsible for supporting accreditation efforts throughout North America. I support all the product safety engineering teams and labs with quality documentation, and I’m involved in creating and adjusting procedures to make sure that all our engineering teams have the necessary guidance documents in place to follow. I am also the appointed Peabody, MA Headquarters location Safety Officer, assuring first responders are properly trained in CPR, First Aid, and AED use. I supply the headquarters with all the necessary materials to make sure we have what first responders need in the event of an emergency at the company. In the Quality department, I support all the teams and the labs by conducting internal audits and providing support during external audits conducted by our accrediting bodies.

How did you choose this career path?
My career path progressed over time, going from Computer Programming Technician to Product Safety Technician to Certification Engineer. I have been a Certification Engineer with TÜV SÜD for almost 15 years upon a recommendation from an engineer that I had worked with for nearly 20 years. My current position enables me to help people and make a difference. I feel that the support I offer allows me to make sure that our teams have what is needed to perform their jobs properly, and that translates to products being tested correctly. When TÜV SÜD is effective with what we offer and support, manufacturers can then introduce safe quality products into the market for consumers. This job is very rewarding in the fact that I feel like I am making a difference. If I do my job right, then down the line consumers are getting good, safe products.

What do you enjoy most about your job and working at TÜV SÜD?
What I enjoy most is the interaction with all the different groups, watching the effort that we put into making sure that everyone has the tools in place to perform their jobs properly, and how it grows into something better. I enjoy the lab atmosphere as well as the office. We have great teams and when we all work together toward a common goal, it creates something that is very rewarding for the company and most of all for consumers. My immediate teammates, Barry Quinlan, Richard Hatmaker, Nirali Dwinell, and Mac Elliott are also an extreme pleasure to work with and have a wealth of combined knowledge that support all of North America. My job is better because of them and their support.

Is there an engineering-related innovation that you find fascinating, or are inspired by?
I can’t speak specifically to one type of product, but a lot of the medical products coming out today are impressive. New engineering innovations that come through the door that we see, and that we have an opportunity to work with the manufacturers on, to make sure that they are making the product safe are fascinating. There have been so many unique medical innovations recently. It’s an incredible world out there today now that they’re creating more innovative products that help people. I would really point toward medical products as being one of the greatest growth areas for innovation.

When not working, how do you spend your spare time?
For nearly 40 years I’ve studied the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan form of martial arts, including sword forms. I since retired from martial arts in 2009. I also enjoy gardening and yard work; putting things into the earth and watching them grow is very gratifying. The process is very Zen. I also enjoy archery and family time with my wife and children and grandchildren.

Where I live in New Hampshire USA, I am a huge New England Patriots fan. My favorite holidays are Christmas and Halloween. I feel I was put on this earth to help people, as it is what I truly like to do. I was born in Puerto Rico and my mother was a cook for most of her life, so she taught me some of the best Spanish food recipes, which my children love and look forward to each time they come to visit. In 2009, I flew 8,000 miles across our planet to ask my now father-in-law in the Philippines for permission to marry his daughter. It was one of the best days of my life. Now, 10 years later, I get to also enjoy delicious Filipino foods which are very similar to my Spanish culture foods.

Meet more of Our North American Employees

Employee Spotlight: Stephen Lee

Stephen Lee

Certification Engineer, Product Safety/Senior Product at TÜV SÜD

Meet more of Our North American Employees

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