Meet the Team: Thomas Stimson

Meet the Team: Thomas Stimson 

For Thomas Stimson, being an Automation Engineer at ASA is all about the challenge. Each day brings a new set of problems to solve, and he finds genuine satisfaction in working through them, step by step, until the solution clicks into place. 

He’s not one to boast about achievements, but Thomas is looking forward to the completion of the offline work for an upcoming automation project. If his contributions play even a small part in its success, he’ll count that as a win. 

Life at ASA keeps him on his toes. Some mornings begin in the office, others on site, but one thing is certain, it’s always an early start, with a clear list of tasks to see through. That steady rhythm gives him the structure he needs to focus on what matters most, moving projects forward. 

Ask him about his favourite robot, and he doesn’t hesitate. “The FANUC P-700 paint robot on a rail,” he says. “It’s just very cool.” It’s a straightforward answer that says a lot about what drives him: an appreciation for the blend of power, precision, and smart engineering that robotics makes possible. 

Thomas is also energised by the future. He talks about automation’s growing ability to take on increasingly complex tasks, producing components that are more sophisticated than ever before. In his view, technology is set to push past its current limits — and he’s keen to be part of that journey. 

Of course, it’s not always about the big, headline-grabbing projects. Sometimes it’s the smaller contributions that make the difference, like the time he re-calibrated vision for a plug cell, freeing up senior engineers to tackle critical priorities. Those moments may not sound glamorous, but they’re the backbone of real progress. 

When asked what advice he’d give someone starting out in the industry, Thomas doesn’t overcomplicate it: “Become a sponge and be prepared to learn.” University gives you a foundation, but it can’t capture the nuances of the role. The real growth happens on the job.