From starting your career to returning home

He joined the company straight after leaving school, later studied, took new paths - and finally returned. In this interview, Thomas explains how his early construction site experience still shapes him today, why "detours" can be valuable and why the step back into the Group feels right for him.

Thomas, your career path is closely linked to STRABAG. How did it all begin - and where are you today?

Thomas: After leaving school, I joined STRABAG directly in 2009, more precisely at TPA Gesellschaft für Qualitätssicherung und Innovation GmbH. I worked there as an environmental chemist until 2015. I've been back at STRABAG since February 2026 - now in the role of construction site consultant.

How did you originally come to STRABAG?

Thomas: I found out about the job through an acquaintance of my parents who worked at STRABAG. I was familiar with the Group itself, but initially less so with TPA. Over time, I was able to experience how TPA works as a competence center for asphalt, concrete, earthworks and geotechnical engineering within STRABAG SE and in building materials technology in the construction industry.

During my time as an environmental chemist, I spent a lot of time on construction sites, taking soil samples and testing them for possible contamination in the laboratory. The aim was to find out whether materials could be reused or had to be disposed of properly.

You started your career straight after school. What was your next step?

Thomas: Thanks to my training at a vocational school specializing in chemistry, I was able to start working as an environmental chemist straight away. After more than six years at STRABAG, I decided to study cultural engineering and water management.

After my studies, I worked for a civil engineer in the field of flood protection and drainage for around one and a half years, then as a project manager in waste management. When jobs were cut there, I applied to STRABAG again and returned to the company.

What made you decide to study after several years of professional experience?

Thomas: (laughs) It wasn't a cold, windy day on the construction site. The idea of studying was never actually planned, but it was always there. Some of my schoolmates had taken this path and I noticed that it opened up a lot of opportunities for them.

I then looked at various fields of study and ultimately decided on cultural engineering and water management.

Today you work in construction site digitization. What does your day-to-day work look like?

Thomas: I work in project management and work in development teams on software and hardware solutions for construction sites. Our aim is to further develop these solutions together with the construction sites and implement them in a practical way.

We collect feedback from operational practice, decide on further implementation and act as an interface between the construction site, IT and development.

Are there any parallels between your previous job and your current role?

Thomas: The activities are very different, but both are service roles and not operational roles. My many years of construction site experience and the network that I built up in my first six and a half years at STRABAG are very helpful today. I still benefit from that.

What do you particularly appreciate about working in a large corporation after your return?

Thomas: I am now familiar with both smaller structures and the large corporation. What helped me most at STRABAG was that I was already familiar with the basic structures and processes, which made it much easier to find my way around, especially at the beginning.
The onboarding for my new role was very well organized. Even though the first few weeks were intensive with many new contacts, a lot of emphasis was placed on exchange, networking and the identification of interfaces.

I am currently particularly looking forward to upcoming projects, such as the planning and implementation of the AI roadshow in Germany and Austria - an exciting addition to everyday office life and a good opportunity to actively support the operational units.

Did you also meet up with former colleagues after your return?

Thomas: I now work at a different location than I used to, but I have stayed in touch with some colleagues over the years. I have met others again by chance, for example during lunch breaks.

What advice would you give to young people at the start of their career - and to those who are considering a change of direction?

Thomas: Sometimes it's hard to imagine what a job description entails. My experience is that trying things out, doing things and keeping an open mind often leads to exactly where it fits.

Thank you very much for your exciting insights into your career path. Welcome back, Thomas!