New Grad Charges Into Electrical Vehicle Safety

NTU Engineering’s new graduates are stepping into exciting roles at leading companies, both locally and abroad. Today, we spotlight Tan Shi Jun, who has gone from the halls of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) to advancing electric-vehicle safety at Norway’s US$3 billion global assurance company, Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

 DNV, headquartered in Høvik near Oslo, Norway, operates its Asia-Pacific headquarters out of Singapore

NTU alum Tan Shi Jun stacked up an impressive list of leadership roles and internships during his time at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Yet he still had to pinch himself when he landed a job at Norwegian MNC Det Norske Veritas (DNV) upon graduation mid-year 2025.

“I always thought I’d start with an average job and average company and work my way up,” he recalled. “Beginning my career at a major firm like DNV made me proud. I really couldn’t believe it at first.”

Tan credited this breakthrough to having both technical expertise and soft skills. His ability to communicate, collaborate, and adapt was the standout feature that helped win over his future employers. 

“The team lead told me they really appreciated the soft skills I demonstrated during the interview,” Tan explained. “They felt those were even more important than technical skills, which can be picked up along the way. Soft skills, on the other hand, take much longer to develop.”

The MAE grad currently serves as a protocol test consultant specialising in electric vehicle (EV) charger certification. He works with manufacturers to ensure their chargers meet international safety and performance standards.

For Tan, each EV charger reveals something new about its design and programming logic

His work combines technical testing and client support. His team runs certification tests, examines results, and guides manufacturers to meet compliance standards. Once approved, they help finalise certification. During this time, Tan must collaborate with both his team and his clients while executing on technical knowledge.

“Every charger has a different design and a different interaction process, which I think is something that’s very interesting as an engineer,” he said. “It is fascinating to understand the different charger designs and their programming. I’m constantly learning.”

Tan’s other motivation behind working with EV chargers is his belief that rigorous testing and certification can help prevent tragic incidents and ensure that only safe, reliable EV chargers reach the public.

Although EVs are less likely to catch fire than conventional vehicles, about 15 percent of EV battery fires occur while the vehicle is connected to a charger, according to some estimates. And when such fires do occur, they can be unpredictable - burning hotter, reigniting hours later, or requiring specialised techniques to fully extinguish.

For the next year, the NTU grad plans to grow his skillset and network. The company operates in more than 100 countries and partners with leading names across the energy, maritime, and technology sectors, giving him many cultures, industries and opportunities to learn from.

Despite his excitement for the future, Tan remains nostalgic about his NTU years. It’s a time he credits with shaping both his character and his career path.

Tan with his family at NTU convocation.

“What I miss most about NTU are actually my friends,” he shared. “We still keep in touch, but it’s different from those days of seeing each other every day, chatting, and working on projects together.”

“I was fortunate to hold a few leadership positions and watch my juniors go through their university journey,” he added. “My advice to them is simple: yes, studies are indeed important, but so are the soft skills.”

As for the advice he would go back and give his first-year self, walking into the halls of MAE?

“Just enjoy the process,” he noted.

Story by Laura Dobberstein, NTU College of Engineering