In our regular column highlighting the life and careers of new RAeS Members and Fellows, we interview Senior Manager, Aerospace and Defence team, Synopsis/Ansys, Valerio Viti.
Name: Valerio Viti
Grade: Fellow
Age: 50
Location: New Hampshire, US
Job title: Senior Manager, Aerospace and Defence team, Synopsis/Ansys
What inspired you into aerospace? It all started from watching some of the Space Shuttle launches on TV during the news as a child, when individual space launches were still news! And what cemented the passion, dare I say it, was watching movies, like Top Gun. I believe that the original movie might have grown the cohorts of recruits for pilots, astronauts and aero engineers more than any other single campaign by air forces.
What’s the best thing about your current role? Currently, I am managing an extremely talented team of engineers at Synopsys/Ansys that use engineering simulation tools to address technical problems in the aerospace sector that have a significant impact on business outcomes safety, and national security. For example, when we encounter a challenging technical problem with our customers or peers, we always ask ourselves: ‘Can I accurately simulate this real-life phenomenon using the current state-of-the-art physics simulation tools?’ The simulation needs to be in the service of solving an actual, relevant problem. So, intricately connected with the technology-related question, we also ask ourselves a more business-related question: ‘What is the societal or business impact of our solution? Are we improving a design and its performance or are we making a manufacturing process leaner and cheaper? Is the final product more reliable and, ultimately, what is the time or money savings that I am achieving, or what additional capabilities am I adding to my quiver that will set us apart?’ Throughout this process, the team’s curiosity, creativity and passion for the industry and for the technology we are using are essential to achieve success.
What made you join the RAeS? I was a student member of the RAeS when I was an undergraduate at City University in London, and I loved the networking that the student membership facilitated. I particularly remember a student challenge event hosted by the RAeS at Hamilton Place. The challenge was to design and build a paper glider to safely transport an egg the longest distance using only the provided sheets of paper. The whole day was a blast, and the event was extremely useful in meeting other student members from other universities, and, in the evening, to mingle with the senior members during the reception. So, these fond memories definitely played a role in me joining the RAeS. There is also the visibility and usefulness that RAeS events have in the aerospace community.
What do you hope to get out of your registration with the RAeS? My main focus is to be better connected to what is going on in the UK aerospace sector. Being a member of the RAeS, reading the magazine, receiving the emails with their upcoming events, and participating in as many events as my schedule allows are all great ways to stay informed and build my network.
What three items would you take with you to the space station? I would bring a tablet to watch YouTube (what an incredible source of useful, and less so, information!), a book (probably something from Herman Hesse) and binoculars to look down at the Earth.
Who is your biggest inspiration? My father, for sure, in terms of life guidance and how to carry myself. Professionally, I am fortunate to have an incredibly talented cohort of college and graduate school friends who provide inspiration and guidance. Recently, I was sitting on a panel at a conference in Washington DC, discussing hypersonic technology. Out of the five panellists, four of us were from the same graduate programme and adviser at Virginia Tech, Professor Joseph Schetz. So, I just look around me and it is not difficult to find incredibly inspiring characters.
Piece of advice for someone looking to enter your field? Follow your passion but be realistic. If you have a long-term goal and you are passionate about it, all the hardships that you will encounter and all the hard work you will have to do will make sense, through good and bad weather but also, be realistic. Just because we want something, does not mean we can always get it!