Patrick Kriengsiri - For the Love of Data
After a successful career in both aerospace and software engineering, Kriengsiri unexpectedly discovered his true love and the springboard that pivoted his life.
When Patrick Kriengsiri talks about his career, you hear the enthusiasm in his voice. There’s an energy in the way he describes what he’s doing and where he’s headed. Someone who genuinely looks forward to diving into his work each day, this enthusiasm propelled him into exploring new professional paths through learning.
After receiving his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2002, Kriengsiri began his career with Lockheed Martin as a senior aerospace engineer. As technology advanced, Kriengsiri advanced with it, ultimately evolving into a principal software engineer with Siemens.
“It might seem like an odd place for someone with an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering,” Kriengsiri shared. “But it was a pretty natural transition – the product I was working on for Siemens was one I used as an aerospace engineer with Lockheed Martin. The skill set I had developed as an undergraduate allowed me to easily transition from using the software to writing it.”
Becoming a Double Jacket
Little did he know, a chance request for advice from an acquaintance would trigger another transition. “I received a text from a friend who had learned about Georgia Tech's Online Master of Science (OMS) in Analytics degree and wanted my opinion as a Tech alum,” Kriengsiri recalled. “I wasn’t familiar with the program, but after doing a bit of research, I realized the program was actually a very good fit for my own career goals. At the time, I was trying to implement off-the-shelf machine learning (ML) solutions at Siemens but had realized to be truly effective, I needed a better fundamental understanding of how the technologies worked.”
And so, 18 years after receiving his undergraduate degree from Tech, a fortuitous text and the realization that he needed more technical knowledge led him to return to Georgia Tech to pursue an OMS Analytics degree.
The unexpected outcome of Kriengsiri's new studies was the realization of how much he loved working with data. Whether as a junior structural engineer dealing with billions of data points to define the flight envelope of an aircraft or as an oil and gas consultant providing similar solutions for the analysis of oil rigs, data had been the constant in his career.
“OMS Analytics made me realize I had always been drawn to and enjoyed working with data in all my jobs," he stated. "Going through the program and applying what I learned, I knew I wanted to make data the focus of my career moving forward. So while I started OMS Analytics to supplement my current career, it ended up being the springboard to pivot into the next.”
Lecturing at Georgia Tech
After graduating with his OMS Analytics degree, Kriengsiri decided to take a sabbatical and explore more data-driven careers and roles. When an opportunity to join Georgia Tech in a teaching capacity arose, Kriengsiri accepted a position as an instructional associate in the Applied Analytics program and moved to the other side of the lectern. Sharing what he learned as a student in OMS Analytics, he encourages students to choose at least one class that pushes them from either a technical or comfort standpoint. "It will give you a better understanding of just what you're capable of", he shared.
One course he recommends is 'Human Computer Interaction', part of the Computer Science curriculum. "From the course description, it sounds like it's about effective user interfaces, but it has a lot more to do with how we, as humans, process information," Kriengsiri stated.
"Having a solid understanding of that process will make you a more effective communicator. The best analytical solution to a problem is worthless unless you can convey its values and merits to others."
Continuing His Education
Kriengsiri has since returned to Siemens as a principal software and ML architect — and has become a Tech student once again, this time pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science with a specialization in human-computer interaction (the same class he recommends to analytics students).
“This is an exciting and fulfilling time in my life, and it all began with my decision to return to Tech for my OMS Analytics degree," he stated. "So many possibilities have opened for me. It has provided incredible opportunities to enhance what I’d learned in my previous careers and build skills that are truly portable across much wider fields.”
Credits
Writer: Laurel-Ann Dooley
Editor: Teresa Daniel
Digital Producer: Kat Bell
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