David Willingham

Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) in the field of Electrical and Computer Systems

Are there any other notable experiences from your time at Monash you’d like to share?

Monash University supported my wish to explore international education opportunities including an exchange placement in Singapore and an exchange program at the University of Technology in Sweden during my undergraduate studies. In both instances, I received course credit as well as financial aid from the university, without which I would not have been able to pursue them whilst completing my degree.

I’d like to make special mention to my thesis supervisor, Adjunct Associate Professor Brian Lithgow, whose mentorship helped guide me at a critical time in my studies.

If you could tell your graduate self one piece of career advice what would it be and why?

No matter where you are in your career, be sure to:

• Work for a company with core values that fill you with a sense of purpose.
• Surround yourself with people who believe in what you believe and will always be there to support you.

Remember that career success is defined by how your work has a positive impact on others, not by how many individual achievements or financial rewards you accumulate along the way.

What are the top 3 skills you need in your role as a Deep Learning Product Manager?

A Product Manager is responsible for determining market needs and problems and navigate how to build solutions to address them. Some of those problems are well known and quite visible, others are not as the market evolves quite rapidly. The skills required are:

• A willingness to explore, be curious and never stop learning;
• The ability to communicate why something matters and bring others on the journey with you;
• Technically, an educational background in AI and applied experience in using AI to find solutions to unsolved problems.

Tell us about your experience since leaving Monash: how has your career progressed to date? Any professional achievements you’d like to share?

I’ve worked at MathWorks for over 14 years and before that a local reseller of the same software for 2.5 years. My professional achievements include joining MathWorks in Sydney via their Engineering Development Group program in 2006, being able to transition to other roles at MathWorks in Sydney, starting as a Training Engineer, then as an Application Engineer for over 10 years. I have recently taking a role in Product Marking for Deep Learning in the head office of MathWorks in Natick Massachusetts USA.

In addition to the roles, I’ve also been able to work with a variety of amazing, talented and passionate engineers. Some of them pioneers in the fields, such as the Founder and Chief Mathematician at MathWorks, Cleve Moler.

How has your technical and operational experience assisted you in your role?

Engineers are taught to find innovative and creative solutions to solving problems. I learnt to apply this from my first year at Monash University and continue to do so today.

Monash helped me understand the technical foundations of what is being used in a variety of different applications across multiple industries.

My time as a Training and Application Engineer, allowed me to amass years of applied experience working with engineers across multiple industries, understanding the problems they’re trying to solve and applications they’re building. These industries include Automotive, Aerospace, Energy Production, Mining, Biotech, Medical, Technical Software and more.

The applied experience gained gave me the confidence to take on the latest role of Product Manager for Deep Learning at MathWorks.

What are some of your passions and interests?

I have always been a fan of travel and have an interest in knowing more about the world we live in and exploring other cultures. I’ve been fortunate enough to have opportunities to live, learn and work all around Australia and in other countries, first through my time at Monash University and then with a career at MathWorks. Now I’m living in the USA, I’ve been able share this passion with my wife and young family.