Career Panel: Engineering & Robotics

Synopsis

Engineering and robotics drive the creation of the modern world, turning complex ideas into tangible technology, infrastructure, and automated systems. This panel explores the diverse branches of engineering alongside the rapidly growing robotics sector, highlighting career pathways that span from traditional mechanical and electrical disciplines to cutting-edge software engineering, automation, and smart manufacturing.

Description

Join an open dialogue with engineering and robotics professionals as they share their experiences working across different fields, from mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to robotics, automation, and emerging technologies. Panelists will discuss what their day-to-day work looks like, how engineering drives innovation, and the role robotics plays in shaping the future of industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and beyond.

Hear about the different pathways into engineering and robotics, the technical and problem-solving skills required to succeed, and the opportunities and challenges of working in one of Singapore's key innovation sectors. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse careers available within the engineering and robotics landscape.

Takeaways

• Understand the different disciplines within engineering and robotics

• Learn about career pathways in engineering, automation, robotics, and related technology fields

• Gain insight into the technical, creative, and collaborative skills valued by employers

• Explore the opportunities and challenges of building solutions that shape the future

• Hear firsthand experiences from professionals working in engineering and robotics

Who Should Attend

• Youth under 30 who are curious about careers in engineering and robotics

• Students interested in STEM, engineering, technology, coding, automation, or robotics

• Anyone interested in how engineering and robotics are driving innovation and solving real-world challenges

Panelists

Chong Ing Kai
Co-Founder, Stick’Em

Chong Ing Kai is the Founder and CEO of Stick ’Em, a Singapore-based education technology startup that makes hands-on STEAM and robotics learning more accessible. An engineering graduate from Singapore Polytechnic, he co-founded Stick ’Em as a student, developing affordable robotics kits that use everyday materials such as chopsticks, connectors, motors and sensors to help young people learn engineering through building and problem-solving. 

Ing Kai’s interest in engineering began through hands-on tinkering and robotics competitions, later developing into a focus on using engineering to solve real-world problems. Under his leadership, Stick ’Em won the 2025 Hult Prize, receiving US$1 million in seed funding to scale its work globally. Beyond entrepreneurship, he has also volunteered on assistive technology projects, including adapting toys and mobility devices for persons with disabilities.

 

Wan Nur Sabrina
Robotics Engineer

Wan Nur Sabrina is a Robotics Engineer with over five years of experience specialising in Digital Twin simulations and multi-agent robotics systems. Her work focuses on creating simulation environments that help bridge the gap between real-world business needs and the deployment of autonomous robotic systems.

She holds an MSc in Robotics and AI from the University of Glasgow, supported by the PPIS-LBKM Postgraduate Scholarship as its first recipient. Beyond engineering, Sabrina is passionate about making STEM more accessible and actively mentors young people, particularly encouraging more women and youths to explore opportunities in robotics, engineering, and emerging technologies.

 

Raphael Yee
Director, Griffin Labs

Raphael Yee is the Co-founder and CEO of Griffin Labs, a Singapore-based robotics company developing embodied AI and autonomous robotic systems for real-world environments. His team works across AI, robotics software and hardware to build intelligent machines capable of adapting to complex spaces such as hotels, airports and commercial facilities. 

Before founding Griffin Labs, Raphael was a software engineer at Carousell, where he worked across data, AI and machine learning, and backend systems serving more than 10 million monthly active users. A First Class Honours graduate from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), his journey from software engineering into robotics offers a perspective on the different pathways into engineering and the rapidly evolving field of physical AI.