Meet Enya, one of the forces behind project administration at ICS Medical Devices.  Enya shares more about her role in at ICS, and a little more about herself!

• What is your role at ICS Medical Devices, and how long have you been working here?

My role is Project Administrator and I started with ICS Medical back in January 2023.

• Working with many projects, how do you stay organized and prioritise tasks?

Task wise, to start off my day I like to make a list of all the tasks that I have to complete. I will then organize these tasks into a sense of urgency, importance and if there are any deadlines to be met. Breaking down larger tasks into smaller more manageable ones is a great way to ensure that I am working productively and proactively throughout the day.

To ensure that I am staying organized and keeping track of everything, I use Trello – which is super helpful. Its also very satisfying to see all your tasks in the “completed” section at the end of the day! I also think having clear communication with your coworkers is important, especially letting them know if any task priorities change.

• How does your role contribute to the company’s overall success?

My role ensures that we have smooth project execution here at ICS Medical. Usually assisting in the allocation of resources, tracking schedules and timesheets, managing budgets, report analysis, documentation, communication with customers and accounts receivable.

• What skills and qualities have helped you in your role?

Some skills and qualities that I believe to be crucial for my role here at ICS are:

Communication – this allows me to foster relationships with team members and coordinate tasks.

Organization – extremely important when keeping track of multiple projects

Attention to detail – helpful for accuracy in documentation and identifying any issues before they escalate. I do think that having a background in ISM is helpful for the tech side of my job as I work with Excel quite a lot, its also helpful when using other tech platforms.

• Can you share an interesting or fun fact about yourself that others may not know?

A fact about me is that I come from a big farming background! Growing up on a farm, breathing in the country air and exploring rural life was honestly indescribable. Theres nothing I love more than pulling on my wellies at the weekend to help out my dad on the farm – seeing the little lambs running around in the fields is an absolute delight that we often take for granted.

For me, growing up farming and seeing my dads work ethic set me up learning and developing skills that can be used in my job today. There was a slight hiccup in farm life at the age of 12 when I fell off a quad on the farm and broke my collar bone, but at the end of the day, its all a learning curve. Banned from farm life by my mom for a time, but we are back at it again!

Shivani began at ICS Medical in 2022 in the role of Product Builder. Since then she was promoted to Graduate Engineer and now works in the design group. Below, Shivani shares more about her day-to-day at ICS and a little more about herself.

• What is your role at ICS Medical Devices, and how has it changed since you began at ICS?

I started as a Product Builder in August 2022, and within 6 months I was promoted to Graduate Engineer. Currently, I am part of the design group at ICS Medical Devices. As a design engineer, I work on projects in their design phase which involves process development, and process setup, and help bring the design from paper to the physical structure.

• How did you find yourself in this role? What interested you in this field of work?

Ever since high school, I was curious about how medical devices work and was keen on learning about the fundamentals which made me choose biomedical engineering as my career path. In August 2022 I graduated from NUIG with a level 8 in biomedical engineering and I was actively looking for jobs. I was offered the role of Product Builder in ICS and I saw this as an opportunity to grow in and learn about the medical device industry.

• What do you like most about working at ICS?

Working at ICS is a unique experience for me as an engineer. I frequently encounter challenges that help me develop and learn from my mistakes. However, in the end, it is highly rewarding to witness the progress of both myself and the project and to see how we are achieving success. Moreover, I am surrounded by talented and dedicated colleagues who are always willing to lend a helping hand or share their expertise. This sense of teamwork and continuous progress makes it an exciting place to work.

• What skills do you think someone should possess when applying for a job at ICS?

In my opinion, to be part of ICS, the individual should be able to adapt to changes quickly and have a collaborative mindset to bring success to the customer and the company.

• What do you like to do in your free time? Any passions or hobbies?

I am passionate about home cooking and experimenting with new recipes. I enjoy cooking recipes from various cuisines, and I occasionally bake.
Aside from satisfying my taste buds, I enjoy painting, which helps me unwind from my busy schedule.

Dion Gallagher has worked in ICS Medical since 2022 in the position of Principal Design Engineer. With over 16 years experience in the industry, Dion tells us more about his role.

• What is your role at ICS? What does your day-to- day look like?

As a Principal Engineer at ICS Medical Devices, I play a pivotal role in overseeing the successful completion of ICS Medical Device programs. I serve as the primary liaison between ICS and our customers, providing comprehensive guidance and technical support throughout the entire product development lifecycle. Additionally, I lead customer design input, supporting the advancement of ICS’s technical capabilities to ensure we consistently deliver world-class design solutions to our valued customers. Simultaneously, I mentor and foster the growth of our technical engineering team, nurturing their expertise and contributing to their continuous development.

• How did you find yourself in this role?

After working for approximately 16 years in the contract Design Services department at Creganna Medical, a few of my colleagues from that time established ICS Medical, a company dedicated to developing innovative front-end solutions for their customers. Their commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer focus resonated with me, and I made the decision to join ICS Medical in 2022.

• What do you like about working at ICS?

I like the lively and forward-thinking culture at ICS Medical, providing a platform where I can actively participate in groundbreaking advancements in front-end medical device technologies. From complex structural heart devices to the precision-driven therapy areas of electrophysiology, neurovascular interventions, and innovative smart catheters, the scope of innovation at ICS Medical is inspiring.

• Can you tell us about an interesting or challenging project you have worked on since joining ICS?

At ICS Medical, I was involved in the development of a compelling and intricate device—a Tricuspid Valve Delivery System designed to address Tricuspid Regurgitation (TR). TR is a cardiac valve disorder marked by the reverse flow of blood from the right ventricle to the right atrium during the cardiac cycle. Typically, the tricuspid valve maintains a unidirectional blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle, preventing any backward leakage. In cases of severe tricuspid regurgitation, the valve fails to close effectively, leading to the undesired backward flow of blood.

• Outside of work, how do you like to spend your free time?

I’m an outdoor enthusiast, I enjoy spending time travelling around in my self-converted campervan, I enjoy a range of activities, including hiking, kayaking, and paddle surfing. This year, I spent time in Norway, where I did some glacier hikes and hiked to the Trolls Tongue ‘Trolltunga’ Via Ferrata, which was one of my highlights of 2023.

Dainius Zilinskas is Prototype Technical Group Lead at ICS Medical Devices. After four years, he reflects on the early days of ICS Medical and what he has learned since then.

• Give us some information on your career/background. What sparked your interest in a career in medical devices? 

I studied mechanical engineering in university, specialising in Biomedical Engineering in my final year. I found the lectures and projects to be very interesting as there was a huge amount to learn, but it took me a couple of years to get into medical devices after I finished college.  

During my final year and directly after college, I worked with heat recovery ventilation systems and shortly after moved to recycling plant design services for a couple of years, until I got an opportunity to join the ICS team. I always had an interest in medical devices. My decision to join ICS was impulsive and after 4 years, I can still say that it was a good decision as I am still learning every day, using and upgrading my skill set.  

• How long have you been working at ICS Medical? What was it like working in the early stages of a medical device start-up? 

I have been working at ICS for over 4 years. I joined the team a couple of months after ICS opened. Working in the early stages of a medical device startup was an amazing experience as I was able to grow my knowledge and experience together with ICS. I was involved in most of the activities in ICS at the time from prototypes to running manufacturing projects etc. The learning curve in the first couple of years was steep due to the expansion of the company. It would be close to impossible to get an experience like that in bigger companies.  

• How does the prototyping process at ICS Medical work? 

We start communication with the customer to clearly understand project deadlines and desired functionality of the product. After review we have our input into the design outlining possible obstacles and outcomes. We always have design suggestions to improve the product to have fully functional capabilities in the early-stage prototypes.  

Once we agree on the design and materials, we provide a quote to the customer with the quickest possible lead times. Once we receive a purchase order, we order all materials. When materials land we start the prototyping process and work closely with the customers ensuring they are constantly aligned with the progress and give their input if required.  

Once prototypes are complete, we ship them for customer evaluation. Finally, our customers run multiple tests to understand if we need to change/improve some points of the devices. If so, we work on further development until the customer and ICS are confident to move to the next phase of the project. 

• What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

The most rewarding part of the job is receiving very positive feedback from customers with successful functional trials. It‘s very rewarding to see projects moving from the concept of an idea to developing fully functional prototypes right through to the commercialisation of the product. 

Megan Cooley is HR administrator at ICS Medical Devices. From starting at ICS Medical as a summer intern to realising that HR is the career path she wants to follow, Megan’s journey and development within ICS is admirable.

• Tell us about your career journey at ICS Medical so far.

In May 2022, I joined ICS Medical Devices as a Human Resourses summer intern. At the time I was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography with the goal of teaching, however, the hands-on experience I got from this internship intrigued me and unexpectedly changed my career aspirations.

I was involved in the recruitment process, I was dealing with queries from staff members and there was a lot of documentation and filing which made me think about beginning a career in HR as I knew there was a lot more in HR that I could learn. In September 2022, I temporarily left ICS to focus on my studies, however, I shortly returned in November 2022 with the goal of pursuing a career in Human Resources.

I got promoted to HR Administrator in July 2023 and became more involved in all things HR. I am now taking a part-time course in Supervisory Management to advance into Human Resource Management year 3 at ATU Castlebar. I hope to be fully qualified by 2026! I think I made a good decision to come back to ICS Medical and I thoroughly enjoy the job I am doing here.

• What has been the highlight of your job so far?

The highlight of working in HR at ICS Medical is the wealth of hands-on experience I have gained. Entering the HR field without a degree can be challenging as the first thing employers look for now a days is a degree. ICS afforded me the opportunity to work in HR and gain lots of experience while also pursuing a course that will fully prepare me for this field.

• What is your favourite thing about working at ICS Medical Devices?

My favourite thing about working in ICS Medical Devices is the welcoming and friendly atmosphere that I walk into daily. I am part of an amazing team, especially within HR. We’re a supportive team. Between the 3 of us, we always collaborate to find effective solutions.

In HR, our ongoing aim is to enhance the workplace experience for all employees. When we accomplish milestones like successfully implementing new policies or systems, it’s very satisfying to see the progress and improvement over time.

• What advice would you give to someone looking to start their career at ICS Medical?

I would tell someone interested in starting a career with ICS Medical to come in completely open-minded. There is a lot of room for opportunity and development within the company.

You should make that extra effort to talk to people from other departments, for me that would be engineers or product builders, to fully grasp what we do at ICS Medical Devices, especially if you have not worked in medical devices before.

Holly Robinson was one of the first product builders to join ICS. Recently moving into a technician development role, she is looking forward to the change and opportunity this will bring. Below Holly shares more about her experience in ICS, her development role, and a little more about herself.

• What is your role at ICS Medical Devices? What does your day-to-day entail?

At the moment I am in between two roles. I’m a product builder developing into a technician role. My day-to-day usually consists of general equipment operator tasks, alongside training for my new role. Some days can be a little different depending on my tasks, but generally, that’s how it looks.

• Tell us more about the development aspect of your role.

The development training lasts for 6 months – in which time I work half in my old role and half in my new role. This means I get a good taste of what the role of a technician looks like and decide if I feel I’m fit for the role. I’m on a totally new project (to me) so there is the learning that goes along with that device alongside the technical stuff but having been within the company for quite some time you tend to get a good bit of know-how. Training on the technician side consists of documentation and meetings and learning how to order materials and just generally be savvier to the behind-the-scenes – things you would never need to learn or know as an operator.

Holly working on her new project

• What is your favorite part about your job?

My favourite part about my job is that I have the option to change things up every now and again and ICS is a great place to try new things. I really am enjoying a change of scenery having been predominantly on one project for over 2 years, and am enjoying more technical things to do with the customer and documents etc. I really am someone who likes to keep things interesting so that I can stay focused. I also like the fact that it’s not a monotonous job and that everything, even after over 2 years, still requires me to think about what I’m doing next.

• When you’re not working, what do you like to do with your free time? Any passions or hobbies?

I have too many hobbies to count. I really love anything arts and crafts related. I enjoy making home décor and crocheting. I also really love decorating for parties- my own and other people’s. Cooking is also a passion of mine – I love trying new recipes and would probably eat anything. I also love anything Lord of the Rings related and like to spend free time researching the lore. I would say my dog is a hobby too because aside from work and household work she consumes most of my time!

Some of Holly’s artwork and crafts.