We are TOWA: David, Junior AI & Automation Engineer

Hi David, tell us first of all who you are, what you do at TOWA, and how you became aware of TOWA.

Hi! I joined TOWA in February 2024 – back then, still alongside my Computer Science studies. I’d always worked as a working student and was looking for a new role when the working student position in AI & Machine Learning at TOWA caught my eye.

The position was actually advertised for Bregenz, but I simply added that I’d work remotely from Tyrol and come to Bregenz regularly. It worked out. A few months later, I moved to full-time and relocated to Vienna – now I’ve been with TOWA for over two years.

When did your passion for AI, Machine Learning, and Automation start, and how did you get into it?

Honestly, as a kid. Back when I didn’t even know what jobs existed, I always said I wanted to become a “computer technician” – something technical.

Via a few detours, I went into architecture and structural engineering at HTL before later studying Computer Science. And as a computer scientist, you always have this urge to automate things so you don’t have to do them yourself. (laughs)

A bit nerdy, but a real role model for me was always Tony Stark with Jarvis – this idea of an AI that, as an assistant, takes a lot off your plate. That’s exactly what I wanted to build myself one day.

What does your typical workday at TOWA look like? 

Wild – in the best way. (laughs)

Back when I was only responsible for AI and Automation, I worked in classic two-week sprints. Since I also took over IT topics, that no longer works: a lot of topics come in on short notice and often need quick responses.

That means I’m often juggling six to eight topics in parallel. Sounds chaotic, but with good structure and with AI as a sparring partner, you can really get a handle on it. I like that dynamic. You never lose track if you know how to prioritise.

Which projects are you currently working on? 

Several exciting topics are running in parallel at the moment:

• Nova (Network of Virtual Agents): An internal toolset we’re providing at TOWA to connect employees to our internal workflows via AI – for example, directly from Claude through MCP. The goal is to make many manual admin processes (like setting up new tool projects) accessible and easier through AI.

• IT Knowledge Base Refactoring: Our IT space in Confluence is currently being cleaned up and restructured with AI support – including an approach for how we keep documentation up to date going forward.

• HR Benefits Automation: Together with People & Culture, we’re building a solution that lets employees self-serve their benefits selection – including an automated budget check in the background.

At its core, my work is always about freeing up time in the admin area so our teams can focus on what really creates impact.

Do you work more from home or in the office? 

I prefer home office. My setup at home is great, and that’s where I can focus best. But I come into the office once or twice a week because I genuinely enjoy socialising with colleagues. The mix is perfect for me.

How does working at TOWA differ from your previous employers? 

The biggest difference: at TOWA, you’re part of a large team with dedicated roles. In previous jobs, I was often in mini-teams – in one company with 11 employees, I was the only one besides the boss who actually coded. As a junior, that means: waiting two to three hours for an answer because your supervisor is stressed themselves.

At TOWA, it’s different. You do get thrown in at the deep end a lot and get to handle plenty on your own, but you always have someone to ask. Especially for juniors, that’s really valuable.

What did you particularly enjoy about your job? 

For one, the flexibility: I can largely organise my working hours and location myself – of course, in sync with my team and clients. After Corona, many companies went back to “two days home office, otherwise office” – TOWA is much more open about that. And honestly, it makes sense, because people are often even more productive at home.

The other thing: the trust. Especially as a junior or intern, you’re given real responsibility at TOWA. Sure, that can be overwhelming at first, but you’re always caught if you fall. Interns in consulting, for example, already have a lot of direct client contact. You build experience really fast.

Are there any specific challenges in your role? 

Yes, and I’ll say this openly: my dual role (AI/Automation + IT) is exciting and challenging at the same time.

In an agency, you want to consciously keep admin overhead small, because hours are sold directly to clients. For me, that specifically means: lots of ideas, lots of topics, but I have to prioritise well myself in order to fit in everything I’d love to build.

Do you feel that working at TOWA has helped you to grow and develop further? 

Definitely. The tricky part is being honest about the split: how much of that comes from me, because I naturally want to grow, and how much from TOWA.

What I can say for sure: TOWA actively supports you when you want to grow. There are learning & development budgets; you can go to your lead at any time and say “I’d like to take on more responsibility” – and then it actually happens. If you want to grow, you can really do that here.

Which highlight at TOWA stuck with you the most? 

Definitely: our annual Company Event, where all locations come together. What’s especially valuable is the time with colleagues you barely see in your day-to-day.
You get to know them completely outside the work context, and that makes a huge difference. Those two days always go by way too fast.

I also love the Summer Party: bringing TOWA employees from the different offices together is, especially for an agency, where budget is always a topic – not a given.

Now, a question for everyone who is considering becoming part of TOWA: What advice would you give them? 

I find it hard to say “everyone should come here” across the board – everyone has to figure out for themselves whether TOWA fits. But what I can say:

• My team is really strong, both professionally and personally.

• We have Coffee & Play every two weeks, Drinks & Play once a month – team bonding is genuinely lived here.

• The People & Culture Team actively makes sure people feel comfortable.

For an agency that always has to juggle budgets, TOWA is really well set up. If you’re up for AI, Automation, and a team that trusts you with real responsibility – come by!