From graduate to PhD student: a journey of responsibility and innovation at HJ Lubricators

When Magnus Munk Jensen, a newly graduated engineer from Aalborg University, was looking for his first job, he chose HJ Lubricators. It turned out to be a time of great opportunities and responsibility from day one.

In 2021, now 27-year-old Magnus Munk Jensen applied for a position in HJ Lubricators’ technical department, where he became part of the company’s R&D team. HJ Lubricators is known for hiring young graduates and quickly giving them responsibility—a tendency Magnus experienced right from the beginning. He was encouraged to share ideas and develop prototypes from day one.

“I suggested a solution, and we built a prototype—it didn’t work, of course. But we needed to solve the problem, so I was simply asked to try again. That was huge,” says Magnus Munk Jensen. Compared to his peers, he was one of the few given such significant responsibility so early in his career.

“It was a unique opportunity to work so hands-on with development and see my ideas tested in practice,” he says.

Professional growth and the freedom to evolve

After a year and a half at HJ Lubricators, Magnus decided to pursue a master’s degree, transitioning from a diploma engineer to a civil engineer. Instead of leaving HJ Lubricators, he asked if he could stay on as a part-time engineer—and the company agreed.

“It was a benefit for HJ Lubricators because I could bring ideas from university back to the company. For me, it was a great opportunity to have a relevant job while studying. My academic focus gradually shifted from electronics to machine learning, and when I completed my degree, I was offered a new position where I worked on exactly what I was passionate about,” Magnus explains.

The support and flexibility he experienced at HJ Lubricators continued when he later got the chance to pursue a PhD.

“They were open and told me I was always welcome back. There was a lot of trust and a strong sense of collegiality, and I don’t think that would have happened in every company,” he says.

The experience Magnus gained at HJ Lubricators continues to be valuable.

“My time at HJ Lubricators helped me understand other complex machines. We worked closely as a team, so even though I was hired as an electronics engineer, I came to understand the mechanical aspects of what we did—to some extent.”

Today, he works with artificial intelligence to optimise the output of wind turbines through his PhD project.

From product development to customer understanding

One of the experiences that left the biggest impression on Magnus was his first visit to a ship with one of the company’s service engineers.

“It was an amazing experience to see how customers actually used our technology in practice. They had a different, more usage-oriented approach—and that’s something I’ve learned a lot from,” he says.

That experience changed his perspective and gave him a deeper understanding of how technical solutions need to be designed with the end user in mind.

“Every ship visit has made an impression in its own way. It’s always awe-inspiring to step on board those massive vessels—they’re impressive machines. And it’s always exciting to talk to the crew about their experiences, both with our system and with the large engines in general.”

According to Magnus, HJ Lubricators has a strong culture where young engineers are given the chance to grow and develop.

“If you show initiative, you’re encouraged to try out your ideas. But you need to be well-prepared—you have to be able to argue for your solutions,” he says.

Magnus Munk Jensen encourages others to apply for a job at HJ Lubricators.

“It’s a place that offers responsibility and development. The combination of young graduates and experienced industry professionals works really well—and the canteen is great too,” says Magnus Munk Jensen.

Learn more about career opportunities at HJ Lubricators, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.