Growth Made Real: From Graduate Developer to Enterprise Architect at Hilti

Written by the Hilti IT Asia Services employer brand team. 

At Hilti, every day brings something new. A challenge to solve, an idea to shape, and an opportunity to grow. For Alex Shieh, based in Hilti Asia IT Services (HAITS), Malaysia, that belief has guided his entire journey. His story shows what can happen when potential is recognized, trust is given, and opportunities are made real.

A Leap That Started It All 

Alex’s Hilti journey began in 2014, when a university professor encouraged him to take part in the Hilti IT Competition, a global initiative inviting students from all disciplines to propose innovative IT solutions for challenges in the construction industry. At the time, Alex did not know much about Hilti. What he did know was that the opportunity was worth taking.

That decision led him to the top 10 finalists and onto a plane to Hilti’s global headquarters in Liechtenstein for the final round.

The experience proved to be a turning point. During his time at HQ, Alex saw Hilti’s culture come to life. Diverse, collaborative, and driven by innovation. Mechanical engineers, data scientists, and digital experts worked side by side to solve real problems. He also had the chance to meet Hilti’s global leaders and exchange ideas with other finalists. He left inspired by the ambition and openness he experienced.

Just two weeks after the competition, Alex was offered a role as a Mobile App Developer with HAITS in Malaysia. He accepted without hesitation. It was his first opportunity made real.

Saying yes without overthinking it was the moment my hard work turned into a real breakthrough.

Building from Day One

On his very first day at Hilti, Alex’s manager asked a simple but bold question. Would he be willing to help shape a new, experimental cloud initiative?

Alex did not fully know what that would involve, but he said yes.

At the time, introducing modern cloud concepts into a traditionally engineering driven organization was a significant leap. It required technical innovation and the courage to challenge established ways of working and bring others along.

Two years later, that leap paid off. What started as an experiment evolved into a sophisticated cloud platform that continues to power Hilti’s digital products and innovations today.

For a fresh graduate, it was a rare opportunity. Working alongside global experts, university professors, and visionary leaders to build something entirely new from the ground up. That was his second opportunity made real.

Leading Beyond Boundaries

While still working as a cloud developer, Alex was invited to take on another challenge. Leading a global project. He had no formal project management experience and no business background, but he brought curiosity, drive, and a willingness to learn.

The project brought together teams and stakeholders from more than 40 countries, each with different priorities, cultures, and ways of working. Alex found himself navigating time zones, aligning perspectives, and building trust across borders. All while keeping a shared goal in focus.

The result was a digital sales tool that transformed how Hilti sales teams engage with customers. A solution still used across markets today.

Looking back, Alex describes the experience as a crash course in communication, empathy, and leadership. Lessons no classroom could offer.

Achieving something meaningful takes willpower, drive, and strong collaboration. I’m proud of what we delivered, and grateful for the trust and support I received along the way.

That was his third opportunity made real.

Scaling Technology Leadership

After his project leadership experience, Alex stepped into his dream role as a Solution Architect, bringing together his passion for technology and problem solving. In this role, he designed the blueprints that connect systems and enable real business impact. The role is recognized as one of the four critical positions supporting Hilti’s Lead 2030 strategy.

His first assignment reflected the level of trust placed in him. He was tasked with designing a subscription based sales and billing engine, a cornerstone of Hilti’s digital transformation. The solution laid the foundation for a scalable software business. It enabled recurring revenue models and greater operational efficiency.

As so often happens at Hilti, one opportunity led to another. Alex was soon invited to take on a broader challenge as an Enterprise Architect. Rather than focusing on a single domain, he now helps shape Hilti’s entire digital landscape. More than a thousand systems working together across regions and teams.

Today, he drives strategic architecture decisions, enterprise standards, and skills development initiatives. All aimed at raising the bar for technology excellence across the organization.

One of the most dynamic focus areas in his current role is artificial intelligence. Alex plays a front line role in ensuring AI is embedded thoughtfully and responsibly. Not as a trend, but as a true differentiator. From building foundational infrastructure to defining governance frameworks, his work helps Hilti unlock AI’s potential to drive innovation, productivity, and customer value.

For Alex, each step forward has been more than a title change. It has been another opportunity made real. Grounded in trust and a belief that potential matters more than experience.

Hilti is more than a workplace. It’s a culture where trust meets opportunity, potential is valued over experience, and every challenge is a chance to grow.

Interested in learning more about our opportunities at Hilti Asia IT Services? Check out our current open jobs.