Discover People at Soitec

My name is Laurent Hacquin and I’m the head of the electrical division within the technical services department.

My journey and experience at Soitec

I began my career as a design drafter, and I joined Soitec in 1999 as an electrical installations operator. Fun fact: Jean-Michel Lamure interviewed me on the day of the company’s Christmas lunch, so I got to enjoy a slice of Yule log that day!

My mission was to operate and expand the network infrastructure as Soitec evolved. At that time, I was the only person in the division, but the team gradually grew. I became a Facilities Engineer, and eventually I took over the responsibility for the electrical division.

I manage electrical distribution from the high-voltage input all the way to the low-voltage systems that power the machines and all necessary installations. My scope also includes low-voltage systems such as fire detection, access control, and video surveillance. I work with many teams, all the way to the cleanroom.

What I particularly enjoy in this job is the diversity of activities and projects. Technology evolves rapidly—it’s a completely different approach compared to twenty years ago. The preliminary studies and processes are still the same, but the equipment has changed drastically: we now have the ability to communicate and retrieve a lot of data, which brings new challenges.

Sharing and conviviality through free flight

I’m the treasurer of Parateam, one of the largest paragliding clubs in the Grenoble region, with about 170 members. It’s a long-standing club, more than twenty-five years old, with strong local roots. There’s a real culture of free flight in Saint-Hilaire. We organize evening flights and youth outings, with a clear goal: to raise awareness about safety from the very start of the practice.

In addition to handling the finances, I also organize group activities—friendly moments where we fly together instead of individually. We’re also deeply involved in the Coupe Icare, a world-famous event where the club manages several stands. It represents about thirty hours of volunteer work each year, with some more intense periods.

What motivated me to get involved was the desire to create connections. When you fly, you only cross paths with others for a few minutes at the take-off points, and you don’t really get to know each other. The club allows us to go beyond that and share.

What I find in both my roles—at Soitec and in the club—is the importance of coordination and collaboration. In both cases, we manage projects and bring the right people together at the right time. And that makes sense to me.

The highlight for me is the Coupe Icare, held every year. It’s a key event for paragliders and a vital fundraising opportunity for the club.

Another side of my personality

Outside of work, I love tinkering—especially anything related to mechanics. I spend time fixing lawnmowers, tractors, and cars, either at home or in my workshop. In fact, I restored an old tractor shortly after joining Soitec, a project I was really passionate about.

What I enjoy is facing a breakdown, a real-life problem, and figuring out the solution. That’s why I’d love to create or join a Repair Café, to help repair everyday items like vacuum cleaners and give them a second life.