Between Mountain Air and High-Tech

No two days are the same: At the beginning of the week, Martin Zimmermann works as a Lifecycle Engineer at Hamilton, developing innovative solutions. By the weekend, he’s high up in the mountains, guiding his guests safely across ice and rock. “I’m fortunate that Hamilton is very flexible. That’s essential for me, because being out in the mountains with guests isn’t just my passion – it’s also my second job.” Thanks to his 60-percent position, Martin can plan his days off well in advance – he usually works at Hamilton during the week and spends his weekends in the Alps.

The Fascination of Mountain Guiding

For Martin, mountain guiding is much more than just a profession. “It means accompanying people safely through breathtaking landscapes and giving them unforgettable experiences in nature. The combination of physical challenge, strategic planning, and the joy of helping others reach their goals make this work so fulfilling.”

Whether it’s ice climbing or freeriding in winter, or high alpine tours up to 4000-meter peaks in spring and summer – the job of a mountain guide is as diverse as it is demanding. Martin carries a great deal of responsibility: he must constantly monitor the weather, accurately assess his guests’ condition, and continuously weigh potential risks. “As a mountain guide, you’re often on your own, even if you’re never truly alone. The decisions – whether it’s changing the route or even calling off a tour, along with the disappointment that may cause for the clients – are always yours to make. That’s not always easy and requires courageous choices as well as a great deal of knowledge and experience.”

Weighing Risks and Making Decisions

Over the years, Martin has learned one thing above all as a mountain guide: How to deal with all kinds of people. Whether teenagers, CEOs, or retirees – he has led guests from all walks of life through the Alps. “As different as people may be, in the mountains everyone is equal – and that’s exactly what makes it so special. I’ve learned that I can speak to everyone on equal footing, and that’s something people truly appreciate in the end.”

Martins experience as a mountain guide also provides a valuable foundation for his work at Hamilton. As a Lifecycle Engineer, he is responsible for a customized liquid handler – a device used for the automated handling of liquids – which Hamilton developed and produced for a major client. His main task is to make the device more robust and efficient. In addition, he gathers customer requests and suggestions for improvement, assesses their feasibility, and oversees further developments.

Confidence in Decision-Making – in the Mountains and on the Job

Martin’s mountain experience proves valuable in his professional life as well: just like in guiding, the goal at Hamilton is to reach objectives safely and reliably – to deliver the best possible product and service to the customer. It’s also about assessing risks, though usually in financial and technical terms rather than in relation to safety and health. Is further development economically viable? Is the requested modification feasible, or would the effort be disproportionate? Not every decision is easy, but just like in the mountains, clear and well-founded choices must be made – a skill Martin applies daily in both professions.

Martin moves between two very different worlds that, surprisingly, have much in common. Whether at Hamilton or in the Alps, he enjoys being close to the customer, facing challenges, and taking on responsibility. In Graubünden, he has found the perfect conditions to combine both worlds in the best possible way.