Meet Our Community MVP of the Month for May 2026!

Hi there, Community!

Get ready to be inspired! We’re absolutely thrilled to continue our Community MVP (Most Valuable Player) spotlight series. This initiative is all about celebrating the incredible individuals who consistently go above and beyond, sharing their wisdom, supporting their peers, and truly making this community a vibrant hub for learning and growth.

For our latest MVP feature, we had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Jan Bos! Jan is a long-time expert in Solid Edge, a mentor, and a dedicated Community Catalyst. His profound knowledge and extensive experience have made him an invaluable resource to members across the globe. We’re so excited to share more of his story and insights with you below!

You have worked with DISW software products for many years, although there weren’t any formal Communities then, how has Community evolved over time?

My journey with Solid Edge began in 1997, almost 30 years ago, which makes it extra special that this falls in Solid Edge’s own 30th anniversary year. Back then I was transitioning from ink pens and drawing boards, so seeing a 3D model generate multiple 2D views in seconds felt like pure magic. In those early days, “community” meant a small group on text-based BBS systems like BBSNotes. Today it’s a global powerhouse. We’ve moved from quick tip-sharing to a worldwide ecosystem where engineers exchange ideas about everyday challenges, new Solid Edge releases and workflows, and lately how AI is reshaping our daily engineering work.

One thing I always encourage fellow community members to do is take the next step beyond discussion: actively join the Remote Beta Testing program. Sharing frustrations in the community is valuable, but rolling up your sleeves and helping shape the software itself is where real change happens. I’ve been a beta tester since 2011, and it has been one of the most rewarding ways to give back — your feedback genuinely influences the product, and you get to see ideas from the community become features that everyone benefits from.

The technology has leaped forward, but the spirit of engineers helping engineers — that fundamental human connection — has remained the heart of the community for three decades.

In your work with Siemens Solid Edge you’re known for strong customer support and knowledge sharing. How do you bring that same mindset into helping our community members?

I’ve always believed that technology is only as good as our ability to use it to its full potential. Having moved from the drawing board to 3D CAD, I know first-hand the frustration of learning curves. I treat community members just like our customers: with empathy and a drive for efficiency. If I can help a fellow engineer solve a problem in minutes that might have taken them hours, I’m helping them rediscover that same ‘magic’ I felt back in ’97. It’s about lowering barriers so we can all focus on the beauty of design and engineering.

As a Community Catalyst what motivates you to invest so much time in teaching and supporting fellow engineers and how has Community helped you?

My primary motivation is ‘paying it forward.’ In my early years, I received invaluable help from people like Rick Mason in Australia. Meeting him in Nashville in 2012 was a powerful moment for me—it closed the circle of a long-distance mentorship. Because someone took the time to help me, I feel it’s my duty to do the same. It’s also why I’m excited to be speaking at the Community Corner during Realize LIVE in Detroit again this year. Sharing insights on AI and future workflows in person is incredibly rewarding. The community keeps me evolving; it allows me to stay at the forefront as a ‘hybrid’ engineer, combining decades of experience with the incredible speed of modern tools.

If you had one message for new or aspiring community members—especially those entering this field what would you want them to know? 

Stay curious and embrace the community as your extended brain. You don’t have to have every answer, but you should know where to look and who to ask. As we move into this AI-enhanced era, remember that you aren’t being replaced; you’re being upgraded. Aim to be a ‘hybrid’ engineer—someone who understands the classic engineering principles but isn’t afraid to use AI and community knowledge to accelerate their work.

Outside of engineering, I understand you love to travel and have visited most of the 50 states in the U.S. Which are your top three favorite states and why?

Traveling is my ultimate recharge. I’ve currently visited 42 USA states, with the goal of reaching 49 this year and saving Hawaii — the big number 50 — for next year. Picking only three favorites is genuinely hard, but if pushed:

Virginia, especially the Blue Ridge Mountains. The serenity and natural beauty there are unparalleled.

Louisiana, for New Orleans and the swamps. There’s something deeply atmospheric about that part of the country, and I can’t wait to go back.

Nevada, for the sheer contrast Las Vegas offers. It’s playful, high-energy, and a remarkable spectacle of human engineering and entertainment.

Honorable mentions go to Utah and Arizona for their otherworldly landscapes. Each state, much like each Solid Edge module, adds its own essential piece to a much larger and impressive puzzle.