Jack, Off-Grid Engineer
Jack grew up in a small village in Somerset and now lives just down the road with his wife, Laura (LJ). After giving sixth form a brief try (just one day, in fact), Jack switched gears and headed to college to study Vehicle Mechanics. That led to a Foundation Degree in Automotive Engineering, followed by a BSc in Mechanical Design & Manufacturing at Plymouth University.
His engineering journey kicked off in railway electrification as a Design Engineer. From there, he moved into the automotive world, designing tooling for names like Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover and Ford. Later, he transitioned into aerospace, first as a Project Engineer and then as an Advanced Systems Engineer, working on life support and environmental control systems for both civil and military aircraft. After six and a half years in aerospace, it was time for a new chapter – full-time van life.
A love of travel (and life on the road) runs in Jack’s family. His grandparents spend half the year touring Europe in their camper, and many of his own childhood holidays were spent exploring France in caravans and motorhomes. So it’s no surprise that van life eventually called his name too.
His own journey began with a VW T5 day van. He carpet-lined it, fitted a basic electrical setup, and took it on countless adventures – including a stand-out trip to the South of France, with a scooter squeezed in the back!
In 2019, he and LJ upgraded to a 2012 Citroën Relay – an ex-work van that became their passion project for the next three years. They transformed it into a two-berth camper complete with a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, fixed bed and garage.
What started as a holiday vehicle slowly evolved as their ambitions did. Solar panels were added, the battery upgraded to lithium, an inverter installed, and the layout adapted along the way. One of the joys of a self-build is how it grows with you – and this van certainly did.
With the van dialled in for off-grid living, Jack and LJ took sabbaticals in 2024 and hit the road for three months, exploring Spain and Portugal. The trip lit a spark – and on returning home, they started planning something even bigger.
In March 2025, they rented out their house, packed up the van, and set off on a 9 month adventure. Their route took them through Scotland, Scandinavia and the Arctic Circle, before heading south through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Sardinia, France, Spain and Andorra.
Somewhere along the way, they even picked up matching croissant tattoos – a nod to their shared love of French pastries and slow mornings on the road.
The end of this trip marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, as Jack joins the Nohma team as an engineer. With a background spanning automotive, aerospace and off-grid systems – not to mention years of hands-on van building and real-world travel experience – he brings a unique blend of technical expertise and practical know-how. As you can probably tell, he’s a perfect fit for the role.
Working at Nohma gives me the opportunity to connect with likeminded people. I love hearing about people’s projects and travel plans. It also gives me the flexibility to continue travelling in my van and exploring new places. Nohma has given me the chance to combine my technical experience with my love for travelling.
Jack Watson, Off-Grid Engineer
Outside of work, Jack rarely sits still. His love of two wheels started early with motocross racing and recently led to him earning his full bike licence. He’s big on staying active and always up for a challenge, from mountain biking and CrossFit to Hyrox, running and skiing. Earlier this year, he tackled the Grizzly – a 20 mile trail run with over 1000m of elevation and lived to tell the tale.
During lockdown, he and a few friends ran 1.1 miles every hour for 24 hours, rounding things off with a full marathon distance. He also (sort of) taught himself to juggle. Jack’s first ever job was peeling potatoes in a chip shop, worth it for the free chippy tea and he still holds the top score on the basketball arcade game at Taunton Hollywood Bowl. Challenge accepted!
Campervan electrics leaving you confused?
