A graduate in automotive engineering from Coventry University, specialising in motor sports, Alexis Stavrinides discusses the difficulties he has faced to follow his passion in challenging economic times.
When Alexis Stavrinides completed his degree in 2008, he had ambitions to develop, test and assemble prototype vehicles in one of the many established automotive or Formula 1 companies in the UK. His ambition has not changed, but in the five years since graduating, Alexis has struggled to find work that fulfils his passion for engineering. Born in South Africa and now living in Cyprus, the scope of his search for work remains wide, taking him to Germany and back to the UK, but a role in a race or automotive engineering team has, so far, eluded him.
Having specialised in motor sports, and carried out innovative work through his individual dissertation on chassis design for the Shell Eco-marathon team and the Peugeot 206 Tin Top race vehicle while at Coventry, Alexis explained that his heart lies in design and development.
He said: “Since graduating, I have become an experienced automotive diagnostics technician, and have skills as an assistant airframe and power plant technician in general aviation and aerospace. I’ve worked in electronic and mechanical repairs for Audi, Volkswagen and Skoda; and in aircraft overhauls and maintenance on Cesna, Piper, Moony, Hawker 900XP and G100 models.”
In 2011, Alexis took steps to set up his own business, a general aviation maintenance facility, one of the first in Cyprus, but the collapse of the Cypriot economy, amongst other local factors, ended the project.
He has, between interviews, found work on a range of short-term contracts and consultancies, including CAD projects and security and defence communications, working in a number of engineering applications which, he feels, exemplifies the unifying skill of many mechanical engineers: adaptability.
“The beauty of being a motor sport engineer is that you are, above all, adaptable – and I’ve worked on anything I can get my hands on,” said Alexis
“I’m considering the life-cycle and work-cycles of products, which aren’t necessarily obvious to a graduating engineer, and I see that as a positive thing. I’ve gained experience in overhauling complete aircraft; and there is significant overlap between aerospace and automotive. I’ve learned there’s quite a difference between how machines work in the real world and in academia, but that experience in both is really valuable.”
In 2007, Alexis was invited to work with the Shell Eco-marathon team, managed by Christophe Bastien CEng MIMechE, now Programme Manager MSc automotive engineering and crashworthiness at Coventry University.
Alexis explained: “My final year dissertation was a motor sports project and Christophe, having seen my work, invited me to join his group of students in the design of the Shell Eco-marathon car. I designed a light-weight chassis and the following year the car was built and competed – largely according to the design – which was a tremendous achievement.”
Christophe added: “Alexis’s contribution to the project included the pre-concept manufacturing of the Shell Eco car in welding aluminium structures, which was of great relevance in the car’s construction. His systematic approach was extremely well-founded and he worked with admirable enthusiasm and curiosity. He was advised to do an MSc in motor sport because his abilities were absolutely of that standard, but funding, sadly, was the barrier at that point.”
Earlier on in his degree, Alexis worked on a theoretical project for the chassis redesign of a land-speed record car. He worked with the Peugeot Team 206 Tin Cup series, again during his final year: “We developed, maintained and competed our race car, which ensured we were able to take findings from testing and from the track and apply them to enhance performance.”
Alexis said that, if he had his pick of jobs, he sees himself working in racing or automotive companies, in the prototype division, testing, assembling and problem-solving issues in design: “It’s something I’ve come to enjoy, and I’ve got experience of detecting and solving problems, analysing CAD files and trouble-shooting, as well as designing chassis and bodywork. My favourite modules at university were the ones I found most challenging: understanding powertrains; the engine and its efficiencies.”
Alexis’s ambition is to be a hands-on engineer, and to develop a Masters-level project in accordance with his employer’s requirements. Currently living in a country which doesn’t have the automotive and motor sports heritage that many UK- and Europe-based engineers enjoy perhaps makes it harder for him contest available positions.
“On applications, I state very clearly that I’m flexible, and I will relocate. But I’m trying to enter another local economy, be it in the UK or any other country, and that’s perhaps a disadvantage,” Alexis stated.
“I think it’s fair to say that there’s a shortage of good quality engineers. In some instances I may not seem to have a precisely-named skill, but that experience may be present in much of the work that I’ve done, and I am building up a range of competencies.”
“Face-to-face communication is vital in building engineering teams. Often, a team leader can assess a potential member in a short space of time, but it takes someone with engineering experience to recruit in that way. Perhaps I have been unsuccessful so far because some of my skills do not fit the exact words in the job description. I’m an automotive engineer with special experience in motor sport but, just as importantly, I’m a mechanical engineer, and as such I’m incredibly adaptable.”
Alexis very much hopes to find a way to pursue his career within an automotive or motor sport organisation. He is flexible, and will travel wherever work may take him. He is doing his best to work in engineering roles while continually looking for a role which best suits his experience and ambitions.
View Alexis’s portfolio
Alexis can be contacted via agenda@imeche.org or at astavs29@Gmail.com
