Formula Student
How were you involved with the Formula Student competition?
I was part of the University of Manchester Formula Student Team for four years where I had the opportunity to work on the chassis, suspension, bodywork and engine as well as preparing for the presentation and design judging submissions. In my final year in the team I was Team Leader and I loved every minute of it.
What's your current role and with which company?
I currently work as a Sub-System Design Integrator – Safety Team Leader for all civil large jet engines at Rolls-Royce Plc. My daily responsibilities include assisting with root cause investigations and leading solutions as well as prioritising the work for my team. I work on strategies to ensure future designs are robust and have considered the issues of previous designs. This is an important part of enabling minimal disruption for the business and our customers. I love working on technical issues and the variety of my role. I also enjoy being able to influence future designs and the way in which we operate.
What was your first full time role post-grad (including apprenticeships)?
After finishing my MEng in Aerospace Engineering, I started a Graduate Scheme with Shell Oil as a Mechanical Engineer. I was working on an oil refinery moving between different production units finding creative ways to solve mechanical issues on the refinery and working on improving the reliability of the production units.
What made you join the competition?
My passion for Formula One is what made me join Formula Student; in fact, I only applied to universities who were involved in Formula Student. I only realised how much more there was to the competition when I became part of it. Working as a team, putting your engineering theory into practice and constantly learning new things is what kept me in the team throughout the duration of my degree. I come back to judge because I still find it interesting. I enjoy meeting our future engineers and watching how technology keeps changing and I still keep learning.
How did your experiences at Formula Student help prepare you for your first role?
Formula Student gave me the confidence I needed. Being able to prove to yourself that you can lead a team and deliver a working product with a minimal budget and with no previous work experience, taught me anything was possible if you have the passion to put the time and effort in. Even more importantly it taught me the value of team work. Everyone has a unique skill which should be respected and admired just like in a professional working environment. Time in the team bought about various challenges which made it easier to offer examples during interviews. I think one of the key attributes employers like about students who have been involved in Formula Student is their drive to work hard as well as their technical abilities.
What advice would you give to young engineers seeking employment post-grad?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes (I did), that’s how we all learn and keep asking questions. During interviews make sure you listen carefully to what you are being asked and use the STAR model to answer the questions (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Use “I” not “we” and focus on telling them about how you did something (what skills did you use?). When you’re at the competition, you might be doing everything you can to get your car through scrutineering! Make sure you come prepared and bring everything you might need including backups of backups. Be professional (try not to start arguing over who left what in front of the judges), go and look at the other cars and enjoy it – you worked hard to get here.
What was your biggest challenge during FS and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was doing everything in one year. The rules changed dramatically when I became Team Leader so we had to design a completely new suspension and chassis. By starting the design work early and producing a detailed plan, I was able to track our progress. I remember closer to the competition morale was getting low because we had so much left to do and everyone was working so hard. It was really stressful, but it was crucial to stay motivated and remember why we were doing this. And we did it – we made the competition and we completed the endurance (even though the car did look a bit like a bath tub, but I did say we learn through our mistakes!)
What is your fondest moment of the competition?
I remember our driver crossing the finish line after completing the endurance and feeling so pleased. Celebrating that moment with such a wonderful team was the best feeling ever.
What are you most looking forward to seeing in the next 20 years of Formula Student?
It will be interesting to see how the automotive industry development race towards autonomous vehicles could filter down into the engineering used on future Formula Student vehicles.