Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering

During my time at Loughborough I was presented with numerous world class opportunities that not only enhanced my specific subject knowledge, but also helped me to develop wholly as a person ready for that next big step.

My role as project leader of a 24-person Trans-Atlantic team, designing and developing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, was just one of those opportunities. The advanced skill set I gained at Loughborough has, without doubt, aided me in being selected for the coveted position of Cadet Pilot for the largest executive jet operator in the world; NetJets.

My role is demanding, challenging and no two days are the same. The aircraft we fly range from 6 seat Hawker 400 types, flying mostly short European hops, to the 12 seat $60 million Gulfstream G550. I have met so many interesting and influential people within my role at NetJets and the ‘life skills’ I developed during my time at Loughborough have been invaluable.

I studied the MEng in Aeronautical Engineering and then stayed on to do a PhD at Loughborough, based within the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) which is on the University campus. After my PhD I spent a further two years at the UTC working as a Research Associate.

My current role is within the Rolls-Royce Installations Aerodynamics Team at their site in Derby. We are responsible for defining the aerodynamic lines of the ‘nacelle’ which is the cover-housing for aircraft engines, in order to achieve optimum engine efficiency.

My time at Loughborough allowed me to develop my communication and presentation skills which have been invaluable as large aspects of my current work rely on both of these.

The role involves liaison with Airframe customers and nacelle suppliers, and there are also opportunities to travel to support experimental testing at external wind tunnel facilities in the USA and Europe.

Studying and then working at Loughborough have undoubtedly led me into a very varied and challenging career.

After graduating from Loughborough with an MEng in Aeronautical Engineering I began working for Roll-Royce in Derby. Aspects of my degree, such as the Gas Turbine Design module and the interpersonal skills and confidence I gained during my placement year, were a great help as I settled into the job and enabled me to 'hit the ground running.'

My current role is focussed on validating the performance of our new engines in flight to ensure the thrust and fuel burn of the product meets the specification.

I find the technical aspect of my role the most satisfying. In particular, I enjoy seeing my knowledge of engine behaviour develop, and find it very rewarding when I am able to use this to understand issues and problems.

Having taken an aerospace degree, I also enjoy the opportunity to work at aircraft-level and the interaction I have with the airframers. A highlight of my career so far has been the time I spent in the USA representing Performance onboard the Rolls-Royce Flying Testbed; a modified Boeing 747-200 used by the company to investigate the performance of our products in flight.

Whilst studying the Automotive Engineering MEng course at Loughborough, I was offered an industrial placement with MIRA Ltd and since then one opportunity has led to another. I worked as a Powertrain Analyst for MSXi, and then as a Development Engineer with Motorola Zytek Technologies, developing engine management systems for performance cars. Whilst in that role I had the privilege of testing my team’s work on development cars in Detroit.

Later, I took a job as a Technical Specialist with Cenex, a low carbon technology funding body, and decided to go back to Loughborough to get an MBA. That degree gave me a passion for technology commercialisation strategy which earned me the position of Development Manager with a new set up organisation, Lysanda. A year later I was promoted to Operations Manager and was part of a team who successfully launched fuel economy products into the TNT Group and TomTom.

Right now, I’m a very busy freelance Technical Manager. The skills I learnt at Loughborough have definitely led me to a challenging, varied and very enjoyable career.

I studied Automotive Engineering and Design at Loughborough, graduating in 1990. Since 1997 I've worked for Prodrive in a deeply technical role, which in simple terms involves making cars stop and steer better.

Right now I am heavily involved in the new-for-2011 MINI World Rally Programme, which sees me applying hard science to the behaviour of rally cars travelling at high speed over very rough terrain and against the clock.

As well as sitting at my desk, I get to drive the cars hard on various proving grounds and also get strapped in beside world-class drivers on test stages to try to better understand what they like and dislike.

It's enormous fun and very challenging; the degree at Loughborough was a very necessary pre-requisite for my job - for what I do a normal mechanical degree wouldn't have given me the skill base I needed.

After graduating from Loughborough with my degree in Automotive Engineering I became a graduate engineer for one of the world's leading manufacturers of diesel engines – Perkins Engines.

The company's graduate training program has given me the opportunity to work in different areas of the company and participate in projects covering many aspects of engine design, testing and manufacture.

I've had the chance to learn about cutting edge engine technologies and get hands-on experience using industry-leading design and analysis tools.

The range of modules offered during my degree at Loughborough has allowed me to make the most of the variety of opportunities presented by the company's training programme.

Most important of all, Loughborough University's reputation and established relations with industry were absolutely essential in helping me secure employment shortly after graduation.