This rotation-based graduate scheme focused on the Operations Division, where I was mostly placed in the Car Build group and Race Logistics. In these roles, I applied my engineering knowledge and project management skills to support car builds ahead of races, particularly utilising the additional skills I gained from the optional modules from the final two years of my degree which include Organisation Structure & Strategy; Advanced Manufacturing Processes and Technology; Sports Engineering, as well as Manufacturing Planning and Control.

The graduate opportunity in Formula 1 presented numerous challenges but equipped me with invaluable knowledge and expertise from working closely with my team and colleagues. The most rewarding part was proving to myself that I could work in an industry like Formula 1 for a team I’ve always dreamed of joining. The learning and development never stops and every step I have taken to advance my skills has made me a better Engineer, which is something I believe we all strive for.

After completing my graduate role, I now work as a Reliability Engineer at McLaren Racing. My current role focuses on two key areas of improvement. Part of the year, I am trackside, where I address issues reactively as they arise. The rest of the time, I work at our factory in Woking, proactively preventing problems from recurring or emerging in the first place. Our team’s core mantra is "our car must not stop on track," and everything we do is driven by this goal. In terms of issue identification and resolution, my team collaborates across all areas of the business from Aero and Design to Manufacturing, Final Build and Trackside Operations. This makes my role diverse, combining both a strong human element and the need for technical expertise. Both aspects are skills that the Product Design Engineering course helped me to develop.