In my first year, I was proud to receive the UKESF Renesas Award, which led to a summer internship with Renesas Electronics. During my internship, I developed my knowledge of power electronics, circuit analysis and automation by creating a suite of Python scripts to collect and analyse efficiency data. Building on this experience, I was delighted to secure a placement as a Hardware Engineer at Leonardo, where I am continuing to expand my industry knowledge and technical skills. In this role, I have the opportunity to contribute to real-world hardware projects while gaining a deeper understanding of how multidisciplinary teams collaborate to design, develop and deliver innovative products.
My industry experience has made the engineering concepts covered as part of my degree more meaningful by allowing me to see how they are applied in real-world engineering environments. It has also helped me identify the aspects of engineering work that I enjoy most, enabling me to make more informed decisions about future career opportunities. I have also gained a good understanding of the full engineering development lifecycle from initial concept and design through to testing and final product delivery. Through working alongside and learning from experienced engineers, I have strengthened my problem-solving skills, gained valuable industry insight and contributed meaningfully to project outcomes. In addition, I have developed key skills of Arduino, Python, electronics fundamentals, VHDL, instrumentation, PCB design and layout, mechatronics, machine vision, control theory, hardware testing and debugging, data analysis, electronic design, technical documentation and the use of engineering instrumentation.
After graduation, I hope to secure a graduate role in hardware, electronics, or robotics, where I can continue to develop my technical expertise and contribute to innovative projects.