I studied Maths, Physics and Electronics at A-level, and took a gap year before University where I worked for a broadcasting research and development department writing software and designing and building simple analogue circuitry. I subsequently studied general engineering at Cambridge University, specialising in electronic system design and signal processing in my Master's year. I was sponsored through university by my gap year employer, undertaking software and research projects in different departments.
I didn't want to continue with the employer because they did not have a personal approach to allocating and guiding my placements. So at the start of my third year I looked for alternative summer placements. I wanted practical electronics experience in an industrial company, and heard about Eurotherm through a friend. I applied and was invited to an interview day.
I was offered a summer placement, looking at high speed analogue to digital conversion. I was shown existing designs, and proposed experiments to test aspects of these. Whilst the results were being collected, I looked for alternative ICs and predicted how these would perform. During my placement I was involved with compliance testing of a new product, seeing aspects of development not taught at University. I was impressed by the emphasis on design for manufacturability, the hands-on engineering, and the close ties between development engineers and the end users.
I was subsequently offered a job by Eurotherm. My role involves daily contact with a wide range of design and manufacturing engineers, technicians and product marketers, taking my designs from a blank piece of paper through to release for sale and beyond. It also involves problem-solving to keep the production line running. The company has helped me approach readiness for becoming a Chartered Engineer, and provided training in both technical and non-technical skills.
