Profile

I am from Clare in Ireland. I started working for Airbus in September 2015. My partner and I live in Hitchin which is a five minute train ride to work. My partner works for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) which is also nearby. We are a half hour train ride from London so when we get free time we like to go into London on day trips but if we’re feeling lazy we just stay at home and watch movies. I also play the saxophone and would like to play with a band in one of Londons jazz clubs someday. Luckily Hitchin is also close to Luton airport which flies to Knock airport so we can get home to see our family and friends a couple of times a year.

Since I joined the graduate program with Airbus Defence and Space I have had the opportunity to try out four different engineering jobs.

The first department I worked for was the Antenna Mechanical Responsible Engineering department. This jobe involved working with a team of engineers to develop antenna systems for satellites that provide internet and TV to different parts of the world. My job was to make sure that the thermal engineer (makes sure the spaceship can survive the very hot and very cold temperatures in space), the design engineer (draws up the designs for the antenna) the radio frequency engineer (comes up with the design for the signals transmitted by the antenna and makes sure they are targeted where the customer wants them) and the mechanical analysis engineer (makes sure the antenna survives the launch) all work together in the right direction.

The next department I worked for was the antenna mechanical design department. My job was to draw up the designs for the antenna and make sure it is possible to make designs into real parts.

After this I worked for the antenna mechanical analysis department (described in the my typical day section). After the graduate scheme is over I will be joining this department permanently.

Finally in April I will be working with the mechanical architect department on Solar Orbiter, a spaceship that will be launched at the end of next year to study the sun.

In a few weeks Airbus will be opening the Airbus discovery space centre on our Stevenage site.

This unique facility will consist of a multi-functional education centre with interactive exhibits, a space to deliver classes and workshops, and a viewing gallery connecting with ongoing engineering activities to build and test the European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover in the Mars Yard.

The centre is designed to help young people with advice and guidance on the best pathways into science and engineering careers. Here young people will receive real insights into the job opportunities available in the area and what employers look for when recruiting.

When I was younger I found that seeing aircraft up close really got me thinking about how they work and ultimately led to a career in engineering. A visit to the centre will provide a great opportunity for young people to get closer to a space mission than is usually possible and speak to scientists and engineers who work in the industry about their work and how to get into a career in science or engineering themselves.