Tell us about your career path since graduation.
After graduation, I embarked on a PhD at the University of Glasgow, specialising in ultrasonic technology. I completed my PhD in four years, and subsequently entered a research and development collaboration in sub-sea oil and gas exploration technology, in which I am presently employed. As a Research Associate, I am responsible for conducting a variety of numerical modelling and simulation procedures to test design concepts, before I perform experimental validation on manufactured prototypes.
What does your current role entail?
In my current role, I am part of an international research and development collaboration in sub-sea oil and gas exploration technology. I work with different industrial partners, one of which is based in Norway, another in the USA, and others in the UK. The research is supported by the Oil & Gas Innovation Centre.
My principal responsibilities are to conduct both numerical simulations of design concepts, and experimental investigation of manufactured prototypes. I assist in the coordination of research and development activity between the collaboration partners, which can be challenging due to it being an international enterprise.
Tell us about your most interesting career experience to date.
I developed a concept design for my collaborator based in Norway, for the sub-sea oil and gas exploration technology project. This concept was taken through to manufacture, and I was given the opportunity to travel to visit the company premises in Norway to observe the fabricated product in operation. I was delighted to see it operating as I intended throughout the design stage, and was satisfied that I had used my engineering skills to develop a product for practical use.
Why did you decide to become professionally registered?
I wanted to become professionally registered to be a part of the wider engineering community and to improve my employment prospects for the future. I also consider professional registration to be an indicator of expertise, which can prove valuable in giving confidence to clients or professional collaborators regarding your competence as an engineer.
How long did it take you to achieve?
I achieved my professional registration five years after graduating with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering. The time between starting my application, through a number of drafts, to passing the final interview, was around ten months.
What was your process for working towards professional registration?
After graduation, I familiarised myself with what was required to achieve professional registration, including an understanding of the core competencies and the assessment process. Throughout the five years leading to the submission of my application, I reviewed the competences on a regular basis. The information provided by the Institution was useful, as it enabled me to identify the areas where I needed to improve.
Once these areas were recognised, I could discuss them with my line manager to ensure I was getting the proper experience from my work to enable me to be suitable for professional registration. I had support from colleagues and my line manager throughout the process, and was able to speak to different engineers who had been through the process for advice. The Institution also provided valuable support when I needed it.
What was your experience of the Professional Review interview?
Prior to my interview, I was introduced to a convener, who clarified the interview process to me. The interview was conducted by two professional Chartered engineers, who questioned me on my career, what I have learned, what responsibilities I have had, and how I satisfy each core competency. I also found it essential to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the by-laws as set out by the Institution.
The interviewers put me at ease from the start, and seemed genuinely interested in what I had achieved in my career. One recommendation I would put forward would be to take any relevant materials to the interview you think would be interesting to discuss with the interviewers. These materials can be anything from illustrations of a design concept, to evidence of an award for achievement in engineering excellence, and can enhance the interview experience.
How has professional registration benefitted you?
Since I operate in an international collaboration, and I regularly present my work at international conferences and symposia, I find it much easier to engage with more senior engineers from different institutions around the world. My professional registration status provides them with evidence of my engineering competence.
In the future, I expect I will be able to progress to positions of much greater responsibility using my professional registration, but also assist graduate engineers to become professionally registered themselves.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
In five years, I would like a role that has even more responsibility where, ideally, I’m leading my own research and development team. At the same time, I would like a comparable level of technical engagement to what I have now in my work, which I enjoy and find rewarding. I would also like to be able to see direct evidence of my work improving society.
And finally, if you could give one piece of advice to a graduate engineer today, what would it be?
I would strongly encourage graduate engineers to engage in both the wider engineering community and in public outreach activities if they can. Public outreach is something I consider to be very important in promoting our profession, and helping the general public to understand what we do. Engineers are vital for the success of the country, especially with respect to economic competitiveness and societal well-being. Engagement with both the public and the Institution is essential in order for engineers to be respected, and for our position in society to reflect the importance of what we do.
Graduate engineers are the future of the profession, and so it is very important that they take a key role in this.