“Gliding is fantastic and requires a good scientific understanding of the weather, which is a nice challenge to stuck into,” she says. “The altitude we can achieve with thermals is amazing, considering that we start from ground level and ascend without the power of an engine.”
Engines are, however, a key part of Jasmine’s role at Cosworth, as one of a team working in the non-production build shop, known affectionately as Build Shop 1.
“We work on low volume, special projects,” she explains. “I assemble a variety of engines, largely race engines and all the sub-assemblies to the engineer’s specification ready for testing. It’s very rewarding to watch the engine running on the testbed after you have spent the time building it.”
Working in the fast lane
Since joining Cosworth, Jasmine has been involved on an historic Formula One project, assembling a variety of engines from the late 80s to early 90s and reverse engineered for historic F1cars. It’s a role that demands precision and perfection.
“There is always a sense of nervousness when your engine gets fired up for the first time,” she admits. “Even though you know you’ve put it together correctly, meticulously following each step and ensuring all the tolerances and specifications are set perfectly, you feel a little anxious as it bursts into life. I often imagine all the components in there moving at 13,000rpm.”
Jasmine’s career has also accelerated since joining Cosworth two years ago. “I left school, unsure about what I wanted to do as a career. I went to a college open day and the motorsport course there really appealed to me. I had a strong interest in cars throughout my teenage years and was keen to challenge myself.
“During my final year of college, I knew I wanted to head down the engine building route. I managed to get some work experience at an engineering company that built historic race engines. When I finished my course, I was offered a full-time role, where I stayed for nine years. I then managed to get an interview here at Cosworth, and the rest is history.”
No two days are the same at Cosworth, as teams pour their efforts into technology solutions that are fit for the modern age. Projects are mapped out with pinpoint precision and meticulous details.
“When it comes to building different engines, there are always different ways of doing things,” says Jasmine. “You always feel like you’re starting again every time. You will know the basics, as most engines have a similar architecture, but there are many detail differences.
“Our engineers will give us a build request and it will include all the specifications. As I work through the first engine, I take a lot of notes. It’s an important task, which eventually becomes my own personal build manual. It includes all the details and quirks that an engine may have, which saves me from having to rely on my memory so, I can be more precise with the way I work. Information like ring gaps, bearing clearances, and torque settings are all in my manual which helps me speed up the process of assembling an engine.”
Building your own path
Cosworth is committed to playing its part in supporting gender equality in an industry that is still heavily male dominated. Jasmine believes equality issues originate from an early age but is now proud to represent female engineering in her Cosworth role.
“Overall, I’ve had great support, I feel like I haven’t been treated any differently which is really good,” she says. “Getting here has had its challenges. Believe it or not, I studied textiles, when I could have done Design Technology. I guess I was pushed down the textile route, because ‘that’s what girls should do’.
“As a woman, it does feel like you are pushed down a certain path. You’re not given other ideas or guidance on different, non-stereotypical careers. Now, looking back I wish I had done some form of engineering-based subject at school. However, saying this, it didn’t stop me from getting to Cosworth. I have a strong mindset and with the interest and desire to push myself to learn something new.
“It would have been great to have female role models to look up to. When I was studying, there weren’t really any role models visible in this field at the time. Being able to see someone like you, working in a place that you dream of gives you extra confidence to think that you can achieve your dream. It does seem to be changing, there are a lot more women in engineering now, which is great for future generations. However, there still is a big gap that we need to address.”
While Jasmine’s career remains firmly on track at Cosworth, she also gets to see the result of her work on actual racetracks. “I attend track tests with our customers to ensure engines are performing to their full capacity,” she says. “Normally, we just keep an eye on the engine, check for leaks, and carry out other tasks to monitor how the engine is running. Sometimes we perform a borescope to check that everything looks okay internally. To see the finished product running on track, really gives me a great sense of achievement. When your engine has done that first run, you relax a little, and then you can just enjoy the test and watch the engine getting put through its paces.”
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https://www.cosworth.com/
https://www.cosworth.com/careers/
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.