Graduate Software Engineer Review

My role involves completing a number of software tasks that are assigned to me by manager. In general these have included creating applications that will help to support and speed up other tasks that are being done by other people within the team. An example application is one that bombards boards with data to see how they handle them. Another is an application that looks at output bit logs from a product when it has failed a test and uses these to suggest ways to fix the product.

I have done both. I have developed existing skills that I learnt while I was at university and become much more comfortable programming in a number of different languages. On top of this I have not only learnt new languages to create applications but | have also gained exposure to embedded systems and gathered knowledge about hardware and mechanical systems by talking to engineers across discipline.

I really enjoy my programme. There has been a good balance of development and working. All of the tasks that I have done have been carefully tailored to both help the project that I am on and developing my skills so that I can further my career while here. There is a real focus on development.

It is a well structured 2 year scheme. We complete 4 x 6 months placements and these are carefully selected to give us exposure to different stages of the lifecycle, different sized teams, different ways of working and to gather different skills. Alongside this we have academic learning and stretch activities to make our experience very well rounded.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. It is mandated that we spend a minimum of 20% of our time completing graduate tasks to ensure that we get the development we need. But the other 80% aren't meaningless tasks, they are tasks that are set by the placements I am on and offer real development opportunities, but I am never made to feel bad for completing grad work instead,

I receive lots of support from everyone around me. We are given plenty of time to work towards our qualifications. We are given a week away from the office to attend online lectures and then time on the job to complete the assignments that are set. The time we are given feels like enough to complete everything needed.

While the qualification itself is very general so it doesn't give me a lot of development in terms of software experience, it does give me more exposure to general engineering and what other disciplines do, specifically manufacturing. This is something that I probably wouldn't have much exposure to otherwise.

Yes. There is so much that goes on at site. We have different types of football that run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ping pong on Wednesday lunch times, basketball on Thursdays. And that's just the stuff that I know about, I'm sure there is even more. As far as other social activities there is always stuff going on, trips to theatre, go-karting trips, pub trips. Lots to get involved in.

Yes

I already have recommended it to a friend and would recommend it to more. It is a great place to work with lots of development opportunities. The work/life balance is fantastic and I feel like everyone here will support you. Being able to take holiday at no notice for life's little emergencies as well as flexible working has made everything run very smoothly for me.

Relax. Its very easy to get stressed when applying to jobs and to get very worked up about interviews. Everyone is very friendly here and the interview process is relaxed so you should be too and you'll have a better chance of doing well. Apart from that it would be to apply because if you get in you will really enjoy your time here. Lots of people join and don't leave, or do leave and come back. This happens for a reason.