design engineer apprentice Review

My role as a design engineer apprentice is within the team of PLM predominantly helping to design new components or modify and improve old ones for both existing and new magnets. I use the CAD software siemens NX to visualise the designs and create engineering drawings to send to suppliers. There is some practical work with testing and mockup trials of parts I help to design and I also work with SCM to update drawings or parts used on the shop floor to make sure the process runs smoothly.

I have learned lots of occupational skills including CAD modelling and drawing as well as material selection, design for manufacture and assembly and began to become exposed to FEA. I have also hugely developed soft skills on day-to-day experience working in the office as well as available training day courses in presentation skills, GROWS coaching and communication skills workshops.

I really love to come to work and find the projects I have been included in really interesting and progressive. I am given lots of responsibility for my own work but have continued support from a team of very knowledgeable engineers who are extremely helpful and generous with their time to help me when needed.

On a broad overview level, the program is structured well, with key milestones and tracked progress. The Knowledge, Skill and Behavior focus through the full program helps you to see the areas of you need to develop further and the areas that you are developing well. However, the workload can fluctuate in intensity, with some quiet patches and some pretty heavily loaded periods.

There is a good level of support from the business as a whole, with lots of employees who understand my position as an apprentice and act with kindness and patience as I continue to learn. My manager is very supportive, and I can be completely honest with any concerns I have during my regular 1-2-1's, which are acted upon to provide additional support or guidance where needed.

The provision of a workplace coach is beneficial to help guide me in the work I need to do to document my own personal apprenticeship progress. The communication from the AMRC is usually conducted through emails, there have been a few occasions where this was a little confused.

The majority of the modules in my university foundation degree are relevant to my current role as a design engineer at siemens healthineers, however some are more tenuously linked than others. Still the engineering principles taught through the apprenticeship are good foundations for all engineering so could be beneficial in future.

As a relatively large company, there are lots of smaller clubs that you can get involved in. I am part of the cake club (where we take it in turns to bake each week) and the run club which has a weekly 5k jog on Friday as well as opportunity for events like the Blenheim 7k race. I have not partaken in many networking events yet but I know there is opportunity to attend events like international conferences.

Yes

The opportunity to learn from intelligent and experienced individuals, at a company manufacturing important life saving MRI equipment.

You should showcase your willingness to learn and enthusiasm. Ask questions about the role to find out if it is a good match for your own skillset and research the company to show that you are interested! Understand and enter the process with expectation that hard work will be needed, and the work may be challenging but it is also rewarding, giving you a strong start to your career.