Test Facilities, Systems & Equipment Engineer Review

Typically looking at supporting Test Beds with engine testing. My job involves creating schemes and detailed drawings for specific tests, and following outlined processes to ensure that everything goes smoothly. I use CAD packages to model mechanical parts and schemes for engine testing, but I also help create electrical components such as looms, enclosures and harnesses on CAD for designers that will be used on our Test Beds.

I have learnt how to use a completely new CAD package that I hadn't heard of until starting the apprenticeship. It has also allowed me to develop my leadership skills as I now have to be the technical lead for some of the projects that I'm working on.

I completed my programme this year and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were some times when it was stressful due to outside impacts such as the pandemic, but the apprenticeship enabled me to get a wealth of experience in a variety of different areas, whilst continuing with my studies at university.

There were some times within the apprenticeship that felt less structured than what I would have expected of a company this size, however there is a large amount of support available to the apprentices. When starting in a new team there would be induction packs for most areas that would break down what the team does and where it sits within the overall company.

As previously stated, there is a lot of support available for apprentices - managers, apprentice development leads, business contacts, and friends. If there was ever an issue then I felt confident that I could share this with someone in my support network and they would help to resolve the issue for me.

Personally I had as much support as I needed from my NVQ assessor. He was always happy to set up times for us to go through my evidence for my qualification and would sit in on presentations that I gave or watched as I completed some work for my qualification. He was fair in his assessment of my skills and helped me to improve where possible.

My apprenticeship has really helped me when it comes to my current role. I made a whole network of connections that I can talk to if I don't understand something, and has helped me follow the applicable procedures as this is work that I have already covered when in my apprenticeship.

Before Covid, there were many activities that people could take part in. Also being at University it meant that we could also take part in social activities within the University if we wanted to. Sport teams such as football, rugby, and badminton were the ones that I was aware of at work.

Yes

I think it really allows for breadth of engineering knowledge and skills - you are working on so many different teams across the 3 years and on so many different projects but they all feed in to the same final output. It's also nice to be able ot come out of the apprenticeship debt free with a degree!

Be confident within yourself, and understand that it's ok to not know everything. Prepare for the interview well by finding out what Rolls-Royce actually do, some of their upcoming projects, and show a passion for engineering. Try to make sure that you are comfortable juggling many things at once and know that you will be ok in the end (degree, NVQ work, day to day work)