Case studies : Graduate systems engineer: Arlene McConnell

Arlene graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2008 with a BEng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering. Currently, she is a graduate engineer in radar and advanced targeting systems at Selex Galileo.

From the outset, I knew I wanted to work for a company that used cutting edge technology, and in this country, this is often located in the defence sector. My company is a leader in the field of airborne mission critical systems such as radar and electro-optic integrated surveillance systems.

I thoroughly enjoy my role as a systems engineer working in a multi-disciplinary project team as it gives me the scope to work on a spectrum of activities and areas including systems integration and testing, systems design and documentation as well as system modelling and algorithm development.

I am currently working on a document that defines how the sub-units of a fire control radar system for a fighter jet integrate together and a mathematical modelling and algorithm development task. This consists of building a virtual representation of the system in order to ascertain how a swash plate mounted antenna should be controlled in response to tactical situations and tracked target movements.

Both these design projects appeal to me as they require a high level of accuracy and a lot of problem-solving, which is what I really enjoy doing. I have settled into a role that really suits me. This is due to the fact that I was provided with the opportunity to find out where I best fitted within the company. As graduates, we are encouraged to undertake three month rotations in different project teams or different disciplines, some of which can even be outside your particular specialist area or degree, such as finance or commerce. Experiences like these really help identify your strengths, likes and dislikes and ensure you apply your skills and abilities where they will have most impact.
 
If I could give advice to others applying for graduate positions I’d say it is important to aim high and learn how to differentiate yourself. I did not get my job through the more tried and tested route of completing an internship. However, during the selection process I could give examples of how I had developed ‘soft skills’ such as teamwork and communication through playing for my university’s rugby team. I also served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and attended airshows, which demonstrated my interest in products that companies like mine own, design and build.

In addition to this, I feel that it is paramount to show passion for your chosen career path and have readily identifiable indicators that you can point to when you are trying to take your first steps into industry. For example, in my spare time I used to build small engineering-based projects (I made a sonar ranging device using a PIC microcontroller), which I feel showed my motivation, something companies are really keen to see in their applicants.

My future aspirations are to continue progressing through the engineering career stream within Selex Galileo and to achieve IET chartership.