Current role Graduate Aerospace Engineer 

Current employer Rolls-Royce plc 

What was your career path after graduating? I started on the Rolls-Royce Engineering Graduate Scheme a couple of months later in September. It was exciting being able to return to Rolls-Royce following a 10-week summer internship I did there in 2019! 

What would you like to do next? The Graduate Scheme is 18 months long and in this time I rotate through four different roles. After this I hope to move into a substantive role in the company doing some analytical work where I will hone my skills, perhaps as an aerodynamicist. I am also working towards becoming a Chartered Mathematician, and in doing so am able to further my mathematical understanding and ability. 

How did your degree prepare you for this job? The Applied Maths I specialised in during my degree has given me a strong understanding of fluid dynamics and mechanics which I can now apply to exciting real-world applications in my work. The modules I took on numerical analysis and methods have been especially useful in my job when running computational simulations and having to grasp how they work behind the scenes. I’ve found the rigorous mathematical way of thinking to be a valuable transferrable skill for tackling engineering problems. 

What did you enjoy most about your time studying? You can easily find a rhythm when studying a course like Maths so I found I could achieve a good work-life balance. An often-overlooked aspect of the course is the flexibility it gives you; having full reign over what units to take meant I could specialise in the ones that I enjoyed the most and ones which would help towards my career aspirations. 

Do you have any advice for prospective students? Whether or not you have an idea of what your career aspirations are, Maths is a great degree to have to help you stand out. The detail you go into on a Maths course proves an in-depth understanding and gives you a strong specialism. The one thing that you need alongside this is some realisation of the real-world applications of your work. Definitely try to get an internship or some industry exposure. 

Why did you decide to apply to Bristol? Bristol is such a vibrant city and was also ideal for me as the city boasts a strong presence of aerospace companies.