Systems Engineer Review

My time with MBDA has been an incredible experience and is one that has helped me so much in my progression as an engineer. Being able to shape my working hours around my personal life has meant I am able to enjoy my time at work and my time out of work. There are many social and sporting events to get involved in.

A few months in to my placement I was asked to present the output of one of my studies at the department's annual meeting. In attendance were several company directors from France and Italy as well as my manager and his manager. This was the moment where I realised just how much my work was valued. Another example of my colleagues valuing my development is that they were keen for me to attend industry events and exhibitions, including Paris Airshow, to understand the wider picture.

I was given lots of support in helping to plan my future and understand the options that may be available to me in the future. In the early days I was given regular feedback which helped steer me on the right track. As my placement progressed and my manager's faith in me increased, I required less assistance and given more autonomy. I would have appreciated if task instructions were more detailed and stated exactly what was expected, rather than have to figure this out for myself.

I was pleased with just how much I was tasked with as have been able to take on additional roles and responsibilities. I often found I was working towards several deliverables simultaneously and had to plan my time appropriately so I would work on different pieces in parallel. In the early days of my placement I was occasionally short of work. I solved this by approaching other people to pick up other tasks.

For an undergraduate placement I was amazed by the amount of responsibility that was handed to me. I led the team through reviews, produced management plans and process diagrams and wrote technical reports that were used by senior decision makers. Being given so much responsibility allowed me to challenge myself and improved my skills dramatically.

Working with MBDA has allowed me to pick up new skills and further develop skills I have picked up from other experiences. I have improved my ability to present my work, both in written and verbal form and am comfortable in knowing that I can tailor the content and style of my presentations to suit the audience in front of my. I have become more adept at managing my time and meeting targets.

Over the course of my placement I spent time in two different offices and my experiences were polar opposite. In my first 6 months the atmosphere was incredibly friendly and even relaxed at times. It was a great place to be as from time to time you need to take a quick break from the office to ensure you can maintain productivity throughout the day. In my second office, the atmosphere was a bit flat, more in line with what I would have expected prior to the beginning of my placement. I would score Office 1 as an 8 and office 2 as a 2. I think most offices are more like Office 2...

Clear instructions given prior to joining to ensure a smooth transition. All equipment was in place for me joining so I could start learning and working straight away. Have not had any issues with organisation or communication, the team running the placements have everything running well and are always happy to act on any feedback that they receive.

My team showed great care for my personal development and provided me with many opportunities on this front. I am very grateful for this. Undergraduates at MBDA do not receive formal training but there is good reason for this- so you do not have to repeat training courses when you return for the graduate scheme. I have several friends on the graduate scheme and they are very impressed by the quality and quantity of training they receive.

If you impress on your undergraduate placement then there is a high chance you will be offered the opportunity to return for the graduate scheme. The graduate scheme allows you to gain experience in multiple areas of the business to pick up a range of skills and get a feel for what role suits you best.

Not much going on with the group of undergraduates, it is much better to get involved with the graduates. There is something fun going on most weekends.

Coming from one of the cheapest to live areas of the UK I noticed a clear difference in the cost of renting or owning property. Other than this, most other things (food shopping, restaurants, transport, bills) cost the same as they do everywhere else. I was easily able to cover the cost of living and socialising whilst still being able to save some money to take home at the end of the placement.

The centre of London is reachable in around 30 minutes for world-class nightlife. Trains run through the night so no matter how late you are you will be able to get home after a fun night out. Local towns also offer a decent range of quality places to eat and drink.

I was involved in cricket and football tournaments as also regularly played 5 a side with two different groups. Comprehensive sports and social society which almost certainly has something fun for you to get engaged in. Coming from university I was very impressed with just how much was being organised and it is definitely worth attending the fayre to see what you would like to join.