We caught up with Olyvia about her time on the Systems Engineering Graduate Scheme at Leonardo. She tells us all about her experience in different placements across the firm and gives us her top CV building tips!
Hi, I’m Olyvia. I completed a 4-year BEng Aerospace Engineering degree at The University of Nottingham with a placement year thrown into the mix. I did my placement at Rolls Royce in Control Systems; this was the first time I got introduced to Systems Engineering and this is what I’m currently doing now! During my last year of uni, I applied to the Systems Engineering Graduate Scheme here at Leonardo, which I’ve just completed. So, I’ve been here for just over 2 years now.
What is your role and how long have you been at Leonardo?
During the graduate scheme, we did 4 6-month rotations in various departments, so I gained experience in all the different parts of the product life cycle. I work in Luton in the company's electronic warfare line of business. On my first placement, I worked on testing, fixing and documentation that is all towards the end of the process. In my second placement, we’d just come up with a test solution for our BriteCloud countermeasure which helps keeps protect the aircrews of different aircraft.
When I joined, I was testing the test solution to ensure it fulfilled requirements, find what needed to be improved and got involved in some project planning. My third placement was fairly early in the life cycle - it involved a lot of testing and assisting on the production side of things. I also wrote up test procedures and the requirements that the test procedures needed to follow. So, my second placement was very lab based whereas my third was a mix of both and involved working on Requirements Capturing Systems. In my fourth placement I worked on Radar Warning Receivers which was towards the end of the cycle. I was looking at bugs, figuring out how to trigger a system response depending on the environment and carried out final formal test. I’ve continued to work in this area – finalising documents and making sure everything works as it should before it goes out the door.
What inspired you to apply for this role/this company?
Once I had completed my placement year and figured out I really enjoyed System Engineering, I knew that was the area I wanted to look for a job in. Most people who do an Aerospace Engineering Degree would agree with me in saying that it’s quite broad - there’s so many different parts to an aircraft system. So, I wanted to go into systems, but I didn’t really know where specifically. The thing that intrigued me about Leonardo was all of the different placements available, being able to see the company as a whole and be involved in all the different tasks of a System Engineer. When I did my interview, I also had a tour of the site and I found that everyone was so friendly. I really could envision myself working at Leonardo and I knew there was a lot I could learn. It was a place I saw myself at after university, and thankfully I got the job!
Top tips for anyone who’d like to apply for a role at Leonardo?
Doing your research is one of the most important things! There are so many people that don’t really know what company they’re applying for, or they send a very generic application. Since joining I’ve been involved in STEM activities, which involves helping recruit students for a work experience programme. Although they’re from secondary school they still have to fill out an application. It’s obvious when they’ve looked into the company, and it shows you want to work there. Look back on everything you’ve done and look at the skills you’ve gained from past experiences – they will all help you in the role you’re applying for. For example, if you volunteered weekly in a charity shop, it shows you have good communication skills, so you don’t have to have specific field experience. For a graduate scheme you just need to show you’ve taken an interest in A. the area you’re applying to whether that be through reading books or attending seminars and B. extracurricular activities, so that’s doing things to improve your soft skills. We look for potential, not just what you’ve already done at that level!
What is the company culture like?
The impression that I got at the interview was true, everyone is really nice and open! For example, if I’m going to the Kitchenette to get a cup of coffee, I tend to see other colleagues and we have a chat about currents events or any life updates. They’re definitely some people that may seem to more intimidating to approach, but when you actually ask them for help, they’re so willing to support and help you in developing your skills. One thing I’ve noticed is that as the people I’m asking help from are mainly engineers, they’re all so excited to talk about their work. Even after they’ve answered my questions, they’ll offer to chat over coffee and discuss the topic more. Leonardo is a great place to talk to people and as everyone is willing to help. It makes it a lot easier to improve your Engineering knowledge. Across all teams, we share the common goal of getting our work done to the best of our ability.
What do you find most interesting about the sector/industry you’re in?
The different concepts I come across are all really interesting. We have a whole department that focuses on investigating potential concepts or new business ventures, and they assess whether it’s viable and make an idea or invention a reality. Also, seeing something evolve from a theory is interesting. I’ve worked on projects that were initially concepts and have seen how far it’s all come. Some things seem near impossible but actually they do secure funding and make massive breakthroughs. I always say wow - you don’t know what they’re going to come up with next. Things are always changing, and new things are being created. For example, the things I’m working on now will soon be old news, as people are already working on the next bigger and better thing. How people continually improve on things is really cool to see.
Have you come across any challenges?
When you’re working in big companies you do come across so many different people and personalities. You have to figure out what’s the best way to communicate with someone and sometimes you might misinterpret the way someone says something. When you come from education where things are one way and then move into the industry, you do have to be very self-sufficient. People will do things differently compared to what you’ve been exposed to in a school setting. So, it’s all about figuring out how to adapt to the changes, and this may take some time! For instance, I found it challenge when you have to approach someone you don’t know and have to get into a discussion with them about work. Going into the workplace is definitely a shift but everyone is so welcoming!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I get involved in as many activities as I can! Leonardo encourages people to get involved in different things. Every opportunity I got given; I took it, and I hope people will do the same! It’s important to get out there and almost show my face. Especially in the Engineering world, the split of diversity, ethnicity and gender is very much still in favour of the white, male Engineer. The more people like me who get out there, women and people of colour, the more we can improve diversity and Engineering, and show that there is this space for people in the field. I really love doing things like STEM activities because when I was growing up, I didn’t see a lot of women or people of colour in STEM at all. I had an interest in it, but it didn’t make sense why there weren’t more people like me in Engineering roles. So, I wanted to make a difference and I hope I have and will inspire other people to do the same thing and get involved in the area.
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