Heather Fitch: Jaguar Land Rover graduate

JOB Product development engineer
EMPLOYER Jaguar Land Rover
QUALIFICATIONS BSc automotive technology with management, University of Hertfordshire (2010)

My career stems from my love of cars. I did a sandwich year with my current employer; at the end I attended an assessment centre with other placement students and was offered a job.

Project management

I’m on a two-year graduate scheme, spending the majority of this in the electrical distribution systems (EDS) team, which deals with the distribution of electricity for electronic systems within vehicles. I support the team leader in project management: I liaise with colleagues who work on different elements of the EDS and the suppliers who provide our components, ensuring that they are supplied on time and to the correct specification. I also head down to the factory floor if any relevant issues arise while a vehicle is in production.

I regularly visit suppliers and view their facilities. Many have regional bases, so these have been day trips so far. Internally, I liaise with other engineers and the finance and marketing departments. The latter requests new features; I help coordinate my team’s assessment of whether we can deliver these, considering technical, cost and production factors.

I need to ask the right questions of the right people, build strong relationships and deal with everyone in a positive manner. It’s also important to be well organised and have a general understanding of electrical principles and CAD.

Graduate scheme placements

As well as my main role, I’ve just finished a three-month placement in the hybrids team and will complete another placement in a technical team, work on the factory floor and spend time with a business department. It can be daunting joining a new team temporarily but it’s great for developing a network and everyone is very supportive.

I typically work 8.00 am till 4.30 pm, with a half day on Friday. I’m completing an MSc in vehicle engineering while I work, funded by my employer, via a scheme with the universities of Loughborough, Cranfield, Coventry and Warwick. I select modules from different universities; each involves a week on campus and a project to complete at home. I’m also working towards chartership.

Racing an electric car

I’m participating in a challenge to build and race electric cars with graduates from other engineering and business departments. It’s organised by Greenpower to promote engineering careers – both corporate teams and young people enter. My company provides our facilities and funding and we develop our vehicle after work. We’re currently competing in a series of heats; I recently raced at Silverstone.

I worked on the latest version of the Jaguar XF on my sandwich year and it’s great now seeing it on the roads. When I returned as a graduate we had a ‘ride and drive’ day, trying out various Jaguar and Range Rover models on the track and off road. I also borrowed an XF for the weekend to display at a Greenpower race. It was brilliant driving it home to show my parents.