Working in the Backhoe Loader Platform team, my role was hugely varied, with responsibilities ranging from production engineering to NPI project development.

As a production engineer, I responded to issues from the production line, dealers, and customers from an engineering point of view. This involved rapid problem-solving under time pressure and longer-term investigations aimed at improving the safety, quality, and efficiency of current production machines, the production line, and newly introduced products.

The project work at Caterpillar Inc. included both improvements to existing components and the development of new systems. I was able to collaborate with technical teams such as Hydraulics and Structures teams, Supplier Development Engineers and the suppliers themselves. These projects exposed me to new software and analysis techniques, including hose routing, bolted joint analysis and static & modal FEA analysis software, culminating in on-machine prototype testing.

• Developed the cooling package for Manchester’s brand-new FSEV using Matlab, Simulink and CFD.

• Recruited and trained sub-team members on key heat transfer topics pertaining to EV design.

• Created a parameterised intake plenum model, allowing rapid iterative CFD modelling and simulation.

During my internship at Camcraft Ltd. as a tooling engineer, I further honed my skills in precision manufacturing by producing parts with tolerances as tight as ±0.002" for complex aerofoil moulds used in the aerospace industry. This hands-on role required me to operate Bridgeport-style milling machines and work within a single datum system, ensuring that the geometries produced by their EDM and CNC Milling machines match the precision required to form their intricate moulds. This real-world application of Camcraft’s sequential manufacturing processes provided valuable insight into various material removal methods and underscored the critical importance of process design, tolerancing, and precision in machining.

At JNDC, I worked on a range of client-driven design projects, gaining early responsibility and autonomy in delivering commercial solutions. I led development of a sport PPE product from concept to manufacture, translating a consumer-oriented specification into three surface-modelled, manufacturable concepts, and presented design progress directly to the client. I also contributed to a modular lighting system project, conducting competitor and component research, designing electronic assemblies, and producing a functional prototype with a capacitive touch sensor. Through this placement, I strengthened my understanding of design-for-manufacture, supplier communication, and intellectual property management, liaising with suppliers and handling quotes while maintaining confidentiality.