Profile

I am married with two children, one at primary the other in Yr. 8, we live near the Peak District in a town called Ashbourne. I like to cook, but I am terrible at following the recipe, and if I need cheering up, make a cake or flapjack.

We have a black cat who has a very quiet miaow but very sharp claws.

I work as a Life-cycle Engineer, using information from Aeroplane engines to check they are working safely, efficiently and quietly. Aeroplane engines have to be very safe and reliable, you cannot stop mid-flight and make repairs!

An aircraft engine has to operate for many years, you may fly on a plane with the same engines today and when you have your own families.

Rolls-Royce is developing more fuel efficient engines, and also electric propulsion to help tackle pollution and climate change. This is a very exciting change and needs lots of scientists to help make better batteries, lighter materials and AI control systems.

Rolls-Royce Derby

I am usually working on 2 or 3 big problems that need a few months or years to solve, and some small job that can be finished in a few days.

I start the day by checking if information or requests have come in from the USA, China, Singapore or japan (aircraft engine work all over the world). I then have to decide what is the most important task – safety comes first !

Most problems need lots of input from more specialist scientists or engineers – there are lots of mechanical engineers, aeronautical engineers and physicists in the company but not may chemists. I have to ask them for help – it can be difficult to ask the right questions, then under-stand the answers so we make the right decisions. Often the decision needs to be presented to Senior engineers and non-technical people  – this is sometimes fun, sometimes very difficult.