Graduate Engineer, Sheffield

Sam Anderson

Engineering

Placement (10 Months+)

Arm

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’m originally from York but did a MEng in Electronic Engineering in Southampton. I have been working for ARM full-time for about 9 months now; before that I did a summer and year placement here. I am currently based in the Sheffield offices working on the verification of reference platforms. This involves ensuring all the various blocks of IP within an ARM SoC function correctly when combined. My main responsibility at the moment is maintaining the regression flow used to run the large test suites and deliver the results to project management.

Why did you choose ARM? What made this company stand out from the others?

I hadn’t heard of ARM before starting at university but it quickly became clear that they were a well-regarded company in the industry and that their business model was a bit different from the competition. I also wanted to return to the North after University so the fact they had an office in Sheffield definitely appealed! I applied for a summer internship which led to a year-long industrial placement and when I graduated they offered me a job.

What it’s like to work at ARM/ A bit about your experience so far –for example, project work, development opportunities, social activities (example GGC, team ARM), and living around ARM office locations.

My experience of working at Arm so far has been very positive. There is a great balance of work and social life so I’m never bored. On the work side, I am always working on new, exciting challenges that keep me motivated and learning, while events such as the GGC and various events organized within the office ensure it’s not all work and no play! The GGC was a great opportunity for making new friends and contacts around the world and really makes you feel like you’re part of the company straight away. Living in an active city like Sheffield has also been great for getting outdoors and keeping active and the more motivated of us often get out the office to run/climb/bike etc. whether it is for TeamARM (our company charity) or just for fun!

Has the role lived up to your expectations?

The role has had a lot more responsibility than I originally expected. I was put straight onto ‘real world’ work rather than small beginners projects that can quickly get boring. I am amazed by how much responsibility you are given as a intern but also how well this helps you develop as an engineer.