PE: Hardware and Mechatronics Undergraduate Review

I worked 3 days a week in the fastener engineering department, assisting building of current cars when there were issues on build lines, reviewing bolted joints to be used in current and future powertrain programmes and assisting in testing of any joints where it was required. I also spent 2 days a week working with the materials characterisation team assisting in the development of a new process for CAE characterisation of polymeric materials.

I have learned many new skills including process development and project management skills but my placement mostly developed pre-existing engineering skills including critical thinking, communication, teaching, analysis, CAD creation and manipulation, creating engineering drawings and laboratory testing and report creation. This placement did teach me an extraordinary amount about the amount of work which goes into the manufacture of a vehicle and the work that each of my teams do towards supporting the manufacture of a product.

I was given responsibility for communications with engineers regarding their joints for a whole battery programme and process development for all polymer characterisation. These were fairly large responsibilities, providing integral support to the teams I was in and allowed me to develop in my role

I received a lot of support from my teams and the JLR early careers team in settling in to my role and being given the right amount of help in learning the responsibilities of the role

JLR as a company are very supportive of all employees, especially early careers employees such as undergraduates. Any issues I had just had to be raised with my early careers cohort lead and it was sorted. The company appreciates sharing of life events out of work as well and many events are put on throughout the year.

I loved my placement, I have always wanted to work in the automotive industry and JLR was the perfect introduction to this. I was given enough responsibility to be kept busy but not enough to be stressed about my workload at any point. Being part of early careers meant that I was able to attend many events I would otherwise not have, such as a ride and drive where I was able to drive one of the products.

Yes

It is a very competitive placement to get onto and requires a sound knowledge of the company and competitors (for my role at least) so make sure to do research before applying. If you do get onto the placement, make the most of the post offer engagement activities and try your best to make friends on the programme and in your team. The early careers community put on a lot of events outside of work which I would recommend going to if you end up living alone.