James
- Course
- Systems Engineering Degree
- Subject area
- Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
I undertook the Systems Engineering MSc at Loughborough University and I expected to begin professional career as either a Systems Engineer or a Software Engineer, and after some years use this experience to migrate into a Solution Architect position. However, as the degree itself was so comprehensive, I was able to successfully secure a role directly as a Graduate Solution Architect. In my position, I rely heavily on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) techniques, a skill-set I would not have been able to effectively develop and apply without the foundation provided by my the MSc programme.
The teaching quality on the course was excellent; any questions were answered thoroughly, with the lecturers probing to ensure I had understood the concepts thoroughly. There was also a genuine sense of dialogue during lectures and workshops, making the sessions interactive and engaging. In addition to the outstanding support, my personal tutor went above and beyond by organising supplementary sessions and lectures, which helped me to gain a broader understanding of the industry.
My lecturers and classmates at Loughborough, many of whom were industry veterans or professionals, inspired me through their approach to problem-solving. They taught me to adopt a more holistic approach, emphasising the importance of stepping back and giving myself the mental space to fully understand a challenge before offering solutions. This mindset has helped shape the way I tackle problems in both academic and professional settings.
I would highly recommend this course, it has completely transformed the career paths available to me, equipping me with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue my career aspirations.
During my studies, I participated in a Micro-Internship to gain valuable experience and insight into a professional setting and their processes and practices. I worked over 50 hours across three weeks at Loughborough, where I gained valuable engineering and scientific knowledge of skin abrasion and skin epidermis scanning techniques, broadening my understanding of biomedical engineering applications.
My contributions to the project mainly surrounded the restructuring of MATLAB code into a more modular architecture. MATLAB is a programming language created by MathWorks and stands for Matrix Laboratory. My work focused on restructuring the existing code into a more usable, modular architecture. My Systems engineering degree really helped with designing the systems architecture, as I was able to use the SysML Modelling language to represent the program diagrammatically.
The SysML Modelling language and MBSE techniques taught in my degree were a critical part of my Micro-Internship, and enabled me to map out and plan my efforts effectively, as well as helped to identify any problems with my design, which allowed me to utilise my short time on the project in the most efficient way possible. My time was not without its hurdles, as the initial investigation work into the MATLAB scripts did take me longer than anticipated. To address this, I had to re-assess the project scope to ensure the remaining tasks were achievable with the time available. This required effective time management, prioritisation, and communication to align expectations and to ensure I delivered a meaningful contribution by the end of the Micro-Internship.
The most rewarding part of the Micro-Internship was knowing that I had made a meaningful contribution into the larger project researching skin abrasion and skin epidermis scanning techniques. The Micro-Internship is an excellent opportunity for students who may not have the time or flexibility to commit to a full year-in-industry placement. It provides valuable work experience that enhances your CV and strengthens your job prospects after University. Beyond that, it helps build confidence and eased any apprehension I had about transitioning into the professional world.
