Student Process Engineer Review

Process Engineer supporting a manufacturing plant that produces active ingredients for insecticides. Work involves reactive day-to-day manufacturing support, problem solving issues that delay and stop production. There is also plenty of work on longer term projects solving larger issues looking at sustainability, productivity and capacity. Also worked on data analysis and using smart data platforms to better monitor the process. Opportunities to work within multi-disciplinary teams and learn from a range of specialists.

Yes, I had a lot of responsibility. For most of the year I felt part of the team and was told that I had the workload and responsibility of a graduate engineer.
After about 8 months, I made my first software change to the chemical plant that I designed and organised installation for.
In the last couple months, I helped lead a corporate away day and ran workshops on health and safety protocol.

Massively improved my interpersonal skills and confidence in working within a team with people much more experienced than myself. I have chaired meetings in hybrid working environments, delivered presentations and led workshops to an audience of 50 people.
I have learnt to manage my time exceptionally well and manage projects from start to finish.
My engineering knowledge has improved drastically as I supported the process of chemical manufacturing.

Plenty of guidance. 2 hours of catch ups with line manager each week and lots of informal guidance from others.
Informal on the job training was common and I was expected to pick things up quickly, I did very few formal training courses.

Good - work/life balance is very good and this is prioritised.
Only issue is that a placement student can sometimes be treated like external staff who don't get the same benefits.

9/10 - Would recommend to anyone who is proactive in wanting a career as a process engineer.

Yes