Digital Engineering Intern Review

I managed the Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) within the Future Technologies department. Day-to-day this covered running the Student Advisor programme, recruiting and coordinating advisors, delivering technical training sessions (Solid Edge, NX, UR5e robotics, Bambu Lab 3D printing, Sony XR headsets), and organizing various competitions and events including the Robotic Arm Competition end-to-end. I also contributed to the ECP AI Chatbot project built on SiemensGPT.

Yes. I was responsible for the day-to-day running of the DIZ space at the University of Sheffield, opening and managing the space, handling equipment bookings, troubleshooting kit and ordering consumables. I also ran recruitment for the Student Advisor programme independently (160+ applications, 70+ interviews, 30+ advisors recruited), delivered 20–40 technical training sessions without close supervision, hosted visitor group sessions in the space and owned the Robotic Arm Competition from planning through delivery

I gained certifications in NX (Emixa) and UR5e robotics (Universal Robots) during the placement. Delivering training across Solid Edge, NX, UR5e, Bambu Lab 3D printing, and Sony XR headsets built my ability to explain technical software/hardware to non-specialist audiences. Running the Student Advisor recruitment and managing 30+ advisors also developed my people management and communication skills, and coordinating the Robotic Arm Competition end-to-end gave me experience leading a project from planning through delivery. I also gained exposure to LLM-based application development through the ECP AI Chatbot project on SiemensGPT.

I was given a handover document at the start and largely self-directed from there, including delivering technical training and running the DIZ day-to-day independently. I’d have valued more regular check-ins early on, but the autonomy let me take ownership of the space and projects quickly.

The atmosphere was inclusive and supportive, placement students were treated as full members of the team rather than separately, and there was an open, approachable culture across the Company.

I enjoyed the placement significantly, largely because of the level of ownership I had, running the DIZ day-to-day, leading the Student Advisor recruitment, and coordinating the Robotic Arm Competition end-to-end gave me a real sense of responsibility rather than just observing. Gaining the NX and UR5e certifications and contributing to the ECP AI Chatbot project added to that.

Yes