HWIL Undergraduate Engineer Review
at MBDA
Placement (10 Months+)
Engineering
Stevenage
Review Submitted: May 2023
Overall Rating
4.8 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Support and Guidance
4.3/5
-
Company Culture
5/5
-
Overall Experience
5/5
-
Future Career Prospects
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
Supporting HWIL simulations, developing software and hardware, testing/proving software and hardware, integrating various software and hardware together all for the overall department/team objective of effective HWIL simulations.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
I was immediately given responsibility and naturally owned tasks assigned to me. As an undergraduate engineer, it may not be at the same level as a graduate engineer but it is still a suitable amount to promote development and ensure each day has something to offer. When initiative is taken and the company can see how keen you are, they are happy to give more responsibility provided it will not impede your current workload.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
5/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
Over the course of this placement, the following has been developed:
- test/investigative engineering skills
- problem solving methods and execution
- interface design skills
- software/hardware integration skills
- software engineering skills including the development of software, data analysis, and control systems (C++, MATLAB, Linux)
- communication protocol understanding (RS422, ethernet, MODBUS, 1553)
- electronics design understanding
- technical report writing skills
- test/investigative engineering skills
- problem solving methods and execution
- interface design skills
- software/hardware integration skills
- software engineering skills including the development of software, data analysis, and control systems (C++, MATLAB, Linux)
- communication protocol understanding (RS422, ethernet, MODBUS, 1553)
- electronics design understanding
- technical report writing skills
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
5/5
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
Guidance and support were readily available and the reverse is also true allowing my own mistakes to be made and thus encouraging development and confidence. If ever a question needed asking, there was always someone to ask or guide you to the appropriate person. My department in particular is brilliant at this as everyone has a good understanding of what others excel at.
How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
5/5
How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
5/5
Company Culture
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
The atmosphere at MBDA is incredibly relaxed but utterly professional. At no point did I feel out of place or unwelcome. The inclusiveness is something I greatly appreciate especially in association with the way individuals work - flexible hours, work-life balance, multiple working spaces, and mental wellbeing courses and support.
Perhaps a negative of this is sometimes it seems to relaxed that others may slow their working pace and the company suffers as a result.
Perhaps a negative of this is sometimes it seems to relaxed that others may slow their working pace and the company suffers as a result.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the social opportunities?
4/5
How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
4/5
How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
4/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
I have greatly enjoyed my time here at MBDA in the HWIL department. The team are an incredible bunch of knowledgeable and passionate people who are more than happy to get stuck in to any interesting technical problems you may have and encourage you to get involved in theirs as well. You feel respected and trusted to carry out the work assigned to you and it is meaningful, benefiting both the department and the company.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Future Career Prospects
Please rate the future employment prospects at MBDA
5/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend MBDA to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to MBDA
There is a lot of interesting information to absorb, process, and retain. Take any opportunity to ask a question and get involved in what someone else is focussing on as you will most definitely learn something new and it may aid you in your own tasks. Relax and focus on yourself - you are treated as an individual here, not just a statistic.
