Faculty of Engineering
 
A Postgraduate Student wearing safety goggles, a hard hat and a lab coat working an Engineering lab.

Our Alumni

Constructing the future, today

Want to be a part of shaping the future? Our alumni have some inspiring stories about how they have gone on to achieve exactly that. Below you will find insights into some of the career opportunities available to you after graduating with an engineering or architecture degree. 

 
Harry Nichols

Harry Nichols

Aerospace Engineering MEng – Class of 2020

Nottingham was one of the select few offering an aerospace specific course, and the coursework provided tasks that are similar to real world projects, allowing us to use facilities we’d use in industry such as wind tunnels. The lecturers were excellent teachers and always keen to help outside of their teaching hours.

Since graduating I’ve managed to secure a role as a Graduate Engineer at Rolls-Royce. My summer internships meant when it came to graduation and the graduate scheme, I was lucky enough to be selected.

Sophie Whitworth wearing a hard hat and a high-visibility jacket in a process engineering lab.
Chemical Engineering MEng - Class of 2020

During my degree I completed a year-long industrial placement at Cargill. Completing a year in industry was a completely different lifestyle to university. I’m really glad I took that year out to learn more about the practical applications of engineering and to identify the scope of roles I could get involved in. 

Since graduating I have secured a role as a Making and Utilities Process Engineer at P&G’s Reading Plant, where we produce Gillette and Old Spice products.I think one of my favourite parts is having the freedom to work collaboratively with colleagues with multiple skillsets to drive improvements, be that to a physical or digital process, with the aim of reducing consumption or introducing a time saving.

Hana Makhlouf

Hana Makhlouf

I came from Egypt and completed my foundation year in 2017. Following this, I went on to study MEng Electronic and Computer Engineering, graduating in 2021. I spent a semester studying abroad at the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong as well as completing a summer internship at Bank of America during my studies. Following a successful summer internship, I now works as a Graduate Technology Analyst for the Bank of America.

Sam Thursby stood outside the Walkers factory.

Sam Thursby

Chemical Engineering MEng  - Class of 2020

During my degree I took an exciting opportunity to join Walkers Snack Foods (PepsiCo) for my placement year.

Some of the influential projects that I worked on throughout the role included the upgrade of packaging machines, improvement of the site's understanding of water and gas to reduce usage and I created a flow chart to aid problem solving for the operations and maintenance teams. This gave me great insight into finding innovative solutions to improve manufacturing processes for large organisations.

Since graduating, I have joined Integrated Food Projects as a process project engineer. My role focuses on projects to develop and enhance food process lines. These range from improving individual pieces of equipment for existing manufacturers, to supporting large teams designing brand new factories to shape the future of food production. 

A headshot image of Shamiso Oneka.

Shamiso Oneka

Architecture BArch - Class of 2014

After graduating, I worked at Bennetts Associates before studying at Central Saint Martins on the spatial practices programme. With these qualifications, I joined the urban research team at We Made That, contributing to several leading research studies, urban frameworks and published design guidance. Now, as an urban design officer and a public practice associate – I am using my diverse skill set to manage design and policy development in the London Borough of Haringey.

I have written articles for FRAME and Blueprint magazines; and exhibited my work at Tate Modern and the London Design Festival. Contributing to the architectural field across these outlets is something that I am very proud of. 

Matt Dickenson

Matt Dickenson

I studied Architectural Environment Engineering, undertaking a summer placement at AECOM during my time on the course and ended up re-joining the team after I graduated in 2019. I work as a mechanical engineer where I lead project teams in designing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for a variety of office and residential developments in and around London.

In 2021, I came second place in the Civil Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) Young Engineer Awards. I play an active role within CIBSE as the events coordinator the HVAC Systems Group, as well as running AECOM St Albans Young Engineers Forum and Early Careers Society. 

If you care about sustainability and want to play a major role in the fight against climate change, then this is the perfect course for you! 

Ross O'Brien

Ross O’Brien

I studied mechanical engineering, with a focus on sustainability and an intent to join the energy industry.

I have spent most of my career working at operating sites within chemicals and refining businesses.

More recently I have taken on the role of business advisor, supporting the CEO and leadership team. It has been a brilliant development role for me, offering plenty of insights into how the business is run and inspiration as we move towards a net-zero energy future.  

Jack Greenard

Jack Greenard

I'm Jack Greenard, I graduated with a first class MEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2015 – one of my highlights was winning the electrical and electronic engineering prize.

Since then, I have joined Hoare Lea which is a leading engineering consultancy firm providing specialist solutions to design challenges across the UK. As an electrical engineer in this field, I work on various elements of electrical design and other specialisms such as lighting, fire alarm data and security in the design of buildings. I have been in this role for three years now, having started my career at AECOM, a global engineering firm, following a successful summer placement as part of my degree.

Since leaving university I have progressed from a junior member of the project design team to lead designer, looking after a range of building projects. Going forward, working with STEM is an exciting part of my future aspirations to increase awareness of STEM subjects and my field of engineering.

Tosin Animashahun

Tosin Animashahun

I chose to study at Nottingham as it's one of the top universities in the world and is a member of the prestigious UK based Russell Group, which is a group of some of the best universities in the country.

I chose to study manufacturing engineering because I love to solve problems and the subject involves solving problems in many worlds such as supply chain and industrial manufacturing. You just don’t learn from the book, but you are also given the chance to learn from the real world and see the solutions to problems in real time.

After a placement period spent in operational excellence, I realised that I wanted to get my career off to a start in this space. The university made the course engaging with quality teaching and that really helped shape my career. I now work for Deloitte in the Operational Excellence Division as a Senior Consultant.

Era Shah

Era Shah

Civil Engineering MEng - Class of 2013

I'm a Chartered Civil Engineer working as a Planning Engineer on Thames Tideway East, one of London's flagship projects and a huge feat of engineering running under the Thames and across the capital. My current company, Costain PLC sponsored me throughout my Civil Engineering degree at the University of Nottingham and I joined the company upon graduating in 2013. Since then, I've been involved in the delivery of complex high-profile projects with highly demanding clients such as HS2, Crossrail, Network Rail and now Thames Tideway.

I currently sit on the Costain Women’s Network Steering Group and am a founding member and previous Chair of the Female Advocates in Infrastructure and Rail (FAIR) Network on HS2. As part of the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship Alumni, I am an Arkwright ambassador, mentor and have sat on the interview panel for the 2021 student scholars. Finally, last year I was awarded the Women’s Engineering Society, ‘Top 50 Women in Engineering 2021: Engineering Heroes’, accolade which recognised my leadership with FAIR in amongst my success as a Senior Engineer implementing game changing innovation on HS2.

Jess Donk

Jessica Donk

I currently work as an IFSE (Integrated Fluids and Solids Engineer) for Schlumberger, where I'm responsible for ensuring the properties of the drilling fluid, also known as drilling mud, are within designed specifications. This role is based on an offshore rig where I run mud checks in the lab, attend meetings, and complete a mud report. The mud check involves a series of lab tests to check the mud properties and ensure there are no contaminants. Should any of the properties be out of specification, then we can add chemicals to rectify.

You can run into all sorts of issues when drilling like weather delays, fluid contamination and losses. Drilling can be costly, you need to be adaptable and quickly address anything that does occur to get the project back on its feet and avoid non-productive time.  

The job is interesting, challenging and I like seeing how it ties in with the other operations on the rig. I hate sitting down all day so it’s good that you’re out and about and getting involved.

 

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