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Harry
 • 
Software Engineer (Undergraduate)
About the placement/internship

Why did you decide to do a placement/internship?

I worked in the Mission Planning and Control Software department writing algorithms and software for Mission Planning systems for customers across the world.

How did you find your placement/internship?

Gradcracker

Application process

CV & Cover Letter Simple online testing, numerical and verbal Assessment centre - group task, presentation on topic (weeks before to prepare) and one on two interview with two members of your future department. Phone call the next day informing you if you got the job & feedback either way.

Main responsibilities

Responsible for delivering work (code, documentation etc) as part of a multidisciplinary team. Reported on work completed in the weekly project meetings.
Also responsible for producing a Mission Planning application demonstration to the highest level executives in the company.

Typical day

Arrive between 7am and 9:30am thanks to flexi time.
Check Emails, respond & plan actions for the day etc.
Daily meeting with the software project team to see what we are all doing that day.
Work till 12, usually programming unless I have meetings!
Lunch at 12 till 12:45 (this time is optional, I just go at the same time everyday with all of the other [under]graduates!)
Work in the afternoon autonomously unless we have meetings, for example the weekly project meeting where we are updated on the wider project news and provide our own mission planning updates.
Take a break at 3-3:30pm with some other [under]graduates.
Work till 4pm then you can leave anytime after that, I usually stay till about 6/7pm - I am very busy!

What did I enjoy about my placement/internship?

I enjoyed being a valuable member of the team furthering the company's usage of newer technologies on new projects.
I got to go to the Paris site three times during my placement, fully paid for obviously.

Challenging aspects

The work wasn't as challenging as I would've liked.
Working at a missile company, you have to decide on your own morality.

Did you use any skills learned from your course?

Programming - Java, Matlab, C++;
Algorithm development
Problem solving

Has your time on placement influenced your future career choice?

Yes definitely, it has been illuminating.


Advice to students

My piece of advice to students

If you disagree or are uncomfortable with what the company is doing - I obviously wouldn't recommend it!

Form completed: 29 Aug 2017

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