Sophie wasn’t a student who had her career planned out from the moment she set foot onto campus. Instead, she kept an open mind to what an Engineering degree could give her.
Years later – after enjoying nights out at Komedia and enduring all-nighters at the library – she's Team Leader at BMW in Munich, Germany.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
The BSc in Mechanical Engineering is highly regarded and would give me the flexibility to switch between different specialisms. I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to specialise in, so this was a big plus! The department also had great links with industry and offered the chance to do a placement year. To top it off, Bath is a beautiful city!
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
Absolutely not. Some people know from the age of ten what they want to do when they’re older, but I really had no idea. I thought studying Engineering might offer a lot of opportunities and it matched well with the subjects I enjoyed at school, but I really didn’t know what it would even be like as a career or what it would entail. Looking back though, I’m very pleased with my choice.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here? Any favourite memories, or places to go on campus and in the city?
Studying at Bath was great. The course was tough at times, but I learned a lot, which has set me up well for my career.
Highlights include pulling all-nighters in the library while working on design projects and watching the sunrise. Also, movie nights in my room with friends – we watched everything using a projector I bought for £30. It was the best purchase I ever made!
For nights out, my favourite was Cheesy Fridays at Komedia. Komedia took over from Moles for a year or so as there was sadly a massive fire. Komedia was an epic venue though, and as a pop princess, I was in my element there.
Were you a part of any societies or sports clubs during your time at Bath? What did you enjoy most about them?
I was in the handball team and the yoga and Mechanical Engineering societies. These were a fantastic way to meet new people. I was also heavily involved in Team Bath Racing Electric (TBRe) in my final year, which was a fantastic experience. Many hours were spent in those labs preparing for race day. It was an experience like no other! 
Describe your career journey since graduating. What is a typical day like in your current role?
After graduating, I started at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars on their graduate scheme. The placements and year in industry I did definitely helped me to get the role. The grad scheme was great, as I got to learn about lots of different departments and was also able to do a placement abroad within BMW in Munich, which was amazing.
Following the grad scheme, I got a permanent role as a Supplier Quality Engineer for the bespoke accessories and one-offs department, where I was responsible for the quality of weird and wonderful modifications – think crystal whisky decanters, bespoke luggage sets and trim panels for the vehicle interior made out of feathers, satin or mother of pearl.
I then moved to the Resident Engineering Team to support the launch of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost, where I worked with colleagues in the plant and the engineering teams based in Germany. Following this, I was promoted to Team Lead.
After two years in that role, it was time for a change, so I got a role as a Team Leader at BMW, where I’m now working on the next generation of electric motors for the entire BMW battery electric vehicle portfolio. It also meant a move to Munich! When I started, I never imagined that I would end up in another country, working in another language and learning from so many amazing engineers.
As Team Lead for a specific component group, I am responsible for delivering the engineering, functionality and quality of the components within the project budget and timelines. A typical day for me is usually full of meetings with different engineers, specialists and suppliers – usually to discuss and plan the implementation of changes to improve the product for our customers, or to solve the latest technical problem that has arisen and urgently needs a solution.
How did you adapt to working abroad in a new language?
One of the perks of the grad scheme I did was that you could get free German lessons. The daily exposure from working with many German colleagues in both the UK and Munich also helped me expand my vocabulary and improve my understanding.
Taking the role was a huge step for me, as at that point, I had probably only reached GCSE- level German. The sudden switch to everything being in another language was tough in the beginning, especially as I was also moving to a new subject area with a lot of technical terminology. It was the most challenging start to a new job I have experienced.
As a perfectionist, I really had to push myself to get over the embarrassment of knowing that I was making mistakes, as with language learning, this really holds you back!
Fortunately, a year and a half later, the hard work I put in at the start has paid off, although my German is still nowhere near perfect!
What do you enjoy most about your career? Has anything surprised you?
I love that you never know what adventures or opportunities are going to come around the corner.
Although it is always good to have a plan for how you want your career to develop, I think it is equally important to stay open-minded and flexible, as sometimes opportunities arise that you never anticipated. Did I ever expect to end up where I am now? Absolutely not. But am I amazed by just how far I’ve come? 100% yes! I also can’t wait to see where I am in another ten years. Right now, I couldn’t even guess.
How did your studies help to develop you?
The placement year is the absolute best thing you can do as part of your degree. It gives you a real insight into working life, and a first opportunity to begin to understand what you do and don’t like in a job, and therefore what to look for when you graduate.
Having a year of experience on your CV when applying for jobs after your degree is a massive help. I also think the large number of group projects that are part of the Mech Eng course at Bath help to prepare you for real life. As much as they can be a pain, in the real world, engineers need to work together to make big complex products and solve difficult problems, and the exposure to team working environments really gives Bath graduates the edge when starting their careers.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
It is one of the best decisions I ever made. It’s an excellent course in a beautiful city, and on top of that, I met so many wonderful people who are still some of my best friends today. You absolutely won’t regret it!
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