Can you help Thales in the UK shape the future of engineering?

Thales in the UK are looking for the next generation of ambitious engineering graduates who’ll shape the future of engineering.

At present, 23 per cent of Thales employees are women - a figure we are determined to increase. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to enable women to excel in their careers and continue to grow the company's diversity.

We recently talked to one of our engineering graduates, Emma Chivers, a master’s degree graduate, about her experiences as a STEM student, her impressions of working life at Thales in the UK and her joining Thales’s graduate programme. 

What drew you into pursuing a career in engineering?

At school, I took maths, further maths and physics A-levels at college, and really enjoyed those subjects. When it came to applying for university, I was looking for a qualification that had an immediate practical use, which led me to considering engineering. I looked at the different branches of engineering and found aerospace was a good fit with my interests.

Tell us about what you’ve been doing on the Thales graduate programme?

I joined it just over a year ago. The engineering graduate scheme lasts four years and includes four year-long placements. I think a year for each one is just right. It gives you time to understand the project and make an impact. On the other hand, if you find you’re not as interested in that placement, you don’t have long to wait for the next one.

My first one was based at Crawley, working on an avionics project. My work mostly revolved around model-based test planning. I got involved in a lot of tasks, including major project management decisions with senior colleagues.

I’m now just a couple of weeks into my second placement. This time it involves sonar technology, which is relatively new to me, and I’m hoping I’ll get to see some submarines as part of it. The project will be mainly focused on modelling, for which I’m going back to some of the equations and things I thought I’d left behind at uni.

Do you move around the country between placements?

Yes. I’ve now moved from Crawley to Cheadle, near Manchester. This is an aspect that attracted me to the Thales graduate scheme compared with some of the competitors. I didn’t know where I wanted to live and work, and I’m enjoying the opportunity to move and see other places.

What else made you choose Thales amongst all the other graduate schemes?

The chance to change roles each year was one of the biggest attractions. It offered a lot of flexibility and contact with the whole business. For the first two years, the Thales scheme also includes a course in engineering management with the University of Cranfield, which I found enticing.

It makes for a comfortable transition, meaning you’re not leaving university completely behind and going straight into full-time work.