Testimonials

PHILIP NEWMAN Cardiff University Electronic Engineering, MEng.

"I finished the Graduate Development Programme (GDP) scheme in September 2006 and I am now working in the RF (Radio Frequency) and Electronics Group for Equipments and Subsystems. The GDP scheme allowed me to integrate fully into the company, and gave me a wonderful opportunity to work across a variety of disciplines at Astrium, as well as within our customer and supplier base.

On the GDP scheme, I gained enormous experience in a short period of time, ranging from antenna pointing correction for the next generation of Digital Processors, data analysis and management on the Galileo in-orbit programme, to Recruitment and Relocation in Human Resources. The opportunity to be involved in a myriad of projects throughout the two years has been extremely rewarding and has helped me gain valuable experience which I am now able to use on a daily basis.

Since I completed the GDP a year ago, my role has become increasingly diverse and more demanding. I have been fortunate to work on a number of projects, from bid work for telecommunication satellites, through to testing of our next generation of flexible frequency-converter products for spacecraft.

I am currently working on the next-generation frequency converters, involving RF budgets, mass power consumption appreciation, and development of hybrid layouts for flight representative equipments. I am also responsible for the baseband frequency filtering. All these roles allow me to extend my technical expertise and my holistic approach to engineering. The skills attained on the GDP allow me to do this to a high quality and will stand me in good stead for the future.”

JESSICA HOUSDEN MSc Spacecraft Technology and Satellite Communications, UCL BSc Physics and Space Research, University of Birmingham

“A year into the GDP and I am in the middle of my third placement in Earth Observation Mission Systems. This area is particularly exciting as it is where future missions are devised and I am gaining many new skills and knowledge. Each day is different, from looking at the designs of new instruments to using software to plot different orbits.

My previous placements were in Antenna design which was a fast paced design team, performing intricate antenna system design to meet customer requirements using a wide range of software and programming, and also in Cost Engineering which allowed me to understand the complexities of financing a space mission.

I am looking forward to spending 4 months in Toulouse next year where I will extend my learning experience and appreciate the working styles in different countries. I will be exposed to new projects and will be able to build on my experience in France during my future career.

Not only do I find my work interesting and exhilarating but I really enjoy the extra opportunities Astrium offers. I participate in the SEA (Science and Engineering Ambassadors) scheme which allows me to do workshops, presentations and site tours for students. There is also a strong sense of community and I have recently participated in a sailing competition with my Antenna department and also met other young colleagues from France and Germany while tall ship sailing in the Baltic.

My experience at Astrium has allowed me to use the knowledge I gained at university whilst helping me make the transition from studying to working, through useful training courses and a strong support network. I am looking forward to the next year of challenges and experiences.”