David's role profile

My current role:
Engineering project manager on the A400M programme with Airbus, responsible for delivering a work package within time, cost and quality constraints.

Job title: Engineer
Employer name: Airbus UK
Employer website: www.airbus.com
Industry / business sector: Aerospace & Defence
Ethnicity: White
Highest qualification: Masters, Doctorate, N/SVQ5
Time in employment: 3-5 years

What attracted you to doing this?
A love of aircraft and academic strengths in Maths and Physics!

What are you most proud of in what you do?
Creating a new product (the A400M aircraft), and being responsible for certain components from concept design, through detailed design to manufacture, procurement and assembly.

How did you get to where you are today?
Graduating from a premier league university allowed me to join the BAE SYSTEMS fast track engineering management programme, the Sigma Scheme. This is turn provided the foothold into Airbus. A first degree in Engineering, specialising in aeronautics, provided the foundation, and I am subsequently nearing completion of a Masters degree in engineering business management to improve my financial, project and people management skills.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of following your path?
Academic strength is important, but an ability to work with a diverse range of people in pressurised situations is perhaps of greater importance.

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