Damian

Degree subject and university: MEng Mechanical Engineering, University of Warwick

What made you want to apply for a graduate role at Mott MacDonald?

Halfway through my studies, I have discovered the field of acoustics and I very quickly knew that this is what I would like to do. When looking for graduate roles, I have only considered the ones relating to acoustics and Mott MacDonald was one of the few that offered such role. When researching the company, I found out that it closely aligns with my values and that it fosters the kind of culture that would make me feel welcome and appreciated.

How do you manage your time to ensure a healthy work-life balance, how are you supported in this?

At Mott MacDonald, I am not forced into coming into the office from 9am to 5pm every day of the week. Where possible, I can work from home or adjust my hours on the day to work around personal life. This allows me to have a better work-life balance where on working from home days, I can use my breaks to do some chores and then have the evening completely to myself!

What is the most interesting project/and or piece of work you have been involved in so far?

The most interesting project I have been involved in is probably Cardiff Crossrail – the upcoming tram system in Cardiff. I initially was only supporting this project by creating data processing spreadsheets that reduced the noise model calculation times from about 10 hours to just 10 minutes. Eventually, the entire project has been handed over to me so I have been responsible for it since. This responsibility feels very rewarding and I can’t wait to be able to go to Cardiff in couple of years, point at a tram passing by and say “I helped with this”.

What development opportunities have you had since joining and how have you been supported in this?

Since joining, I have been part of the graduate programme where I have developed a lot of my soft skills including public speaking and teamwork. The programme’s events have also been a great opportunity to network with fellow graduates. Outside of this, a lot of projects give me opportunity to think about how some processes could be improved. This led me to learn how to create Excel scripts which have since allowed the team to decrease the manual data processing time by quite a lot!

Are you part of any wider company initiatives outside of your day-to-day role?

Outside of my day-to-day role, I am a Local Office Lead for my unit. Through this role, I try to foster stronger bonds within the unit through regular informal events. I am also an equipment champion for the acoustics team where I am responsible for the team’s equipment based in my office.