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Eric C.
About me
| Eric C. | |
| Computer Science | |
| Safety Critical Systems Engineering | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Langwith | |
| 2024 | |
| Netherlands |
My employment
| Technical Learning Manager Engineering / Quality / IT | |
| JLR | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Engineering and manufacturing | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2014 |
More about Eric
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A day in the life of a Technical Learning Manager Engineering / Quality / IT in the United Kingdom
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
JLR, automotive manufacturer
What do you do?
As a Product Owner I am part of a team that develops and delivers mainly E/E-focussed learning solutions for engineers in JLR Product Engineering. Topics include on-board systems E/E hardware design, embedded software design, functional safety, cyber security, ADAS and ADS design.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
After my BEng (1st Hons) in European Electrical and Electronic Engineering, resulting in a double qualification from both Coventry University and the Fachhochschule Osnabrück, I continued with an MSc in Engineering at Coventry University, followed by a PhD in the Design and Calibration of a novel Pneumotachograph. Together with fellow researchers I founded my own IT company, specialising in the DSA-funded student market. After 15 years I joined JLR as the first Educator of a team that would grow to 5, developing and delivering E/E-focussed courses to engineers in the E/E department. Subsequently I joined the Onboard Cyber Security team validating the security of 10 security-relevant ECUs for the new Defender, prior to progressing into my current role within the Learning & Development Academy.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
No, but I did gain most business experience through founding my own company prior to joining a corporate, where I could focus more on vehicle technical systems, and creation of matching learning solutions.
Describe your most memorable day at work
Delivering my self-created Cyber Security and an attack on a typical home router as part of a Christmas lecture at JLR to ca. 70 E/E engineers.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Currently the politics around defining and securing budgets. This is normal practice.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
Good, thanks mainly to the adoption of agile, and in particular Scrum, promoting self-empowerment of the Scrum teams in delivering products and projects.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
Student representative during my undergraduate studies has helped me to become more self-assured in discussions with a wide variety of stakeholders, which was further refined during my PhD studies, when presenting at large conferences. Establishing my own company through the graduates-into-business scheme at Coventry University whilst finishing my PhD has helped build my resilience.
What would you like to do next with your career?
Promotion to a senior manager or director level with a strong focus still on technical activities.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Business skills, the corporate world, and how to refine people and other soft skills, which are absolutely essential to be successful.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
How to start up a company, Safety Systems Engineering, Machine Learning and Safety, Cyber Security and Safety, automotive embedded E/E systems. Teaching engineers and students in any of these topics.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
Happy to act as a business angel for new technology startups. Fluent in German and Dutch.
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