Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

About Me:

I live with my wife in Sutton Coldfield. I’m a Plastics Engineer. I enjoy keeping fit swimming and running and travelling with my wife. I’m half Portuguese and speak the language fluently, which also helps with all the romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Romanian). I work in quite a multi-national company which is headquartered in France so I’ve also found my language skills to be useful.
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I also play guitar and used to play in bands (although nowadays not so much). I’ve found music can help in the creative side of my work – coming up with solutions to problems, report writing and presenting which I approach like I would a performance.
My pronouns are:

he/ him
My Work:

I use computers to do calculations on big plastic car parts during the early design stages.

This means we can tell whether a bumper will be able to protect a pedestrian’s knee joint during a pedestrian impact event, through computer simulation without needing to wait or pay to have parts available to do testing before.

We can also simulate other load-cases like sunloading and Firmness Feel.
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My field of computer simulation (Computer Aided Engineering, CAE) is called Finite Element Analysis (FEA). First we take the Computer Aided Design (CAD) model generated by another department, we then turn that geometry into something the computer can read called a mesh (see below the classic CAE joke). We can then apply material properties and load-cases to the mesh to see what the forces and deflections on the parts will be, as well as the stresses and strains to see whether we need to make any changes to the parts to make sure they are fit for purpose.
My Typical Day:

I get up and have breakfast and then either drive into the office or set up my laptop if I’m working from home ready for 8:30. I’ll then reply to any emails first, and then get on with the latest simulations or report writing for that day. If I’m in the office I’ll have lunch outside with colleagues if the weather’s good. I go home at 5:00pm but we also have the option to change our start times from 7:30 to 9:30 depending on what suits our lives.
What I'd do with the prize money:

I’d put it towards engaging with local schools in the Tamworth area, to promote STEM and also increase opportunities for school pupils to engage with local business.

Candidate CV questions (extra)

Education:

St Nicholas RC Primary School, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

Bishop Walsh RC School, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

Coventry University
Qualifications:

13 GCSEs A* – C

1 AS, 4 ALevels (B, 2Cs and a D – can’t remember which now!)

AS Maths

A Level Physics

A Level Design Technology

A Level Music Technology

A Level Portuguese
Work History:

Worked for the University as a Student Proctor during my studies. This involved coaching and mentoring the younger students and supporting them with their coursework.

I did a short placement at Plastic Omnium Automotive Ltd, between my third and final year at university, building prototype bumpers in the summer. We had to build 4 front and 4 rears a day which was hard work if we ever had enough parts available to build that many!

After I graduated I went back to Plastic Omnium and joined as a graduate engineer. I’ve gone through the graduate scheme there and worked my way up to my current position.
Employer:

Plastic Omnium is the world leader in car bumpers, but we also make Tailgates, and other large plastic car parts. We’re at a really exciting time as cars get more connected, safer and technology is advancing to allow limitless freedom of style.

You can look on our website to find out more:

https://www.plasticomnium.com/en/

My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  Bumper Simulation Engineer
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  For a long time I wasn't really sure, and think I'm still not sure what to do next. But that's okay!
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  Rarely.
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  Something else in the Automotive Industry (it's quite varied!)
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Led Zeppelin
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Portuguese food
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  Unlimited wishes.
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  What's the graduate done this time? They've made a right mesh of the CAE.