Joining ETA as an intern, my expectation was to gain exposure to the design process within a professional engineering team, and that’s exactly what I found. I was able to see how the design process works within a larger team that brings together different engineering disciplines, and I also got a first-hand look at how unexpected challenges are handled and resolved in real time. That experience really helped me connect the theory I’ve studied at university with the practical side of engineering.

Over the course of my internship, I developed a range of skills through the projects I worked on. I spent a significant amount of time using CAD software, which I already had some familiarity with, but by collaborating with colleagues I picked up new modelling techniques and ways of working I hadn’t come across before. I also gained useful experience in simulation work and in writing reports, which gave me a more rounded skill set.

In terms of the working environment and the support I received, ETA felt welcoming and supportive right from the beginning. I was trusted with responsibility early on and given individual tasks to complete, but I always knew the team was there to offer help or explanations whenever I needed them. I really appreciated that questions were encouraged and that it never felt like there was such a thing as a bad question.

One part of the internship I particularly enjoyed was the opportunity to collaborate with the other interns. For example, I worked with Josh to model the breakout box for his project, which allowed him to finalise the design and move it forward into production in the workshop. Contributing to his project in that way was really satisfying, and it showed me how collaboration between different tasks can make a big difference.

Looking back, this internship has given me valuable practical experience of how an engineering team operates and how tasks are shared to address challenges effectively. Those are insights I simply wouldn’t have been able to get from a degree alone. I now feel more confident about pursuing a career in engineering, knowing that I’ve already had exposure to the realities of design work and team collaboration.

Finally, I’d say one of the things I enjoyed most was the variety of projects I got to work on. Having the chance to experience different aspects of engineering made the internship feel really well-rounded and rewarding.