Stuart Salter - Precision Engineer, School of Engineering

Stuart tells us about his current role, helping students and his background.

What does your role involve?

My current role as a Precision Engineer within the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick entails the following;

- Manufacturing components for student projects (3rd and 4th year), this offers a great variety of work as no two projects are the same. I also assist the students in designing their projects by offering my technical knowledge to help solve problems they are facing as and when required, this is generally done with a series of consultations before their final designs are submitted for manufacture in the Engineering hall.

- I also offer support for Academic/PHD research projects including design and manufacture work to aid in the completion of these projects, this can include full support from start to finish.

- The “Design and Durability” module in the 2nd year of the engineering degree program is a core part of my role. I offer design and feasibility support to students in seminars during the first term. Once their group designs have been completed, they then progress to manufacture in the second term, where each group will be taken into the engineering workshop in order to be shown and taught manufacturing practices by myself and others within the team.

- Not only do I offer support for the above but also for yearly projects such as; WUSAT (Warwick University Satellite), Formula student and Warwick Sub.

When did you join Warwick and how?

I began working for the School of Engineering in August 2012 as an apprentice technician, after completing four years of training I qualified with a Distinction in my HNC manufacturing engineering as well as other practical based qualifications. After completion of my apprenticeship I was employed as a workshop technician in August 2016, during the following year I undertook a HND in General engineering and graduated with a Merit, after this graduation I was promoted into my current position of “Precision Engineer”.

What training or development are you currently progressing with?

I am now currently studying towards gaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Engineering at the University of Northampton, sponsored by the School. This has so far supplied me with further skills in PLC programming, Frequency analysis tools and MatLab syntax as well as undertaking a management project in the design and manufacture of a single stage gas turbine engine for the School of Engineering.

What are your future plans?

Looking to the future I would like to address the possibility of a sponsored Master’s degree within the Engineering faculty that would further my knowledge and experience in the design of working electro/mechanical systems. I would also like to see some management/leadership techniques based training with the aim of furthering my personal career prospects within the field.