Cobham plc :: A wide range of disciplines are involved in creating the technologies that our partners trust every day.

I've been working for Cobham for over a year and half now. One of the things that really attracted me to the Cobham graduate programme was the breadth of opportunities available, as graduates are not restricted to a particular site or function. I have really been able to make the most of this by having varied placements. I have worked in an executive office at Bournemouth Airport, as an antenna design engineer and as a process engineer at our Marlow site, and currently in Operations for Cobham Avionics and Surveillance Division. In every role that I have had, I have been given real responsibility right from the start; whether it be preparing briefing materials and organising meetings for a Divisional President (in my second week!), putting together an engineering project proposal requiring significant capital expenditure, or managing a project to ensure that we have the right training and development plans in place for our Operations staff right across the business.

I have found the graduate programme to be well structured, with a good balance between being able to get on with your day job, and being supported and developed through independent mentors, regular reviews and frequent training sessions. As the graduate programme isn't too big, everyone knows each other and becomes part of a social, as well as professional network. Cobham has given me some great experiences as a graduate, like working at the Farnborough Airshow, flying on one of our converted business jets, and helping to build and race a go-kart for charity.

What a great opportunity to be a part of. The Graduate Development Program gives a chance to learn so much more than any text book or university can provide. In many large companies, it can feel that you are lost within the mass of employees, but this program is set up perfectly. The company wants you to succeed, and the people are extremely helpful with career progression. The best and most important aspect of the program is having a mentor. With engineering, there is so much to the industry that only a senior advisor would know. With my mentor, I am able to bounce design ideas, get firsthand experience in executive decisions, and gain insight on the future of my career.

At the first two rotations in Orchard Park, I was working as an Engineer/Program Manager on the Aerospace product line. The work was challenging and meaningful. From the very first day, I was already part of the team by having action items investigating design parameters and involved in company training. I was able to utilise my education by solving intricate design calculations, and the training will give me an inside track to other opportunities in the future within Cobham. Currently I am working as a Supply Chain Analyst at the North American corporate office. The Cobham Procurement Council (CPC), an international member team, is implementing a new spend analysis system throughout all of Cobham. My responsibility is ensuring the data transition is validated and all users are proficient with the new interface.

I'm able to get the experience of a large corporation and still have the feeling of a small company with the size of each location. The traveling within the division is the best way to learn each and every product, from the nuts and bolts to finished product, built at each location. This program has been a great experience thus far, and I can't wait for the next opportunity to come from it.

The Cobham Graduate Development Programme attracted me because of its dynamic structure, particularly the idea of rotations between disciplines and departments. I liked the idea of being able to control my career path and gain a wide breadth of knowledge whilst on the programme.

My first placement was with Cobham Technical Services, where I worked on a highly novel millimetre-wave radar system. I was involved in the test and measurement phase of the project, which required me to perform an extensive measurement campaign along with statistical analysis of collected data. This experimental process was critical to the success of the project as it helped our understanding of the phenomenology of radar signatures at mm wave frequencies. This programme has advanced the state-of-the-art in millimetre-wave technology, which will help open up further business opportunities for Cobham.

My second placement was within Cobham Avionics and Surveillance division working for the vice president of finance. During this placement I was given the opportunity to work on financial reporting, budget tracking and the analysis of financial performance. This placement gave me great exposure working at a high level of the business and gave me a great understanding of Cobham's size and diversity.

I am currently working on a project across the whole of the Cobham group that will standardise Cobham's processes and ways of working. I have been given a great deal of responsibility and have been given milestones that will affect the entire project if they are not achieved. It is fantastic that my input is so well respected which in turn gives me an immense amount of satisfaction.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Graduate Development programme and I have learnt a vast amount in just over a year with Cobham. It has been a fantastic opportunity and a great start to the beginning of my career!

Whilst doing a degree in Aerospace Engineering at The University of Manchester, I completed an industrial placement at Cobham Mission Equipment in Wimborne. This was in the Manufacturing Engineering Department and it helped me get a better idea of what working in the engineering sector was actually like. On my return to University to finish my degree, I got a lot more out of the rest of my time there due to the experience I had gained in my placement.

I am now in my second year of the Graduate Development Programme. I have done two placements at Cobham Antenna Systems in Marlow, in Supply Chain and Mechanical Design and have just started my third placement, back in Wimborne - this time in the Research and Technology department.

One particular project which had a significant impact on the Business was in my placement with Supply Chain. I was tasked with improving the methodology of the supply chain route in order to reduce cost and lead times for one major sub contractor, focusing on a small range of sub assemblies. The task was completed successfully during my placement, continues to show ongoing cost savings and reduced lead times and is now being rolled out for additional sub assemblies for this, and other sub contractors.

I really value the experience we get in moving jobs every 6 months, getting to see not only different departments, but different companies and divisions. Each placement I have done has been markedly different from the others - but they have all given me a lot of responsibility. I have always felt that the work I am doing has real merit and is actually helping the company.

The combination of doing a job that you know is valued with varied and interesting work keeps you on your toes and the work fresh and exciting. This I'm sure will set me up well for a career in the engineering sector.

I graduated from university without any prior experience in the engineering sector. I was initially attracted to the Cobham graduate development programme as it would allow me to gain experience in both technical and non-technical roles, which would help me gain a variety of skills to start off my career. I am currently in my third placement working on a project placement for Cobham Group IT Standardisation Programme. From day one I have been given substantial responsibility in an exciting, collaborative project environment. My activities include project planning, communication updates and supporting meetings and activities both on-site and at other UK Cobham locations. Although I have only been working with the team for one month, the placement have given me a unique top level insight to how the four divisions are structured and operated, which is different from my previous product orientated placements at Cobham Mission Equipment business unit. I very much enjoy the diversity of experiences on the rotational programme and have had many opportunities to network and learn more about the aerospace and defence sector during my time here.

The graduate programme it is ideal for those who would like a wide variety of experiences within the industry. It is true that the programme fully supports your professional development through all placements and by giving us training in a wide variety of personal and business skills.

As I was completing the final months of my undergraduate degree I started asking myself questions most upcoming graduates ask: What job am I looking for and what type of company do I want to work for? One thing was clear in my mind; I didn't want an ordinary job. Cobham's Graduate Development Program is definitely not ordinary. Every day presents new challenges and new opportunities.

The greatest concern I had prior to starting at Cobham was that I did not have a background in Engineering. Engineering is the bedrock of our business and I recognised there would be a steep learning curve. Cobham understood this and placed me in Business Development, requiring me to work with engineers on a daily basis to gain an understanding of the technical development of our products. In doing so, I now understand how the product is made, how it works and customer requirements. This has enabled me to talk about our products to anyone, including the fast paced tradeshow environment.

In addition to learning more about our products, I worked on a handful of projects with our aftermarket team in Orchard Park, NY. With the team, I was able to develop an exchange program for our Commercial Oxygen Systems. This program gives the customer an opportunity to trade-in inoperable equipment for a new and/or overhauled unit in a timely manner. The responsibility that was given to me on this project has proven to me how dedicated the company is to improving my skills and providing me with the experience I need to succeed in future projects.

I have been part of the Graduate Development Program for just over a year, yet I feel as though I have gained many years of experience. I attribute much of that to the people working for Cobham. My co-workers have a passion for their job and they have instilled it upon me. This passion has translated into great success for the company and a promising future for Cobham; a future I am ecstatic to be part of.