Profile
Helen Skupski
Curriculum Vitae
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Education:
The Queen’s School. Chester. University of Liverpool
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Qualifications:
GCSEs (9), A Levels (4), Degree (MEng)
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Work History:
Nike, JLR
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Current Job:
Lead Engineer for Wiper Systems
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Employer:
Jaguar Land Rover
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About Me
Originally from the North West, I'm an engineer living in the Midlands working for a global car company.
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I live just outside Birmingham. I love team sports, but Lacrosse is my passion.
My favourite food is Hawaiian Pizza (yes pineapple DOES belong on Pizza) and ice cream (not together!).
I have 4 A Levels (Maths, Further Maths, Design & Technology: Product Design & Physics), and I have an MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Liverpool.
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My Work
I design and develop the wiper systems for a global car manufacturer. Working from initial concept to delivery (when I see my parts on cars in the real world!).
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My work is very varied as it covers a large chunk of the product lifecycle.
I begin with an initial concept and over about 5 years develop and test the parts until they are on cars on the road for people to buy. There is a lot of CAD (Computer Aided Design) work and specifications to be met. Not forgetting we need to make sure everything is legal for every country in the world.
I have worked for the company for almost 6 years, starting on a 2 Graduate Scheme from university.
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My Typical Day: My typical day varies a LOT depending on where we are in product lifecycle, at the beginning a large portion of my days are spent meeting with all stakeholders and suppliers to establish requirements & needs. Then I move into a more delivery role for the second half of the cycle.... this is the fun bit, where we get to build the cars and solve the issues. I see the designs I have worked tirelessly to deliver come to life in real parts on real cars and then test them (no one wants a wiper that looks good but does not wipe the windscreen!).
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During the delivery phase I will go to the prototype build plant where we build our prototype vehicles (or into one of our many manufacturing plants if the vehicles are just about to be launched). Any issues that are discovered during the build are reported to us which we must fix as soon as possible (if it is a line stop, it is all hands on deck to get the line running again!).
The issues are never easy to see coming, some are because we did not see an issue with the assembly of the parts (just because it works on the computer screen does not necessarily mean it will build in real life!). Some times we have been sent parts that the supplier has made incorrectly which won’t fit into the vehicle, missing a hole, missing a nut/bolt, etc.
It is a very exciting time and we have to be quick to react and good at thinking on our feet.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Chilled, friendly, approachable.
What's the best thing you've done in your career?
Work on some new and exciting top secret products for my company.
What or who inspired you to follow your career?
My Dad
What was your favourite subject at school?
Maths (but closely followed by Design Technology)
What did you want to be after you left school?
A Computer Programmer
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Of course not!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would open my own Bakery
Who is your favourite singer or band?
hmmm.... I can't just pick one!
What's your favourite food?
Hawaiian Pizza
What is the most fun thing you've done?
A zip wire in the Philippines
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Be happy, be healthy and have a pet husky!
Tell us a joke.
What did one snowman say to the other...... "Do you smell carrots?"
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