Meet Jonathan, Senior Consultant Engineer at Randle

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a mechanical engineer with an interest in all things vehicular, from tractors to trains. I like my cars to be RWD (although at the moment I drive a FWD plug-in hybrid), and I raced R/C cars for many years. These days I do some sim racing on-line, which is easier to fit in around family commitments. I also help to fix things as a volunteer at a local Repair Café, help at a local miniature railway, and regularly enjoy cruising the canals with a group of friends.

How long have you worked in the business?

I joined Randle in Spring 2023.

What’s your background/experience?

After completing a degree in Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University, I joined Ricardo’s graduate programme and progressed over the next 20+ years to Chief Engineer, designing transmissions initially for motorsport and then for roadgoing and off-highway vehicles.

My experience covers the full design process from concept, through component design and analysis, to detail drawings and prototype build support. I have knowledge of many adjacent areas such as manufacturing, electric machines, batteries, software and controls.

How did you come to start working at Randle?

Although I hadn’t been looking to move, the role at Randle presented an opportunity to broaden my skills into different areas (and to revive my long-standing interest in suspension and handling) that was too interesting to turn down! I’m thoroughly enjoying my new role and am proud to be part of such a capable team.

Tell us a bit about your current role at Randle

What are your key responsibilities?

Essentially anything that’s required to deliver the project! On several of my projects I’ve worked on what we call Target Setting, which is where we calculate what suspension characteristics are required to give the vehicle-level ride and handling behaviour that we want, and Performance Review, where conversely we analyse a vehicle’s suspension parameters to predict how it will ride and handle. I’ve loved getting involved in some of the more varied and unusual design challenges that Randle take on from time to time – as well as finding opportunities to make use of my transmissions experience.

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

A good grasp of maths and physics/engineering principles, with the ability to relate and apply these to how things actually behave in reality. Curiosity is crucial, and an ability to step back and see the bigger picture is really important too.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

Depending on what stage of a project I’m at, a mixture of discussions with the client, working on analyses, or writing up the results into a clear and concise presentation. Sometimes there are really interesting technical conversations about a particularly tricky challenge.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

Always focused on the challenge at hand, but also friendly with little hierarchy, and very open discussions.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Friendly, rigorous, knowledgeable

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

The variety of applications – already I’ve worked on a tractor, a van, and a sports car!

How do you become an engineer?

By being interested in how things work, and how you can apply that interest and knowledge to solve problems. Ultimately engineering is done with numbers, so you need a good grounding in maths and physics, but hands-on experience making things, taking them apart or fixing them is also really valuable. I took the academic route via a university degree, but an apprenticeship can be a great way in too depending on the sort of person you are.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

I love exploring the challenges that engineering presents, so I hope to continue applying my technical skills wherever possible. I want to further broaden my design skills and vehicle dynamics knowledge, perhaps including subjective vehicle testing to relate back to the analyses.

The post Staff Spotlight: Jonathan Hodgson, Senior Consultant Engineer appeared first on Randle Engineering.

 Meet Peter, Senior Consultant Engineer at Randle. 

Tell us a bit about yourself

Personally, I am married with two young children. I enjoy cycling, playing badminton and doing track days in my noble M12. Professionally, I am an engineer that takes joy in creating something new.

How long have you worked in the business?

I joined Randle Engineering, Warwick based engineering consultancy late in 2022 so I have just passed the 6-month mark.

What’s your background/experience?

I started my working life at Jaguar Land Rover in the Body CAE department specialising in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) before moving to work for McLaren automotive. While at McLaren I was fortunate to be able to see a single programme through from concept through prototypes, launch and then into production. During this time, I was able to span both simulation and test and development roles giving me experience from both perspectives of NVH development.

I then moved to Altair Engineering working for the Product Design consultancy side of the business. Over 11 years I worked on a large variety of projects covering many different industries, countries and methods, predominantly dealing with noise and vibration problems. I worked closely with the NVH software and methods development team developing state of the art solutions for vehicle NVH simulation.

How did you come to start working at Randle?

I had worked with Randle Engineering in a previous working life, so I already had direct experience of the quality of the work they did and how they operated.

When I heard that they were looking to expand their capabilities in the NVH domain I felt it was an excellent opportunity to join at an exciting time for the business.

Tell us a bit about your current role at Randle

One of the great things about Randle Engineering is in the breadth of activities that the Engineers can undertake. I am thoroughly enjoying being able to learn new approaches and methods as I take on new development projects in fields such as MBD and chassis design.

What are your key responsibilities?

As a senior consultant, I am responsible for leading or contributing technical expertise to the delivery of engineering projects.

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

Curiosity and a desire to understand why. Being open to learn and innovate and a commitment to deliver work to the highest level of quality.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

The nature of consulting is that each project and therefore every day is different. Typically, we start by working to understand the problems we are given, determining the constraints and objective targets. We can then prepare appropriate models, tools or methods to solve the problem and then working closely with the client to develop the best solution that meets their needs.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

Supportive, open and interested in everyone’s ideas.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Professional, pragmatic, passionate

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

Although I have not been at Randle Engineering very long, I have already had the chance to work on an interesting project that enabled us to develop the NVH capabilities of an existing tool that nicely combined theory, practicality and domain experience to deliver an effective solution with performance insight beyond the expectations of the Client.

How do you become an engineer?

Be and stay curious. Pay attention to the detail and don’t stop asking why. One tip would be to look at the steps to becoming chartered when considering the many different career routes into Engineering.

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started out in your career?

I guess I simply didn’t appreciate the breadth of work and activities that Engineers complete on a day to day basis across so many different industries. Also, the pace at which Engineering is changing in terms of what is possible is only getting faster and the need for innovative and effective solutions is only getting greater.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

As I am only at the start of my journey at Randle Engineering my current goal is to become more established and learn from the excellent breadth of experience around me. I hope to be able use the skills I bring to Randle Engineering to broaden our capabilities and push to break down the traditional industry boundaries between different disciplines such as dynamics, NVH and durability.

Interested in a role as Graduate Engineer at Randle Engineering visit: Careers & Engineering Jobs – Randle Engineering and apply today!

The post Staff Spotlight: Peter Benzie, Senior Consultant Engineer appeared first on Randle Engineering.

 Meet Harry, Graduate Engineer at Randle. Harry graduated from the University of Bath in 2021 with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering which included an industry placement. After graduation he returned to his placement company. After a year and a half, he joined the Randle Team.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I have recently graduated from university and I am just beginning my career in engineering. I enjoy biking and surfing and generally being outdoors.

How long have you worked in the business?

Since December, so four months.

What’s your background/experience?

I graduated from the University of Bath in 2021 with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering which included an industry placement. After graduation I returned to my placement company, Apex Circuit Design, designing racetracks, the highlight of which was helping build and deliver the Miami F1 racetrack. After a year and a half, I moved on to Randle.

How did you come to start working at Randle?

I was looking to return to a more mechanical role in a company that solved exciting problems which led me to Randle. The range of projects and focus on solving engineering problems using theory developed throughout my degree was a big attraction.

Tell us a bit about your current role at Randle

My role as a graduate engineer involves working with our clients to solve their engineering problems. My day-to-day role involves analysis and design but will vary significantly depending on which project I am working on.

What are your key responsibilities?

Delivery of engineering analysis and design to our customers and supporting the more senior engineers in overall project delivery.

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

A great understanding of fundamental engineering concepts, good computer literacy and a genuine interest in all things mechanical will put you in good stead.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

The world of consultant engineering inevitably creates variety in the day to day, but the majority of a standard day will be analysing problems and working with the customer to come to a great solution.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

The working environment at Randle is supportive, with a wealth of experience and a sharing culture. The company creates a flexible working environment leading to a healthy work life balance.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Challenging, Rewarding, Interesting

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

Working with well-known brands and being able to see the impact of your work over such a short timescale.

How do you become an engineer?

It is important to have an interest in how things work and problem solving. From there you have plenty of routes through degrees or apprenticeships but having the fundamental interest and drive is most important.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

To continue to integrate myself into the company and develop both my technical and project management skillsets.

Interested in a role as Graduate Engineer at Randle Engineering visit: Careers & Engineering Jobs – Randle Engineering and apply today!

The post Staff Spotlight: Harry Green, Graduate Engineer appeared first on Randle Engineering.

Meet Sarah, Operations Manager at Randle. Sarah has been with Randle for just under a year, but what a year! A small but mighty professional powerhouse she’s focused on creating the right environment for the right people to excel whilst championing operational excellence.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am small (5ft) but mighty professional powerhouse. I am a loyal, industrious, self-motivated and passionate about what I do. My goal has always been to create the right environment for the right people to excel within business.

How long have you worked in the business?

Just under a year.

What’s your background/experience and how did you come to start working for Randle?

I am an experienced operational senior manager, specialising in HR, facilities, health & safety, finance and infrastructure. I have a solid 20-year career history working in PR, motorsport and charitable organisations.

Randle is going through a period of growth, the operations role was a new role, created in 2022 to support the wider ambitions of the business. I saw it. It was perfect for me. I applied. The rest is history.

Randle Engineering supplies innovation and excellence to produce the highest quality results for our customers. I am uniquely positioned to show accountability for all my areas having such a wealth of knowledge. I can ensure my inputs lead to effective and efficient outputs, ensuring each member of the Randle Engineering team can deliver their daily work and delight our customer base.

I am a facilitator, a lynch pin at work and at home. Whether this is financial planning, employer brand, team management or efficient and streamlined processes, I see how operations fits in with the overall machine of the business.

I have a solid career history, immersing myself and applying my skills to the best of my abilities for a commercial goal. I am an operational excellence champion, I have intent for success, carving a path, bringing others on board for the journey.

Tell us a bit about your current role at Randle

The operations manager role is the swan like professional, calm and serene on the exterior and paddling feverishly under the water, getting things done.

Spinning all the non engineering plates to ensure the team can do what they need to do.

It is incredibly varied, autonomous and exciting as we develop and grow with our vision for the future of the business.

What are your key responsibilities?

Responsible for all operational aspects of the business in a consistent, efficient, and effective manner. Financial planning and reporting. Resource and operational planning to ensure the demands of the customers and the business are met. Responsible for all property management, facilities management, health and safety, finance and human resources. Ensuring effective relationship management between team and upper management.

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

You must be a multitasker and really care about you do. Lead by example and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Be non-hierarchical, nothing is beneath you.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

Literally every day is different and busy, just the way I like it. I get up at 6.00am and don’t sit down typically till after 8.30pm. I am a full-time working Mum, so technically I have two jobs!

At work, my days are planned around my priorities and project lists. It’s great, such a full role. At home, we have a house full of kids and pets! Never a dull moment.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

The culture is inclusive, trusting and positive.

The team is extraordinarily talented, constantly exploring and challenging what is possible.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Unique, exemplary, quality.

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

My favourite project so far was an office move conducted in October 2022. The goals of the move were, office layouts and moves to support team structure, workflow, and growth. Manage legals. Change management and HR elements. Management of budgets and quotes. Project management, timings and logistics. IT requirements. Health and safety management. Business continuity and as little down time as possible.

The project gave me a greater understanding of business in my areas, a baptism of fire having only been in post 3.5-month pre move, as well as solidifying working relationships with suppliers, proprietor and colleagues.

Advice and recommendations for people who want to get into engineering

Be inquisitive, read, ask the questions, challenge and query. Don’t accept the status quo. Communicate with your peers, get their opinions, be open to ideas and knowledge. Always think of the ‘why’.

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started out in your career?

Do not fear failure, learning how to fail and learn from it is also how to succeed going forward.

Also

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

Ok, I stole that from Baz Luhrmann’s Sunscreen, but it’s true and I said as much to my 16 year old recently. Things happen for a reason; they define your path and this includes your career. Just excel and try your absolute best at whatever you do, it will all come good.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

I would like to continue to help the business grow and realise its ambitions, if in turn I can improve, develop, learn, grow and self promote too that’s a bonus.

Go listen to Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen, thank me later.

The post Staff Spotlight: Sarah Hookey, Operations Manager appeared first on Randle Engineering.

Meet Jan, Engineering Manager at Randle. Jan has been passionate about motorsport from an early age, and that passion inevitably lead him to a career in automotive, specialising in chassis and suspension systems, where he says he gets paid to do what he loves!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m married with four boys who all share my passion for motorsport. In my spare time, I enjoy competing in sprints and hillclimbs in a Westfield sportscar and a single seater.

Building and racing cars from a young age inevitably led me into the automotive sector, where I’ve spent most of my career getting paid to do what I love.

What’s your background and experience?

I’m a qualified engineer and I started out working for RDS on the chassis team on projects from the Rover 25 through to military wading vehicles. From there I went on to MSX/ARRK, where I went from Chassis Manager to Midlands Engineering Manager, running and overseeing projects for OEMs such as Modec, Jaguar and Land Rover. Then, it was on to Randle Engineering!

How did you come to start working at Randle?

I met Steve and the team in the early 2000s where we were all working on the Jaguar X600 programme for MSX. We kept in touch and regularly discussed business opportunities between the two firms. One such discussion led to a job offer which I hastily accepted – and the rest, as they say, is history! I’ve now been with the company for 14 years.

Jan’s current role at Randle

What are your key responsibilities?

I’m an Engineering Manager, so I have a range of responsibilities including business and brand development, program management and test and validation.

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

Being prepared to tackle whatever comes through the door is key. Every day is different, and you must be ready to adapt and switch without letting anything else fall over.

What does a typical day in the life of an Engineering Manager look like?

There is rarely a typical day! It can be a mix of hands-on vehicle testing, communication and management responsibilities. Sometimes that might be speaking to prospective and established customers and managing the team on the programmes I look after – it’s down to me to ensure that they all have everything they need to keep to the delivery timescales. Other times, it can be spending time on the various test facilities we use such as MIRA or Millbrook with a crash helmet on or my sleeves rolled up!

What’s the culture like at Randle?

It can be challenging, what we do is demanding – but that brings the reward in developing new ideas and accomplishing things others cannot.

That said, there is always time for the more light-hearted moments. We all spend a large proportion of our time at work, its important to enjoy it! As a team, we try not to take things too seriously.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Innovative, interesting, proud.

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

I have a few favourite projects, most of which I’m not allowed to disclose! But actually, the best part is that we work on so many different types of project – the variation keeps it interesting and fresh.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

I think my favourite part of the job is getting the first physical vehicle built and onto track and proving out all the work we have done to get to that point. For me that’s the most rewarding part, seeing it all come together.

“For me, the most rewarding part is seeing it all come together.”

Jan’s tips for budding engineers

How do you become an engineer?

First and foremost it helps to have an interest in mechanical “things”. It may sound obvious, but being interested in how things work, why they work and what they do is key.

We often find that people who make the best engineers have interests that involve designing, building, restoring or developing related things (bikes, motorbikes, cars, karts etc.) in their spare time.

After that, GCSEs and A Levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics building to a degree in Mechanical Engineering from a good university.

Think carefully when choosing what to specialise in. Speak to people in the industry if you can, find out what is entailed in the various sectors of engineering you like the sound of – most engineers I know will be happy to impart a few words of advice.

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started out in your career?

Just exactly how cold it can get out on a test track in February, despite having all the gear!

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

To continue to develop the Randle brand and expand our customer base. My goal for the company is that we continue to be the go-to people for our longstanding customers but become the go-to people for more new start-ups and the more established businesses we have not yet worked for. Watch this space!

Feeling inspired? We’re always looking for fresh talent for our team. Submit your CV to start your engineering journey with Randle.

The post Staff Spotlight: Jan Snape, Engineering Manager appeared first on Randle Engineering.

Today we’re talking to Joe, an engineer who joined the team at Randle back in 2013. In his role, Joe gets to work on a range of projects in sectors including automotive, construction, agriculture and more – which he says keeps things interesting!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I enjoy travelling the world, walks in the countryside and going to the cinema.

What’s your background and experience? 

Prior to working at Randle, I had completed a degree and subsequent PhD in Fluid Dynamics. Since joining, I’ve worked on many different projects in a variety of sectors; Automotive, Construction, Agricultural, Robotics and many more.

How did you come to start working at Randle? 

I started looking for a new challenge in the final stages of my PhD.  I knew I didn’t want to stay in academia but didn’t really know where I wanted to go after that. 

The role and Randle Engineering as a consultancy sounded interesting, I had a wealth of transferable skills and expertise, despite having no specific background in cars or suspension I was delighted when they offered me a job! 

It just shows how Randle are interested in engineers who can apply themselves to any problem and are quick to learn, Randle Engineering fosters an environment of knowledge share, and the application of principal skills, a keen mind can go a long way.

Tell us a bit about your current role at Randle. 

I currently get to do a bit of everything, which helps keep things varied and interesting. CAD design, stress analysis, multibody systems analysis, systems modelling, target setting and performance reviews for different vehicles and more. 

What skills does someone need to be great in this job? 

A good analytical mind, a skilled problem solver, and the ability to think outside the box.

What does a typical day in your role look like? 

I am usually working on a range of projects at the same time, doing everything from design and analysis to reviewing and reporting!

What’s the culture like at Randle? 

Randle has a friendly atmosphere with a good collaborative culture for pooling knowledge.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here? 

Challenging. Interesting. Friendly

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

My favourite project that I’ve worked on here at Randle is probably the Kobus gas pipe puller. It’s basically a powerful winch that pulls old gas pipes out of the ground while replacing them with new ones. 

It was extremely fulfilling to get to work on something from initial concept ideas, through to mature design, drawings and manufacture, before seeing the finished product out in the real world.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals? 

Being the best in my role as I possibly can be.

Feeling inspired? We’re always looking for fresh talent for our team. If you’d like to find out more about engineering jobs with Randle, submit your CV to get started.

The post Staff Spotlight: Joe Harris, Engineer appeared first on Randle Engineering.

Julia Travis is Office Administrator for Randle, and is responsible for keeping the office running smoothly – and the team fuelled with the best coffee and homemade cakes!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I have been married to my husband Gordon for 40 years next May. I have two adult children and a dog called Monty. I enjoy reading and walking in the countryside – not at the same time!

I also love the theatre, especially musical theatre, and have performed in numerous local amdram productions.

How long have you worked in the business?

I’ve worked for Randle since July 2021.

Tell us a bit about your background

I come from a print and publishing background, having worked for the Leamington Spa Courier Group. I was one of the first female compositor apprentices taken on and was Midlands Apprentice of the Year in 1983.

I have, however, always had an interest in engineering. My late father and my two uncles were all gifted engineers, my father started at Lockheed before World War II, and stayed with them for most of his career.

How did you come to start working at Randle?

I was one of the unlucky people who was made redundant due to the pandemic. I had been working with a local charity, and sadly their funding took a big drop when Covid hit.

But I was then lucky enough to get an interview at Randle and then be offered the position.

Tell us a bit about your current role at Randle

My role is to work alongside Sarah, our Operations Manager, to keep the office running smoothly and make sure all the important admin and everyday tasks are covered.

Essentially my job is to ensure that the engineers can concentrate on their projects and planning without worrying about anything else!

What are your key responsibilities?

I am PA to the CEO Steve Randle, managing his diary and correspondence. I am responsible for monthly invoicing, events and social planning as well as making sure the team are fuelled with the best coffee and homemade cakes!

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

Organisation, attention to detail, ability to multitask, being a ‘people person’.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

Very friendly and inclusive, I was made to feel welcome and part of the team from the very first day. Although the atmosphere can be intense when a project is particularly challenging, there is always room for a healthy debate or a jokey conversation.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Rewarding, Engaging, Family.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Being able to take the pressure off Steve and the engineers by doing some of the everyday time consuming tasks e.g. organising meetings with equally busy clients, otherwise known as ‘herding kittens’!

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started out in your career?

How quickly technology would advance so I could have kept on top of the developments and been ahead of the game.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

Who knows? You are never too old to learn – who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!

Feeling inspired? We’re always looking for fresh talent for our team. Submit your CV to start your engineering journey with Randle.

The post Staff Spotlight: Julia Travis, Office Administrator appeared first on Randle Engineering.

Dominic is one of Randle’s most long-standing employees, having joined the business straight from University almost 25 years ago. In his current role as Chief Technical Officer, he manages the process and strategy behind engineering delivery, helping the business grow and succeed.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a pragmatic engineer with a holistic focus on detail and rigour whilst keeping a broad perspective on the overall engineering problem.

How long have you worked at Randle?

Twenty-four and a half years

What’s your background and experience?

I obtained a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from University of Birmingham, and went straight to Randle from there!

How did you come to start working at Randle?

I was doing some work for Randle at University on a 4-poster ride test rig for a customer project.  During the work, one of the engineers suggested dropping my CV into them to see whether it would be worth a discussion.  I somehow passed Steve’s interview and have stayed for a while since then!

Tell us about your current role at Randle

In my current role, I manage the customer engineering jobs to ensure they’re delivered on time and on budget, while also working out what personnel, process and strategy development we need from an engineering perspective as we grow our team. I work hand-in-hand with Ally, our CSO, as we look to help Steve develop the business over the coming years.

What are your key responsibilities?

I’m responsible for engineering delivery and strategy, programme management and team development

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

Organisation, planning and the ability to manage multiple projects and switch between them effectively.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

There’s lots of interaction with other members of the team. I work closely with all our engineers from an engineering delivery point of view, but also with the sales, operations and management teams looking ahead to what needs to happen next.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

Things are different every day,  depending on what our current tasks and pressures are.  There’s often banter around some subject or other, but plenty of quiet focus on the engineering tasks at hand.  As we grow, our team interaction and communication is evolving and I’m sure the culture will continue to change and develop as the team grows.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Rigorous, engineering elegance.

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

There’s several contenders, but probably the JCB HMEE project. That’s because  we were able to get involved in a wide variety of areas and use different skills, from our core offering of suspension engineering, steering and vehicle dynamics, right through to project managing the armouring program and supporting the air-drop calculations to ensure it didn’t become an expensive air-to-ground dart!

Dominic’s advice for budding engineers

How do you become an engineer?

Start taking things apart as early as possible, and then you start to learn how to put them back together!  Look for a well-rounded course to develop your curiosity and application of the scientific method and be open to different sectors exciting your engineering mind, not just the one you first dreamed of.

“Start taking things apart as early as possible, and then you start to learn how to put them back together!”

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started out in your career?

How small the margins are in automotive!

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

My goals are to support the Randle brand and group as it continues to grow, to diversify our offering into different areas, and to help find the right team to support and develop the business.

Feeling inspired? We’re always looking for fresh talent to join our engineering team. Submit your CV to start your engineering journey with Randle.

The post Staff Spotlight: Dominic Simpson, Chief Technical Officer appeared first on Randle Engineering.

In this interview, we ask Chief Strategy Officer Ally McMahon about how he got into engineering, and the best ways to join the industry.

Tell us about your journey into engineering, and how you started working at Randle

I followed the well-trodden path into the industry of A-levels followed by a degree in engineering. I attended Loughborough University doing their Automotive Engineering degree including a year out in industry which has been a great basis for my career.

On my placement year I worked for a company producing large diesel engines for off-highway vehicles and power generation applications. 

It was a great year! Intellectually stimulating, an engaging team and I learnt an awful lot. 

That said there were other engineering disciplines that piqued my interest so as graduation loomed I decided to pursue a career in a different direction. That different direction led me to a graduate role at Randle Engineering. The type, variety and calibre of work was the real draw. 

I’ve been with the company for 8 years now and I haven’t looked back!

Ally’s current role at Randle

What are your key responsibilities?

In my current role I manage the day to day running of the company with our CTO, Dominic Simpson. 

My main contributions are developing and maintaining a robust business strategy that delivers on our goals, working with the team to develop new commercial opportunities and overseeing the operational side of things. 

I still do some engineering work as well to support the team and to keep the grey matter intact!

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

You need to be happy spinning lots of plates in different parts of the business.

You also need the confidence to push forward and develop plans in a constantly changing environment.

Engineering knowledge is obviously helpful, but you also need the desire to keep learning from others.

“The most rewarding thing is seeing the company grow and seeing decisions I’ve had a hand in have a real impact on the success of the place.”

What does a typical day look like for a Chief Strategy Officer?

There’s no such thing! 

It really depends on the time of the year, the time of the month and what ad-hoc challenges have cropped up. On average there is some business management, customer relationship building and engineering delivery.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

It’s a friendly and welcoming place. New starters are given the support they need to settle in and everyone is happy to share their knowledge to help colleagues deliver. 

We work hard but find a lot of enjoyment in doing so. Sometimes the place can be quiet while heads are down but equally sometimes a lively debate can erupt! 

I find that potential new car purchases are a guaranteed conversation starter!

What three words would you use to describe what it’s like to work at Randle?

Intellectually stimulating. Stretching. Rewarding. (I cheated with an extra word – but I think it’s worth it!)

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

It is very difficult to single out a favourite project. Every job is unique and all offer the chance to learn something new and expand your horizon.

Working on powertrain mounting concepts for a high-level UK supercar manufacturer in my first few years was an incredible learning experience. Working with the team on an internal R&D project developing a novel EPAS system from the ground up (simulation, mechanical design, control system development, track testing) was another high point.

Beyond project work I find the most rewarding thing is seeing the company grow and seeing decisions I’ve had a hand in have a real impact on the success of the place.

Ally’s advice for future engineers

How do you become an engineer?

There’s a massive range of jobs in the engineering sector, so there’s lots of different ways to join the fray. 

A-levels and a degree worked well for me, but it is by no means the only way. The key thing is to decide (roughly) what engineering discipline makes you tick then find the right education path or course. 

Practical experience outside of academic education is also important whether that is a hobby, part time job or placement year.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

We’re working through a period of targeted business growth to help us better serve our customers, so my focus remains on this in the medium to long term. 

The brilliant thing about working for an SME is that you can enact change and pursue interesting opportunities in an agile manner which always keeps it fresh!

Feeling inspired? We’re always looking for fresh talent for our team. Submit your CV to start your engineering journey with Randle.

The post Staff Spotlight: Ally McMahon, Chief Strategy Officer appeared first on Randle Engineering.

In this post, we’re speaking to David. David joined the team directly from University six years ago, and he’s enjoyed working on a wide range of projects during his time at Randle – from flying cars to agricultural robots!

How did you come to start working at Randle?

I joined Randle as as a graduate in 2016, after studying Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough. I chose Randle because of the variety of work and range of interesting sectors and projects Randle has been involved in.

What are your key responsibilities?

My role covers multi-discipline engineering, so it’s really varied. I aim to fulfil all of the requirements of a project without outsourcing to other departments, so that might include design, CAD, FEA and concept generation alongside liaising with suppliers and customers and reporting. I also get to help with the induction process alongside HR, welcoming and onboarding new starters.

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

Creative problem solving, methodical analysis and a broad interest in engineering and the products of engineering. Engineering is about problem solving and it’s important to have a toolbox of methods to solve the problems. New problems may require new solutions but they can also be solved by using an existing solution in a slightly different way. 

What does a typical day in your role look like?

Most days are different; it depends on the project I’m working on. Most of my time is spent engineering, this may be as a member of a larger team or as the main engineer on a project. Project management is an important part of engineering but the way we manage projects tends to be very efficient which leaves plenty of time to do the actual design work.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

The working culture at Randle is positive, it’s a good place to work. At the end of the day, it’s important to enjoy what you do. The leadership team are supportive and appreciate the importance of a good work life balance.

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

I‘ve worked on a lot of interesting projects across a variety of sectors, from flying cars to agricultural robots! I’ve also had the chance to work on classic cars, suspension and handling kits and several EVs including solar cars and hardcore off-roaders.

David’s tips for budding engineers

How do you become an engineer?

I’ve always had an interest in engineering, which is why I knew I wanted to study it at degree level. Having the education plus a willingness to work hard and continue learning have helped me succeed in this industry.

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started out in your career?

For someone wanting to start out in engineering, it’s important to consider carefully which university to attend.  Engineering is a challenging course, so it’s important to have good support and social opportunities like societies and sports clubs to help you stay sane!

A piece of advice I’d give to budding engineers is that the ability to learn on the job is probably more important than already knowing how to do something. It’s okay to not know the answers straight away!

“The ability to learn on the job is more important than already knowing how to do something.”

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

Career-wise, I’d love to gain more Senior Engineer experience. But it’s also equally important to me to continue my personal development too.

Feeling inspired? We’re always looking for fresh talent for our team. Submit your CV to start your engineering journey with Randle.

The post Staff Spotlight: David Wellbeloved, Consultant Engineer appeared first on Randle Engineering.