I graduated with an MEng in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nottingham in 2022, having been supported financially and professionally by Nidec Drives throughout my degree via the E3 Academy. After graduating, I was part of a wide range of engaging and rewarding projects in the graduate scheme.

My first placement was in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). 

The purpose of EMC is to ensure electrical equipment functions correctly whilst in the presence of other electrical equipment. This is important because all electric circuits produce undesired electrical ‘noise’ that could cause nearby circuits to behave unpredictably. I was responsible for testing products to international standards, taking measurements and checking for any unusual behaviour. If the test failed, I tweaked the design to increase resilience to electrical noise. EMC is a particularly understudied area of electrical and electronic engineering at universities, so being introduced to the topic at Nidec Drives has provided me with a valuable skill in high demand.

In power electronics, I applied my theoretical knowledge from university to pulse testing, where the electrical losses of IGBTs (electrical switches that are used to convert direct current to alternating current) are measured. This information is used to predict how hot drives will get when they are operating, ensuring that they are reliable and safe. I also investigated different thermal interface materials to determine which was best able to transfer heat from IGBTs to heatsinks while considering a range of other factors, namely cost and manufacturability.

Equipped with experience in EMC and power electronics, I attended a course in Cambridge on designing power electronics with EMC in mind. This was a great way to cement my understanding and apply it to situations I hadn’t considered. I also networked with engineers and academics from across the world, each with expertise and challenges to solve. I have since applied the skills gained from this experience to consider EMC in electrical circuits throughout the design process.

I then had an opportunity to work on switch mode power supplies. This was another area I studied at university, although I didn’t have much practical experience in it. A highlight was redesigning the control system on a power supply to better respond to short-term disturbances. I simulated the system in software, implemented it, and measured how well it performed in reality. This was a complex problem to solve, but it was very rewarding when the simulation matched the measurements. It's a humbling feeling to think about the tens of thousands of drives that will be built with my design!

Finally, I joined technical support, where I helped diagnose customer problems from the field. Sometimes, these problems demonstrated ways the original design could be improved, which I was able to test and implement. This was a great opportunity to consider design from a user’s perspective, understanding ways that decisions can impact customers in unexpected ways.

The graduate scheme at Nidec Drives has allowed me to work with and learn from accomplished engineers across the globe and has equipped me with a diverse skillset that I now deploy as a development engineer in the power team.