Harry Rosenbaum
MEng Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Year, 2023
Mechanical Engineer, GE Renewable Energy
I contribute to the design, manufacture and installation of high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter valves mainly for offshore wind farms to transmit renewable power to grid networks. As a mechanical engineer in a heavily electrical field, some of my roles include performing finite element analysis (FEA) for structural purposes as well as for dielectrically simulating high voltage conductors to assess the risk of discharge. Furthermore, I am working with the projects side of the engineering teams as well, which is extremely valuable experience as I am able to gain a better understanding of the wider scope.
What skills from your degree do you think you use most in your current job?
Communication. Throughout university, we were exposed to group project work with a variety of engineering disciplines, we had the opportunity to meet and learn from industry experts and absorb as much as we could from academic researchers. The range of different people that we communicated with at university is an essential experience in readiness for working in a global company, working towards pushing the boundaries of technology.
How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham?
I have been given responsibilities such as project engineer for large scale projects (10GW), exposing me to multiple departments working towards a common goal, as well as working in a consortium programme, working closely with other companies. I have had the opportunity to present a mechanical system which I have designed to the patent evaluation board within GE, to present my solution to reducing the downtime of power transmission from offshore wind farms during planned maintenance outages.
What advice would you give to current students studying on your degree programme?
Mechanical Engineering is a tough degree, but with consistency throughout the academic year you will be surprised what you can fit in. It’s a big balancing act with any degree course, and I thoroughly believe that it is essential to let your hair down and celebrate the small wins, even if that’s every week. It keeps the motivation. Stick at it, and you’ll wish it was never over.
What are your fondest memories of the University?
Fondest memories of the University are shared with the friends I had made both on my course and through the hockey club. Countless late nights in the Guild on a Wednesday night, as well as exploring Birmingham as a city.
What extracurricular activities did you get involved in as a student?
I was lucky enough to play a large part in the university’s hockey club, representing them as the Men’s Club Captain during my third year. I was also part of the UBeRacing society which hosted the university’s electric car racing team, through which I managed to obtain my first-year summer engineering placement at a local engineering company I was exposed to through my time in the procurement team.
The seemingly small interactions that you have and the groups at university that you take part in have such large potential for career progressing opportunities, and it’s through these societies where I met my best friends as well as gained valuable industry experience which I believe set me up for being accepted onto an internship programme with GE, and consequently my full-time position.
Why did you originally apply to Birmingham?
The campus! Even having had the opportunity to travel between universities and play against Russell Group (and Loughborough) hockey clubs, I am still yet to come across a better campus! In all seriousness, it’s the breadth which the university offers: academically it’s an outstanding university, competitive within the BUCS cups for the sports side, and a friendly campus which is located outside the city centre which feels like its own bubble.