Kirsten from Engineering

• • Engineering

  • Dave
  • Kirsten
  • Catherine
  • Scott

I joined AstraZeneca having completed a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College, London and spending a 'year out' travelling the world. During my time at university I was actually sponsored by AstraZeneca so I had spent my summers working at various sites and experiencing the different engineering roles that AstraZeneca has to offer.

I had become sponsored through the Year in Industry scheme and was offered a job at the end of that time.

"It is the variety that I really enjoy and the fact that I am meeting new people all the time" Kirsten 

I decided to take the job as I had always found AZ a friendly and fun place to work and there were plenty of opportunities for development and career progression. It was also accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers which was important to me as I wanted to become a Chartered Engineer.

At the moment I work for a department that looks after the maintenance of the many laboratories that we have on site at Alderley Park, Cheshire. I manage a team of nine engineering technicians and hold the budget for the maintenance work that is carried out. I am involved in project work and have an input into the construction of new buildings.

My days are incredibly varied as Im never quite sure what is going to hit me that day, I certainly dont spend a lot of time at my desk and I have to communicate with all sorts of people at all different levels. This role is completely different to the first role I had at AZ where I was the Technical Support Engineer for a number of tablet packing lines in the manufacturing department. It is this variety that I really enjoy and the fact that I am meeting new people all the time.