Dagmara Sajdak, HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd

Dagmara Sajdak is a Manufacturing Engineering Apprentice for HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd working towards a BEng in Manufacturing. Three years into her engineering journey, she is getting stuck in on lots of exciting projects and embracing opportunities for learning.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

Can you describe your career in engineering so far?

I have started working within engineering 3 years ago. In that time, I have gained a tremendous number of skills and knowledge. My company has allowed me to complete a rotation throughout the business to be able to gain an insight into various job roles within engineering, from manufacturing through quality and maintenance or even technical support. I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity as it allowed me to confidently say manufacturing is the right role for me, while developing an appreciation for the work done by my colleagues in other departments.

As I developed my skills and understanding of the business I have been entrusted with more important and challenging projects. Last year I joined the NPI and Production business unit, where I assist in developing and improving processed for new products within the business as well as providing support when issues with existing projects arise. My daily duties are incredibly flexible - one day I'm designing a new tool, the next day I am installing guarding on test rigs, and after that I'm performing data analysis like Gauge Repeatability and Reliability (Gauge R&R) or running studies like the Design of Experiments (DoE). No two days are the same and as I continue to develop my competence I am entrusted with more critical projects and responsibilities.

What has been your biggest success in your career?

I had the honour to be invited to meet the - at the time - secretary of state for education, the Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP at the Institute of Technology Hub in Birmingham and was able to discuss how to make apprenticeships and engineering a more attractive sector and encourage young people to seek out these opportunities.

In terms of on-the-job success, I have been the project lead on a large scale NPI project of high importance. This was the first big project I was entrusted with and I was able to successfully deliver it in time for launch, whilst navigating many different aspects of NPI and coordinating with other team members. I was lucky to have a great amount of support from both my managers and other engineers at the company.

What has been the biggest challenge?

HydraForce has produced many extraordinary apprentices in the past, some of them winning the apprentice of the year either nationally or for the region (West Midlands). Living up to the expectations I took upon myself to be at least as good if not better than my predecessors felt challenging at times.

Furthermore, there is a wealth of knowledge to be discovered as you begin your career in engineering and of course new technologies, methods and solutions are constantly being developed, so trying to keep up with this can feel overwhelming. I know there is an infinite amount of information out there but sometimes I struggle to reconcile with the fact that you can't be good at everything.

Are there any exciting projects you are working on currently?

There are too many to count! If I had to pick one in particular, it would be what we call the G3, which is a new generation of more compact hydraulic valves with maximised parameters. We have been able to create a fully automated assembly line that will also include hydraulic testing of the final product. The line is not up and running just yet but being able to assist with the FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) and get everything in place for launch has been a great development opportunity. I am planning to continue to provide support once the line is fully operational in case any issues arise or to make improvements.

What does the future look like and what are your goals?

The future lies in the hands of our current and future engineers, and I am extremely excited to be a part of it. I am planning to apply for the Incorporated Engineer status with the IET next year and I aspire to one day become a Chartered Engineer. I know I have a long way ahead of me, but I like to think about it as a journey of learning and development. I’ve had multiple engineers in various positions recommend getting IET membership and once ready going for the incorporated and chartered status.

Engineering is an incredibly broad field so I am confident that my career will remain exciting and satisfying. I am excited to see where my career in engineering takes me, but I know the IET will be a useful tool in achieving my goals and excelling in my career.

For the time being I expect to stay within a manufacturing engineering role at my current company, working to bring the world customised hydraulic solutions, but who knows what the future has in store for me!

Do you have any advice for those looking for their first role in engineering and technology?

The most important step is the first one you take. There can be a lot of anxiety around applying for roles, not feeling good enough, impostor syndrome etc. But it's important to overcome those fears. A rejection can feel like the end of the world, but it isn't. There is a lot you can learn from recruiters and other candidates, but you've got to keep trying. And once you've got your foot in the door your life will be transformed in ways you couldn't imagine. You'll meet fantastic colleagues and mentors that will help you throughout your career and you'll get to work on meaningful projects that will change the lives of many people.

Additionally, I have heard from many engineering students, both my university peers and online, that they fear being boxed into a specific role or industry for the rest of their life. I want to assure anybody that is interested in a career in engineering and technology that this is not the case. There are so many options on the market, from manufacturing to design or service engineers, biomedical, aerospace, public and private companies. Many of the skills you learn as an engineer are transferrable. If you have a passion for engineering there is a role and a company for you out there, so don’t be afraid to enter the industry because you worry you won’t be able to branch out.

How has your IET Membership helped you in your career?

I am a big fan of the career manager function the IET website offers. I like to be able to quantify the progress I am making and being able to record and track all of my CPD activities has been extremely helpful. The reflections’ function helps to jog my memory as to the key points I have learnt or skills I've improved or developed. I think it will also be helpful for when I decide to go for the Incorporated or Chartered status.

I have also taken advantage of the materials available through IET in terms of the newsletters and the reading material to keep myself up to date on the engineering world.

Do you participate in any other career-related activities?

I have been invited to give a presentation on working within the engineering industry as well as apprenticeships at a local college. I like to think that I was able to inspire the students to pursue their passion within the engineering industry and explore options outside of the traditional university route. I remember well what it was like to be in their position. Excited but full of anxiety over taking that leap into joining the industry. I know I would have appreciated being able to meet somebody who took that step and find out about their experiences.

Additionally, I mentor our new apprentices. I remember my own gaps in skills and knowledge when I first joined the company, so I make sure to address them first with our new arrivals. There is so much to learn, it can be overwhelming, and I make it my mission to ensure the apprentices have all the support they need, and they can maximise their learning potential. I want them to feel included and try to create a safe space for them to learn and ask questions without fear of judgement.