Paul Phillips MEng in Aerospace Engineering, 2002

Spacecraft Thermal Control Engineer/Spacecraft Assembly Integration and Test Engineer; CCLRC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Hi, I'm Paul Phillips and I studied MEng in Aerospace Engineering within Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton.

Take time to decide what you want to do - then really go for it!

What do you do?

I design and build instruments and equipment for scientific spacecraft. I'm currently working on a joint ESA/NASA project called MIRI - this is a camera for the James Webb Space Telescope which will replace the Hubble telescope in 2012.

What's the best part of your job?

The different challenges everyday - I'm working with the newest technologies designing things that nobody has ever done before. Also getting to travel and meet people from many different countries since the space industry is so international.

Why did you go into this career?

I always wanted to work in space (literally - I've wanted to be an astronaut since I was very young!), and working on science spacecraft puts you always at the cutting edge of engineering.

What is your education/experience:

Up to age of 16 : 1991 - 1996: Belper High School; 10 GCSE's (grades A* - B); After 16 : 1996 - 1998: Belper High School; A levels (maths, further maths, physics, general studies)

Any advice on getting the first job?

My first job was on the graduate training program at Smiths Aerospace Electronic Systems in Cheltenham - useful training in many of the practical aspects of engineering. The job was found through an employment agency, since at the time I was looking (mid-2002) good jobs were quite scarce. Luckily the industry has picked up a lot since then!

What is your advice to potential students?