Skip to content

Nicola

Group Leader Warhead Engineering Capability

How long have you worked at AWE?
18 years

Why did you choose AWE?
In all honesty I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do when I was in my final year of university, so I applied for all sorts of jobs. When I first visited AWE, I was struck by the friendly vibe and everyone’s enthusiasm for what they do. 18 years on and I am still here, I’ve done several different jobs in that time with some great colleagues and friends.

Tell us about your time at AWE?- What do you do?
I’ve worked in a few different areas but mostly in Warhead Engineering and Nuclear Threat Reduction as a Systems Engineer. Currently I’m a Group Leader, which involves running a group of around 50 people who provide enabling technical and people-based services, tools and processes.

On a typical day I start work around 8am and am generally pretty busy talking to lots of different sets of people and keeping the group running effectively. I finish at 2pm ready to head home and pick up my daughters from school.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I enjoy variety at work and so I love the fact that I am solving different problems every day. And as a Systems Engineer, I enjoy thinking about the bigger picture and how things interact, whether that’s a warhead product or a service delivery model.

How do you see your career progressing?
The important thing is to keep developing. Every role I’ve taken on has stretched me and helped me grow in different ways and I want to carry on doing that.

Why are days such as International Day of Women in Engineering Day so important?
As a proud mum of three daughters, I think it’s hugely important to talk about what I do and help children understand what engineering actually is. It’s a great career choice and it’s open to people of all genders, backgrounds and races.

Who inspired you to become an engineer?
My Grandad worked at AWE in the 1950s and my Dad is also a Systems Engineer in the defence industry so despite going off to University to study Physics there must be something in the blood which has pulled me back to Engineering!

Why is gender equality and diversity so important to our industry?
Different experiences in life mean that we think in different ways; and for collaborative working this is exactly what we need to get to the best outcomes.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming an engineer?
Go for it! It’s a great career with loads of different routes and types of role.

 

Latest news

Latest News

Celebrating Ada Lovelace – the worlds’ first computer programmer 

Last week, in Ada Lovelace’s honour, a passionate team from AWE welcomed around 70 enthusiastic Year 6 students and their teachers to a STEM event to celebrate science, creativity and resilience.   In the early 19th century, long before the digital age, Ada Lovelace laid the groundwork for modern computing. Born in 1815, Ada was fascinated by mathematics […]

Press Releases

Office for Nuclear Regulation investigation findings

Today, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) announced its investigation findings following the fatality of a Balfour Beatty employee in 2023, who was working in a construction enclave on AWE’s Aldermaston site.

A commemorative display in a grand room with marble columns and historic portraits, showcasing AWE's 75-year timeline of nuclear security technologies from the 1940s to the present, under the slogan 'Proud of our past. Prepared for the future.'

Latest News

75 Years of AWE: A landmark innovation showcase

On 16 October, AWE marked a major milestone in its history with the ‘AWE75: Proud of our past. Prepared for our future.’ event at the Institution of Civil Engineers, London. The event saw over 100 guests from across government, academia and the defence community gather to commemorate AWE’s legacy and look ahead to our future.

Search Sitemap Sitemap XML