As one of the world’s leading advanced technology companies, Lockheed Martin is at the forefront of innovation - and engineering performance is at the centre of everything we do.

In the UK, we work on a wide range of challenges and opportunities, from sorting the world’s mail to building the UK’s first spaceport. Read more about our products and capabilities here.

Nearly half our UK workforce are in our engineering teams – and 10 per cent of them are women.

To mark This is Engineering Day 2020, we spoke to five Lockheed Martin UK engineers to hear how they #BeTheDifference and why they think engineering is a fantastic career option for a diverse range of people.

An engineering career with Lockheed Martin can involve everything from safety to systems, testing, software. project management and more.

If reading about our engineers inspires you, check out the Lockheed Martin UK Careers pages.

What does a typical day in your job as a Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin involve?

I work on MEARS, our mail sorting technology that helps ensure millions of letters and parcels are safely delivered every day. I deliver technical project solutions and products to cost and schedule. I also act as the interface between customers and project teams for Systems Engineering activities. When we are faced with operational issues, problems and incidents, I work to determine and develop solutions. I also liaise with stakeholders to support continuous improvement processes.

How do you #BeTheDifference and shape the world in your engineering role?

Notably, in the history of engineering, women feature very little. The proportion and under-representation of women in engineering are pre-dominant. Part of the problem is the absence of women role models and mentors who know enough about the engineering field. 

That’s why I support STEM initiatives and campaigns to encourage women to participate in STEM careers, and, as a woman in a leadership role, I hope I am a role model to help overcome the lack of female visibility in engineering. I also encourage other women through mentoring and networking to enter the profession and thrive in their career.

Why should young people consider a career in engineering? What would you say to someone thinking about it?

Engineers play a vital role in developing technologies and solutions to some of the biggest challenges our world faces. It underpins our day to day lives to keep us stay safe and secure. It's a varied career that supports women to achieve as engineers, technologists and leaders.

Engineering is a challenging and rewarding field to work in. For anyone who has problem-solving and technical skills, and, more importantly, great people skills, engineering is an ideal career.

What does a typical day in your job as a Graduate Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin involve?

As a graduate systems engineer no two days are ever the same, which makes it very exciting. A good analogy for what a systems engineer does is like a conductor in an orchestra of other engineers. Whereas an orchestral conductor may have violinists and cellists, as a systems engineer, I’ll be working with electrical or mechanical engineers, ensuring we’re all moving together in the right direction to build a system that does what it needs to do.

How do you #BeTheDifference and shape the world in your engineering role?

For me, the most important thing is to have a positive mindset. Positivity encourages ideas, teamwork, creativity, and lifts everyone’s spirits.  With a positive mindset you will be able see opportunities where others see adversity, and use that to consistently improve, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve. Sure, on occasion things will go wrong, but when they do, tackling the problems with a positive, “let’s do this” mindset will see issues resolved far quicker.

Why should young people consider a career in engineering? What would you say to someone thinking about it?

I think engineering is the perfect blend of scientific rigour and creativity – you’re encouraged to use your imagination to design and build innovative solutions to new challenges, which makes the job really fun. Also, at Lockheed Martin, I know that my work is important, and I feel like I’m making a real difference day-to-day. Because I find it so enjoyable it never really feels like I’m ‘working’!

What does a typical day in your job as an Integration and System Test Engineer at Lockheed Martin involve?

I’m working on a new Airborne Surveillance and Control system for the Royal Navy's Merlin Mk2 helicopters called CROWSNEST.  The role is so diverse there isn’t a ‘typical day’ in the Integrated Test, Evaluation and Acceptance team. The two main activity cycles are test analysis and design, and test execution. During test analysis and design, the requirements are analysed, and a test procedure created to test those requirements in the most efficient and effective way. During test execution, test procedures are executed on the Full System Integrated Rig (FSIR) which is a lab-based test environment that simulates as accurately as possible the CROWSNEST systems that will be fitted to the Merlin Mk2 helicopter.

How do you #BeTheDifference and shape the world in your engineering role?

By standing out as an individual whilst working as part of a team. To #BeTheDifference and shape the world we have to see ourselves as participants, not merely employees or resources.

Why should young people consider a career in engineering? What would you say to someone thinking about it?

Engineering is ageless and as diverse as your imagination will allow. It is not a job that you introduce as “I do...” but an achievement that allows you to say “I am…” It is a means to contribute to the present and invest in the future.

What does a typical day in your job as an Engineering Graduate at Lockheed Martin involve?

On a typical day, I am involved in technical and non-technical work, meet with the team, participate in planning and review sessions and work with colleagues, stakeholder and suppliers to complete the tasks I have been assigned.

How do you #BeTheDifference and shape the world in your engineering role?

An engineer with great ideas has huge potential to change the world, but a team that is aligned to that vision and works effectively together is the one that ends up changing the world.  I contribute to that by using my skills to help my team perform their job effectively. Conversely, I also rely on their support to help me perform to the best of my abilities. Together, we identify innovative solutions to challenges and bring new technologies to market that will ultimately revolutionise the way we live.

Why should young people consider a career in engineering? What would you say to someone thinking about it?

The world needs excellent engineers to solve the various problems it faces today. You could be part of a team that finds pioneering solutions to those problems. A career in Engineering gives you the opportunity to use your problem-solving skills to make a real impact. Lockheed Martin is a great place to work, it’s enabling me to make the difference the world needs to become a better place.

What does a typical day in your job as a Systems Manager at Lockheed Martin involve?

I work on the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP), upgrading the British Army’s 30-year-old Armoured Fighting vehicle Warrior. A typical day starts with reviewing the incidents/issues on the previous day’s trials, to understand what issues occurred that need my attention to help reach a conclusion on what ‘failed’ and whether we need to change a feature of the design. This is followed by meetings to discuss other design features, writing acceptance reports and helping to prepare for Trials Readiness Review. It’s an exciting time on WCSP at the moment, with lots of trials activity going on and the programme has recently completed 79 Battlefield Missions – a significant programme milsestone.

How do you #BeTheDifference and shape the world in your engineering role?

The British Army is reliant on our technologies and capabilities to provide them with the protection they deserve whilst carrying out missions. Knowing through the work I do I am helping to keep soldiers safe is very rewarding.

Why should young people consider a career in engineering? What would you say to someone thinking about it?

Engineering is the ultimate team endeavour. If you like teamwork, are inquisitive and like understanding how things work, then engineering is for you!