I was tasked pretty much immediately, and
my previous blog post mentions the type of work that I’m doing. Being able to sink my teeth into projects so
quickly is not something I’m used to. It
typically takes days to get software installed, for example. The process side of things is just quicker
here, and I’ve been able to hit the ground running. The first week included sessions on the
simulator with a younger driver, which is a lot of fun, as well as validation
being immersed into the data acquisition and analytical software packages. For me, this is extremely exciting. I’m already using Matlab on a daily basis, looking
at telemetry, and doing a bit of refresh training on NX (CAD software). This computer work is all within the context
of the cars and the simulator, meaning that my work results are tangible. My deliverables will have measurable impact,
which makes my job more stimulating than simply staring at a bunch of screens.
 |
| Working into the evening hours, #BecauseRacecar |
Jason and Will went through significant
amounts of training in the first week, receiving inductions and training with
electronics, composites, and the machine shop, as their roles are more related
to design and manufacture of parts for the vehicle whereas mine is generally
analytical. So they’ve been able to do and see some pretty cool stuff, while
I’ve been able to take on a challenge.
The people I work with are great, as are
those who have been working with Jason and Will. They’re generally highly experienced, and
it’s easy to see that they are simply fantastic engineers, and it’s amazing to
work with them. Sam and Gleb have been
keen to help me get situated, learn the relevant processes, share what they’re
up to, and invite me for tea each time they walk to the café we’ve got on one
end of the design office. I’ve had to
ask the UK boys about tea ever since putting a lemon in my English Breakfast
tea…still need more practice, but I’d like to think I’m becoming more
cultured! Haha.
Speaking of people, everybody is very
talented and totally approachable.
Regardless of seniority, people are willing to help or just discuss
things with anybody at any time. Good
news for me, since I have nonstop questions.
The collaborative nature of the team is so amenable to a comfortable and
highly productive workplace; I’ve already learned tons! Beyond that, it’s such an electric
atmosphere; you can’t help but be excited and motivated when you’re passing the RB7 and the championship
trophies as you walk through the front doors to the design office every day.
Friday night, Jason, Will and I met up with
Jack, a friend of Will’s from home, and a few coworkers who have helped us
through the onboarding process. Hannah,
Silvi, Natalie and Rachel from Infiniti-Red Bull invited us out at the
Hub. The Hub is right across the street
from our flat, which is great since it’s the only place like it in Milton
Keynes.
 |
| The Hub in Milton Keynes |
The three of us are finding doesn’t have a
lot of inherent character on its own, since it is very industrial. That makes it awesome for getting pretty much
anything you need without having to go far at all, including the ability to get
to London via Milton Keynes Central, which is walkable, as is the mall and
grocery store. It’s all very
convenient. But the hub has its own type
of character. The hub is essentially a
horseshoe of restaurants and pubs overlooking a small square, and loads of
other businesses, restaurants, and pubs are scattered throughout the same
area. It’s the main social and nightlife
area of Milton Keynes, and it’s where we stayed during the initial academy
assessments.
We started at Be At One, which was
confusing when Will told us where to meet up.
Jason and I first thought he meant, just be at a pub…any pub. Anyway. Be At One is a small place with good
cocktails and late happy hour deals, so we hung outside at the tables there for
a while and got to talking about our experiences.
 |
| Be At One in the Hub |
Everybody has pushed to get to where they
are in their careers, but thankfully, it’s not just about work. Work hard, play hard is definitely the
mantra. Since half of us were from
outside of the UK, and the girls have had awesome opportunities while working
at and traveling with the race team, there are a lot of good stories to
share. There’s a lot of depth to the
people here. We continued next door to
Missoula, which is a western USA themed bar & grill, and Will showed off
his funky solo dance moves. If only I
had taken video! We dispersed over the
next couple of hours and made our ways home.
It was a fun night getting to know some new friends!
Life is not boring in F1. That's for damn sure.
No comments:
Post a Comment