Researcher: Marine Engineering and Ship Design

Darren Broderick (age: late 20’s)

Tell us about you and your job….
I work in research into ship structural design at Newcastle University, and I’m currently working on a European project to find ways of making ships easier to build, therefore making them cheaper. If I was to describe my job in three words, I’d say ‘making ships simpler’.

I’ve always had an interest in engineering and as a child I seemed to get through more Technic Lego and Mechcano sets than they produced. I took great pleasure in taking things to bits and more often than not putting them back together correctly. So a career in engineering was almost guaranteed, it was more a case of find which steam I wanted to pursue. I first undertook an apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy with P&O Containerships, and I remained working in the deep sea for a further 4 years before going to university. Over the years I’ve gained qualifications including a second class unrestricted motor ticket, an HND in Marine Engineering, and a Masters of Engineering in Marine Technology with Honours in Marine Engineering. My sea-going experience has helped a great deal, certainly when carrying out ship design projects.

What have been the best and worst parts of your career so far?
The worst parts would have to be when the sewage system on board a ship broke down and I had to carry out the repair. This involved removing the blockage from the pipe, the rest I’ll leave to your imagination!! The best part has to be graduation day after completing my Masters in Marine Engineering. It was the culmination of four years hard work at University.

How much money do you make?
Around £30,000 per year.

What ambitions do you have for the future?
The projects that I am working on, involve the novel use of technology that isn’t widely used or understood, so I am compiling my work in order to submit a PhD thesis in the next year or so. Who knows what the future will hold? A few years ago, when I was at sea, I would never have imagined I’d be doing the job I am now!

What advice would you give someone who was doing their GCSE’s, A-levels or alternative courses and thinking about going into a similar career?
As with many things in life, you can’t beat experience. For a career in any of the many streams of marine technology, try and gain some industry experience before during your summer vacations.

If you could be anything, what would you do if you weren’t in your current role?
If I weren’t doing what I’m doing now I would love to have been a helicopter pilot.

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