At work, after analysing the requirement, which includes the type of vessel, I work with my team to design engine. These designs need to take into account the different constraints like space, weight etc. I spend 70% of my time designing for the requirements and 20% on supporting existing clients and 10% on self-improvement. In my first year at work, I spent a lot of time understanding how the industry operates. An example of a requirement (for understanding) is how do you design a bicycle which applies breaks automatically when you reach above 20 km/h.

The process starts with enquiries from clients during the tender period. Based on the requirements, people in the sales team would approach me to understand how long it would take and whether it is possible to design with all the constraints. During this period, I usually work on a concept design. If our company gets the project, then the detailed design is created. I typically create both 2D drawings and 3D views using different software applications. This phase usually ranges from 1 week to 6 weeks based on the complexity of the requirements. The complete timeline, which ends with manufacturing and assembly, would be around 4 - 8 months.

Planes were fascinating to watch when I was a child. When I was studying in school engineering was the craze (everyone I knew wanted to be an engineer). When I applied to university, I wanted to work on aircraft. I was not aware of other possibilities. For example, I did not know the opportunities which were available for commerce or arts students. My family was predominantly from a science background, and as a result, I was inclined towards science. My Dad was a great inspiration to me and influenced me a lot at various points in life. He told me that aircrafts were not built in all cities, so I need to be practical when I applied for jobs. Now when I think about the past, I realise I didn't have much choice because of societal and parental influence. I was not prepared to decide as I was not aware of the possibilities.

Firstly, analyse your strength and weakness. For my role, you would need to pick up skills to learn different software applications. Internships are an excellent way to figure out your interest, find companies or products you want to work on. Luck also plays a role, and you need to be aware of the skills required by the companies.