As part of our blog series for International Women in Engineering Day, we spoke to our Global Component Standardisation Engineer, Cen Tee on her growth at Hitachi UK over the past 5 years. Cen, who co-founded our Innovation ThinkTank, brings a fervent passion for engineering and a dedication to nurturing a culture of innovation and creativity.

Reflecting on her journey at Hitachi Rail, Cen gives insight into a day in the life of an engineer the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things.

Trying Different Career Paths

As an aspiring engineer, I was excited by how many different career paths there were in the engineering field. I fortunately had a lot of opportunities to explore different avenues, however, it wasn’t until university where I got my first taste of rail engineering.

I immediately loved it. One of my favourite things about this sector is the ‘human’ element as it is very public facing. I get to make a difference to the human experience of travelling. It sounds small but another one of my favourite things about the job is the fact that I get to ride the trains I’ve worked on!

Growing at Hitachi

I began my journey at Hitachi in 2018 as a Graduate Engineer. Since then, I've progressed through the role Systems Integration Engineer to now being a Global Component Standardisation Engineer.

Throughout my career at Hitachi, I've had the opportunity to work on a variety of large scale projects, which is incredibly exciting for any engineer. I mentioned in a blog last year that I was lucky enough to travel to Italy for four months and work on exciting projects like the East Midlands railway.

One of the most interesting projects I’ve worked on is the West Coast Partnership Project (WCP) This was one of the first projects I was involved in from start to finish.

I owe a lot of my growth to the support from the great people at Hitachi. As a global company it has allowed me to collaborate with colleagues from all over the world. I recently got back from China where we attended a conference and met our colleagues from the Chinese office.  This trip reinforced how regardless of the country, city, or office, the enthusiasm and dedication to our work is universal.

A Day in the Life as an Engineer

It is usually a diverse work scope! Within the CTO innovation team, I have been looking at cutting edge technologies to include in our new trains. This includes improving the passenger experience through the use of new technology and inclusive design methodologies. I am also investigating ways to assure battery life cycles, especially in recycling.

I’ve recently been working on inclusive design ie. making sure trains are accessible to everyone as well as battery life cycles, particularly recycling batteries. And then, in general, looking at new technologies that can improve passenger experience.

I also work in vehicle dynamics - we have been working on completing our compliance documents for the battery hybrid project. I am excited to see our trial battery unit in service!

Innovation Think Tank

I started the Innovation Think Tank in 2021 with another colleague during the pandemic. There are currently four of us on the Innovation board, each representing different areas of the engineering business. It is a place for us to bounce ideas off each other and come up with solutions to issues different areas of the business are struggling with.

The Innovation Board have been expanding our activities (Lunch & Learn & Innovation ThinkTank) to other parts of the business. Having different perspectives and knowledge always helps innovation.

The Innovation Think Tank is something I’m proud of and how it continues to grow. Innovation is what changes the game for every industry – some of the innovations aren’t going to be world changing but they will make a difference.

Keep Learning & Try New Things!

For students considering a career in engineering, I encourage you to explore various fields within the industry. Gain work experience in civil, mechanical, and electronic engineering—cast your net wide!

Have a desire to keep learning. Engineering is such a fast-moving area – it's also very vast and very diverse. There is so much to learn about and it is truly fascinating.

Supporting Women in Engineering

The work environment is really important. I've been fortunate enough to have experienced very welcoming and accommodating environments and I think that can make the difference in allowing someone to thrive.

Hitachi's Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are also great because they foster communities where people can discuss common issues. The Women’s Network, in particular, has given me greater visibility into the experiences of other women in the business and insight into how they got where they are.

Hitachi Rail Careers

Ambitious projects and rapid growth means Hitachi Rail needs people who are passionate about helping us deliver meaningful projects around the world. The future of rail is exciting and we offer pathways into the career growth opportunities within the rail industry.

If you are at the start of your career, or new to the rail industry, Hitachi Rail offers a range of apprenticeships and graduate opportunities. Our graduate engineering jobs are one of the ways we invest in emerging talent to build a future of sustainable transport through innovative technology. If you already have experience in the industry, we provide the opportunity to work on world class projects that bring meaningful change across the globe.