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Shape the Future of Automotive Technology

Exciting Job Opportunities at JLR Shannon: Shape the Future of Automotive Technology!

Welcome to our special Q&A session, where we delve into the experiences and exciting journey of a Software Engineering Manager (Chapter Lead) – Clodagh Daly. In this blog interview, we’ll gain a glimpse into Clodagh’s life at JLR Shannon, current responsibilities, involvement in various projects and networks, and her career aspirations.

From leading and empowering a diverse team of engineers to developing software engineering practices, fostering a supportive environment together with the rest of the leadership teams, and championing Women in Engineering. She brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role.

Join us as we explore her life at JLR Shannon below:

Q: What position did you start in and what is your position now? Please describe your current responsibilities. ?

Software Engineering Manager (Chapter Lead).

In my role, I am primarily a People Manager and leader of Engineers.  As a former Software Engineer, it is crucial to ensure that people’s development and learning is fostered in a continuous cycle, technology is evolving at such a rapid pace, we need to ensure our Engineers are at the cutting edge in their skills development.  This offers support to the organisation and enables the engineers to operate at the highest levels, empowering them to grow.  It is our responsibility to assist them to develop into the leaders of the future, both from a technological stand point but also as key drivers of our business and industry. 

Enabling a positive environment where they are supported and empowered to develop is key.  Regular touchpoints with me, reviewing how they are performing in their Agile team, identifying performance opportunities for them, to build their technical skills, develop their internal brand in JLR and for them to gain tangible experiences in our technologies and functions is really important. 

My team is diverse in their roles, experience levels, skills and technology stacks.  It is challenging to ensure people are given the required time and support for them to succeed.  This role is vital to them being successful in their abilities to deliver our quality products, so it is a great pleasure to watch them flourish in their career progression.  Without our Engineers, we have no products to sell. 

Q: Are you involved in any other projects / networks? If so, please describe what they are and what your contributions are. 

As a Chapter lead, we are presently putting shape to our Software Engineering Chapter, where individuals can form part of a cohesive collective of likeminded Software Engineers.  Our aims, are to provide guidance, define processes, align on technology and tooling, offering a community across the Software landscape in JLR.  This enables us to have a platform cross-functionally within our business where we can make strategic changes,  bringing ‘Best In Class’ strategies to the fore in our Software community.  This benefits both the Engineers but also the Organisation and provides our team members a cohesive space for them to collaborate, drive forward their suggestions, making meaningful strides forward in our technical evolution! 

I am also a member of the SHE++ Society where we champion all things – Women in Engineering in JLR Shannon.  Our aim is to foster an environment where women are supported, facilitating Mentorship talks, career development discussions.  We also want to promote the idea of diversity in the Engineering and Tech divisions, giving back to the community is very important to us, so we have conducted lots of Primary School visits, promoting Women in Technology and Engineering roles and encouraging the school girls, aged 11-12, to pursue roles in STEAM in the future.  This is a highly rewarding society and is key to breaking the bias of women in technology and engineering for the future!  Encouraging them at a young age to recognise these options as very positive careers for Women!

Q: What do you like about working here?

JLR is a truly inspiring place to work.  Our products are just sublime!  Breathtakingly beautiful, the epitome of luxury, all while offering the robust off road capabilities that we in JLR are synonymous with.  Our site in Shannon has Agile Squads that are driving forward the most critical technological advancements.  We have teams representing the ADAS group, Data Analytics and Machine Learning, DevOps, along with a host of other Onboard and Offboard capabilities.  There is something here for everyone, all tech stacks are present here. Variety is boundless.

The culture in Shannon is one which is really unique and that is down is no small measure to the approach taken from the top leaders across the site.  They ensure they are giving their time to everyone; they operate an open door policy; they are vastly knowledgeable in our products and are always willing to offer guidance, advice and energy to all of the sites various communities.  It has a nurturing vibe here, nobody’s questions are ever silenced and if there is something that is suggested within the site, it is welcomed, and you are given the latitude to go and bring it to fruition.

Q: What are your career aspirations? Do you feel that you get the necessary support from your management / department to help achieve your learning & development goal? 

As a relative new comer to the Automotive industry, I am learning every day. Our team in JLR Shannon are working on the most ground-breaking technology available and the opportunities to learn and grow are continually extended to everyone.  Each month we have 3 hours of protected time, where we can avail of training for our growth and development.  We have access to internal training platforms which houses a multitude of Automotive training and technology materials. JLR have also invested in making both PluralSight and Udemy Learning platforms available to our team members.  These are globally recognised suites of learning, demonstrating JLR’s commitment to growing their team members skills and investing in their development.

In JLR Shannon we are solving technically uncertain challenges daily, having the great pleasure to create the next generation of vehicles that can do things no-one has even considered possible.

My experiences in Shannon have been inspiring.  The culture and atmosphere here is like a family, it is warm, welcoming and growth focused.  Our team members are passionate about what we do and that is driven from the Senior Leaders on site.  Autonomy in your work is the way of life here, accountable but without fear to fail, there is zero tolerance for blame here, culturally.  Blame is actively discouraged in JLR Shannon, as without failure you cannot hope to innovate.  In our Research & Development focused Software Centre our goal is to harness the creativity of our engineering minds not stifle them, mine included.

Q: Describe your team / department, and what makes it stand out from our competition? 

Our proud team are known as the Onboard Enablers, what a great name!  We are responsible for enabling all of the connections and interfaces within the vehicle, bringing cohesion to all of the technology in our cars.  This provides our squads the opportunity to get first touch on new components and software, we lead, we don’t follow, breaking new ground is what we do, everyday!   By engaging directly with our suppliers and building the key partnerships, we are at the cutting edge of innovation, having the greatest opportunities to bring our market-leading new features to life, delighting our customers! 

Q: Tell us 3 interesting facts about yourself.

I have loved cars since I was very small – my brother and I used to play ever increasingly complex games of identifying cars while on family journeys.  My aim is to get my hands on an extremely rare,  2 seater Citroen DS convertible -innovative for its time, classically designed and remains a thing of beauty 20+ years later!   I just need to win the lotto first.

Hobbies, well I am a thrill seeker, Great White Cage Diving, bungy, helicopter flying amongst a few things, but parenthood has put the brakes on that for the time being.  I also am a massive DIY enthusiast, doing wood work courses and metal work courses so I could make things I wanted for my home!  My husband is a patient man.

Travel, I have travelled extensively I would say, backpacking, no 5-star luxury for me!   India, Thailand, Cambodia, UAE, Hong Kong, Maldives, New Zealand, Peru, Mozambique, South Africa, Dutch Antilles, the US, to name a few and of course all through Europe.  This is a passion!  The more obscure the location the better.  I backpacked as I found you really get to know a country when you are closest to the people, hostel life often will tell you more than any 5* will. 

Q: What hints and tips can you share with the potential candidates who are going through the application / interview process? 

First tip is to APPLY!  You do not even need to come from an Automotive industry to be able to make an impact in our Organisation!  Find me on Linked In or check out our Careers Page!

Secondly, and importantly; believe in yourself and your technology skills.  Outline your interest in JLR Vehicles and how you can contribute to the Automotive industry.  We are always looking for people who demonstrate drive, commitment to excellence and passion for what they do!  The rest you can learn here with us.

Apply now and be part of our dynamic team in Shannon: Shannon | Main Portal (pocketrecruiter.com)

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We live and breathe Diversity and Inclusion everyday

Lead Commodity Engineer Dr Nancy Liu loves science. Since the age of 3, her family knew that she was good at maths and loved experimenting with things.

Over the years, Nancy has earned her professional credentials from various different organisations and universities. She has a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nottingham, after achieving a Master’s degree in Aircraft Control Engineering in Northwestern Polytechnical University in China – a Chinese national Class A Double first Class University.

Nancy was also featured in dSPACE magazine, providing user feedback on dSPACE simulators on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover Powertrain.

Nancy has worked in Jaguar Land Rover for almost 15 years. We asked her to share her experiences here as a lead engineer in Science.

Q: What position did you start in and what is your position now? Please describe your current responsibilities. 

‘As a lead engineer, I am responsible for planning and building the test rigs. Essentially, I write scripts to test the BECM (Battery Energy Control Module) software to ensure they all meet the JLR standards.

On a daily basis I carry out rigorous manual and automation testing in our laboratory. I work in collaboration with our commodity owners and managers to ensure we deliver the battery management system with the highest quality, on time.’

Q: Are you involved in any other projects / networks? If so, please describe what they are and what your contributions are. 

‘I previously supported our Electrical Integration team to update software for over 200 vehicles in China. We worked closely with the British manufacturing technicians and the Chinese retailers / warehouse employees.

In addition to the engineering aspect of my job, I also helped building relationships. I removed certain ambiguity when discussing complex projects; I knocked down language barriers by providing face-to-face professional interpretations, offering a greater context with my Chinese language skills and cultural background.

I previously led the powertrain HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) lab, assembling the team of 7 engineers from scratch. We did a thorough upgrade of all the hardware and software in the lab. The HIL facilities are still in use by many of our Jaguar Land Rover colleagues today and I am very proud of this achievement.’

Q: What do you like about working in Jaguar Land Rover?

‘I love science and engineering. Jaguar Land Rover provided me with this fantastic opportunity which allows me to combine the knowledge I have gained from years of studying and researching, with the practical aspect – I play with the latest software and cutting edge equipment daily. I work with a bunch of knowledgeable and enthusiastic people. What’s not to like?’

Q: What are your career aspirations? Do you feel that you get the necessary support from your management / department to help achieve your learning & development goal? 

‘I love my job, hardware-in-the-loop in particular. My manager is also very supportive, we often have open discussions about the technical issues as well as my personal development opportunities. I feel encouraged, empowered and supported to achieve more.’

Q: Describe your team / department, and what makes it stand out from our competition? 

‘The Battery Management Control System team consists of employees from 8 different countries. We live and breathe Diversity and Inclusion everyday. I am the only female in my team, and we are all being treated equally. Everyone’s voice and opinions matter.’

Q: Tell us 3 interesting facts about yourself.

‘I am not all science and numbers, I also like art – I often paint in my spare time to relax and clear my mind; I am a keen traveller, my dream is to travel around the world one day.’

Q: What hints and tips can you share with the potential candidates who are going through the application / interview process? 

‘Have the relevant background knowledge and be confident in your answers.’

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Within ADAS the results of what we achieve are amazingly rewarding.

‘I have always had a huge passion for Computer Vision – through AI and Deep Learning and after spending several years at Imperial College London focused on academic research through a PhD programme and a Post-Doctoral position, I wanted a role where I could really bring this passion to life – and now I do this through working on Autonomous Vehicles at Jaguar Land Rover.

What we do here is hugely challenging but it’s an environment where I can use my skills and apply them effectively. Working here has given me the perfect transition from Academia to Industry – solving problems and challenges step by step on the projects I work on.

I joined ADAS to work on next generation, the state-of-the-art software for Computer Vision and AI from a research concept to implementation and testing and validation. I run a global Research and Development team across the UK, Hungary and India – we are a great mix of people with differing levels of expertise.

I’m passionate about the applications we use – this really drives me in my role. We have the autonomy and freedom to think of solutions to our challenges and then build on them. The evolution of what we do is step by step and we move forward with this every single day.

At Jaguar Land Rover you receive a lot of support from senior management – we work globally with flexibility, autonomy, a joint mind set – and patience. In Research and Development work you always need patience and persistence– but the results of what we achieve are amazingly rewarding.’

There are some amazing opportunities to join us in ADAS right now –  including a role within Mohamed’s team for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com

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I have been able to see the impact of data and how it can be used to solve business problems and generate real business value.

‘Jaguar Land Rover has had a profound impact on shaping my career, as I joined on the Analytics graduate scheme directly after completing university. Before joining I wasn’t sure what a career in analytics would consist of, but at the start of the graduate scheme I had 6 weeks of training to familiarise myself with the different analytics tools and technologies (including Tableau, Google BigQuery, Python and even a bit of Excel). I was also taught some basic data science and data engineering.

As soon as I finished training I was thrown into the deep-end, working on key projects, which helped me develop my skills really quickly. I’ve been here for almost 4 years now, and I’ve learnt a lot. I have been able to see the impact of data and how it can be used to solve business problems and generate real business value. I’ve worked on a bunch of different projects and have seen deliverables deployed and used by the business, which has been great.  Everyone in the team is really friendly, and I’ve been able to ask senior management for advice on how to approach difficult situations. I am now working as a Senior Analytics Developer which has a good mix of technical and business facing opportunities.

What’s important to me about my work here? It’s challenging and I have the opportunity to continuously learn. I’m trusted by management to work autonomously and given real responsibility. (e.g. presenting my work to very senior stakeholders including Board of Management members) and – lastly – I work in a dynamic team, with everyone being encouraged to challenge and speak up on how they think we should approach a problem or project.’

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Since joining I’ve learnt how to build and deploy analytical products to production, communicate recommendations clearly, and collaborate with stakeholders across the business.

‘Jaguar Land Rover has had a huge positive impact on my career. Before I joined I was working in media in data entry. I knew a little coding, but generally did not know about data analytics and knew nothing of how it could be the powerhouse in transforming a business. Since I’ve joined I’ve learnt how to build and deploy analytical products to production, communicate recommendations clearly, and collaborate with stakeholders across the business.

I was taught the basics of analytics, data engineering, and data science in a crash course at the beginning of the graduate scheme. After that I was thrown into a project to learn while delivering. During the crash course in analytics, I learnt that I enjoyed applying data science and made it my goal to become a Data Scientist. As I grew over the two years and worked on a variety of different projects I was guided and mentored by senior members of our team towards that goal. Last month I signed a new contract with Jaguar Land Rover with Data Scientist as my job title.

At the moment, I am working on the Vehicle Data Model (VDM). As cars are quite complicated, it can be difficult to calculate all the information required to assess different scenarios at short notice. The VDM aims to be the one-stop-shop for all information on any vehicle that can be built by Jaguar Land Rover.

At the heart of the VDM is a model I built using binary decision diagrams. While it is currently able to provide data on hundreds of thousands of cars per week, I am developing a new model and architecture to increase the capacity to hundreds of millions of cars per week.

This will allow Jaguar Land Rover an unprecedented amount of data for optimising our decisions in scenario planning, forecasting, supply chain, and emissions of future cars.

I’d say there are three key things that are important with my work.

 The work challenges me and keeps me interested, the opportunity to continuously learn and the inspirational people I work with’.

Join us and you’ll be working alongside – and learning from – recognised digital leaders.