Project Engineer, Lewis, Career Roadmap

Meet our Project Engineer, Lewis Wilkes ?? Lewis joined Salamander 9 years ago as an apprentice at just 16 years old, going on to win Rising Star of the Year at the Pump Industry Awards in 2023 Lewis has shared his career journey and advice.

Can you talk about your career journey so far?

I joined Salamander Pumps at the age of 16 as an engineering apprentice. At the end of the 4-year apprenticeship, I was given the role of technical liaison engineer. I was in this role for two and a half years before being appointed as a project engineer which I have been doing for nearly four years now.

Having been at Salamander Pumps for 9 years, I have worked in various departments including quality, manufacturing, and R&D departments. Initially, my focus has been on product improvements, however, since completing my degree and becoming a project engineer my focus has shifted to new product development.

How has Salamander Pumps supported your development?

Salamander Pumps has greatly supported my development during my time with the company. The company funded a level 4 HNC (higher national certificate) in Mechanical Engineering and on top of that a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Teesside University. I completed these qualifications part time on a day release from work. In May 2022, I completed the bachelor’s degree with first class honours. Aside from academic qualifications, Salamander Pumps has sent me on several training courses including CAD, internal auditing, injection moulding, compliance and electric motor fundamentals to enhance my knowledge of processes used in my day-to-day role. This has been combined with the wealth of experience of my colleagues who I learn from and who support my development daily.

What would you say to any young person thinking of applying to work in this industry?

I would highly recommend the industry to any engineer who has ambitions to develop and grow their skills. It is a highly demanding but very rewarding industry to work in with a lot of problem solving and challenges to overcome. I think it is important to mention how impactful an apprenticeship can be for a young aspiring engineer, over the conventional full-time university route into work. The workplace understanding you gain through an apprenticeship is unmatched, and you can experience this from a young age. This not only helps you develop your career early, but also matures you as a person. I would also recommend any young engineer to always be willing to learn and listen. You are learning something new from anyone you are working with day-to-day. Listen to these people and make notes – it is so important for your career development.