Jess Wattle

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

I chose to pursue a degree in naval architecture as it combined my hobby of dinghy racing with subjects I enjoyed at school. I also had some work experience in a towing tank facility which inspired me to pursue a career in this field. Lots of companies and people in the engineering industry seemed keen to offer insights and work experience in this field which really helped when choosing a career path.

What made you want to join HR Wallingford?

I loved the impression of the whole site when I came for my interview. It felt like an amazing place to work with experts in their field whilst also having a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

What do you enjoy about your job? 

I enjoy finding new ways of solving issues that occur when setting up simulation sessions and the range of projects that use the ship simulation facilities at HR Wallingford – from port design and navigation studies to pilot training. I also like helping create the visual scenes.

The variety in my role is also really appealing – every project has different requirements and focuses. It is challenging but interesting understanding how these can be met using the facilities available at HR Wallingford. 

I also enjoy interacting with clients and stakeholders from different backgrounds during the simulation sessions.

What has been your favourite piece of work so far? 

It is difficult to pick just one piece of work! I enjoy being the project manager for the Harwich Haven Authority CPD sessions. The pilots are great to work with and you can see how much the attendees improve during the sessions and benefit from them. My role involves organising the sessions, setting up and operating the simulator and producing a run summary and track plots for evidence after the session.

I also enjoyed being part of the design and build of the new simulator staging. It was great to be involved with improving the ship simulator capabilities at HR Wallingford. 

What do you like doing outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy going for lots of runs with my big dog named Clifford.

I also recently organised some Hoopers dog agility classes for Howbery Park Sports and Social Association members on the business park where I work - Howbery Park