Earlier this year Mustafa Kheraluwala, Team Leader – Civil Experimental, won the national Rising Star Award as part of the National Graduate Recruitment Awards in the UK. Find out what it takes to be the one to watch.
Have you always been interested in aviation?
Aviation has fascinated me as long as I can remember. As a child I would spend hours experimenting and perfecting paper aeroplanes, until my mother told me off for throwing them off our balcony. But it was this passion that led me to study Aeronautical Engineering in India, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nottingham. From there, I joined the Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Development Programme here at Rolls-Royce.
How do you find working at Rolls-Royce?
Working here has given me the opportunity to meet and work alongside some incredibly talented and brilliant people, on projects that have exposed me to so much learning. I have been supported and encouraged every step of the way, not only by my tutors but by the teams I work with. The hugely diverse work environment has helped me learn a lot about different cultures and experiences and has really developed me as a person.
What does your role involve?
I’m currently working as a Team Leader in the Experimental business of Civil Aerospace, my first role on the Extended Development element of the graduate programme. I’m responsible for leading improvements for assembly and disassembly instructions on all test engines. I previously worked as a Graduate Manufacturing Engineering for 18 months where I got opportunities to improve processes and help bring in new products and capabilities in three different manufacturing sites across the UK.
What have been some of your achievements?
I have improved an inspection system, a production process and a manufacturing process, all of which have the potential to generate significant savings for the business. In my Design and Make attachment, my team delivered a novel yet simple alternative to a complicated design. This has the potential to be applied in many parts of an aircraft engine - and again drive significant cost reduction. We were even awarded the Sir Henry Royce award for Technical Innovation, for our efforts.
Wow, anything else?
Just doing the day job doesn’t satisfy me. I constantly yearn to go out and do more. Along with a team of five, I led a project, One Global Community, to bring Manufacturing Engineering graduates based in seven different countries together. We set up networking sessions where ideas, experiences and technologies are shared, as well as creating a portal where company seniors and experienced graduates share advice for new starters.
Additionally, I have a huge interest in promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) to young people. I have represented Rolls-Royce in multiple careers fairs, events at universities, and even Parliament. I am also the Young Persons Network representative with the Royal Aeronautical Society (Derby Branch) where I organise events and competitions to raise interest in the industry.
Mustafa is clearly very motivated and passionate about what he does. In 2016, he also won the Present Around the World competition organised by the Institute of Engineering and Technology. We’re very proud of everything he has achieved so far