One Year at MMD: Rob’s Journey from Aerospace to Mining Engineering

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your current role at MMD Group?

I’m Rob, I’m 26, and I’m from the Isle of Man. I currently work as a Junior Mechanical Engineer at MMD Centre of Excellence.

I’ve lived on the Island my whole life, so I’ve grown up around road racing such as the TT and Southern 100. Outside of work, I also play guitar and sing in a local blues rock band, Spotty Dog.

My role at MMD has been quite varied, which I’ve really enjoyed. My work can include CAD, technical design, supplier outreach, and data analysis for potential components and systems. I’m also currently training in Ansys FEA, which is particularly exciting for me, as my MSc focused heavily on aerodynamics simulation. Being able to apply similar simulation principles to structural analysis is an interesting next step in my development as an engineer.

What did you study, and how did your education or early experiences lead you to MMD?

I first studied a BEng in Mechanical Engineering at Liverpool John Moores University, before progressing to an MSc in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Manchester.

Alongside my studies, I volunteered with Formula Student, an engineering competition where students design, test, manufacture, and race their own Formula-style cars at Silverstone each year. The competition includes a range of events designed to reflect real-world engineering decisions and workflows.

I was Deputy Team Lead for the LJMU team, where we developed an electric race car. This gave me valuable hands-on experience with battery electric vehicles, vehicle packaging, design decisions, and team-based engineering.

It turned out to be an amazing coincidence that MMD Centre of Excellence was acquiring the TraxIQ project. I’ve been able to apply many of the skills and knowledge I gained from working on BEVs directly to a mining application, here at home on the Isle of Man.

When did you join MMD, and what attracted you to the company at the time?

I joined MMD in July 2025, shortly after the award of my masters. I really loved the idea of returning home to the Isle of Man, and MMD seemed like a perfect fit to develop my engineering fundamentals over here.

How has your role developed over your first year, and what have you learned so far?

Over my first year, my role has developed from settling into the company and learning MMD’s systems into contributing more directly to live engineering project work.

In the early stages, I spent time refamiliarising myself with CAD tools, understanding internal processes, and supporting some of the practical work involved in getting the Centre of Excellence established. As the TraxIQ project began to gain momentum, my work became more technical and project-focused, involving areas such as CAD, design support, supplier research, data analysis, and component investigations.

One of the biggest things I have learned is how engineering decisions develop in a real industrial project. At university, particularly through Formula Student, I gained experience of design, teamwork, and problem-solving, but working at MMD has shown me how those decisions are influenced by commercial requirements, supplier information and long-term project planning.

It has been a valuable first year, and I feel I have started to build a much clearer understanding of how mechanical engineering is applied in a professional environment.

You studied in the UK before returning to the Isle of Man, what influenced your decision to come back and start your career here?

After spending a year in Manchester for my MSc, I realised how much I missed the Isle of Man, particularly the natural surroundings, space, and more balanced lifestyle.

Coming back to the Island was something I was already strongly considering, but I wasn’t sure how many opportunities there would be in serious, innovative engineering. When I saw MMD’s job advert, it immediately stood out to me as a rare chance to begin my engineering career at home while still being involved in challenging and forward-thinking project work.

It felt like the right opportunity at the right time, so I jumped at the chance.

Looking back on your first year, what has been your most memorable moment or proudest achievement at MMD?

This one is very easy to answer. In February, MMD gave me the opportunity to travel with Andy and Spencer from the MMD GPHC Media Team to Mae Moh Mine in Lampang, Thailand.

It was an incredible trip and definitely the standout moment of my first year. Seeing the scale of a real, operational coal mine in person was something I will never forget. I particularly remember seeing the haulage trucks for the first time and being amazed by their size — even though I later realised they were still far smaller than ultra-class mining trucks.

The trip also gave us the chance to do some sightseeing in Chiang Mai, as our visit coincided with a national election period in Thailand. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, both professionally and personally, and it has made me really look forward to future site visits.

How does the company compare to your expectations before you joined?

Before joining MMD Centre of Excellence (COE), I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, particularly as I joined near the start of the COE’s development. I knew it would be an exciting opportunity, but I didn’t fully appreciate how varied and fast-moving the work would become.

What has stood out most is how quickly the Centre of Excellence has developed. The TraxIQ project has gained real momentum during my first year, and it has been exciting to see it grow into a major engineering project with such a wide range of technical challenges.

Compared with my expectations, MMD has offered more variety, responsibility, and exposure than I initially imagined. Being involved in such an innovative project so early in my career has been a brilliant opportunity, and it has made my first year both challenging and rewarding.

What are you most looking forward to as you continue your career here?

I’m most looking forward to continuing to develop my skills in the more innovative side of engineering.

The Centre of Excellence was established to help MMD expand its product line and develop solutions that have not previously existed within the business. Being involved in projects like that, from the early concept stages through to detailed design and development, is a really valuable opportunity.

As I continue my career here, I’m excited to keep learning, take on more responsibility, and contribute to projects that could have a real impact on the future of mining operations.