This month, we spoke with Nyle, a Level 4 Electrical Engineer Apprentice in the Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) division, about his experience so far at UKAEA. From circuit board design to Martian rover challenges, Nyle shares how his apprenticeship is shaping his future in fusion.
Can you tell us a bit about your role as an Electrical Engineering Apprentice?
As an Electrical Engineer Apprentice at UKAEA, I get the opportunity to work on many different projects across departments. The wide variety of placements and opportunities is a big part of what makes this apprenticeship so engaging and interesting.
I joined in September 2024 and am currently studying for a HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Engineering Manufacturing. I typically work on-site four days a week and attend Gloucester College one day a week.
I started in the RACE electrical workshop where I learned all
about cubicle building and electrical assembly. I’ve since moved on to working on the MAST Double Beam Box, where I’ve learned how to program PLCs with the C&I team. I’ve also been working on the RACE electronics team where I’ve been designing and prototyping circuit boards and testing various projects.
Are there any exciting projects you're working on that you can share with us?
The project that’s been the most exciting so far that I’ve worked on is the RHSME (Remote Handling Systems Maintenance and Enhancement) Interface Converter board. I spent a while designing it while learning to use Proteus, a software package that I’ve never used before, and I’ve managed to design something that I’m quite proud of. The boards recently arrived from the factory, and they look amazing! I just need to finish assembling them, and from there I'll begin testing to ensure they meet the requirements. Fingers crossed!
What drew you to working in fusion energy and more specifically at UKAEA?
Engineering and science has always interested me, and for a very long time I knew that it was what I wanted to do with my career. Back when I decided I wanted to do an apprenticeship, I was expecting that I would join a more traditional engineering company without much innovation. I never really thought that I would get the opportunity to work for an organisation that is aiming towards such a remarkable goal.
Fusion is an amazing thing that has the potential to change the world for the better, and being able to be even a small part of that work is not only inspirational, but also deeply quite motivating. Being a part of the amazing projects that are going on at UKAEA, while being surrounded by the many incredible minds at Culham means that I’m constantly learning and developing which is exactly what I wanted to get out of an apprenticeship.
What's the most challenging or unexpected thing you've learnt?
A funny one that comes to mind is regulatory law. I was part of RACE’s Olympus Rover Trials team where we had to build a rover that can withstand simulated Martian conditions (which we ended up winning, well done everyone!) and a big point of contention when we were brainstorming how we were going to control the rover was the regulation around radio frequencies. Turns out regulation can be incredibly ambiguous, and it was really hard to tell if what we were planning to do was illegal or not. We ended up settling for a 2.4GHz LoRa system for this reason, as it gave us the performance we were looking for while sticking to a frequency that definitely won’t get us in any trouble!
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship at UKAEA or engineering more broadly?
Apply! Even if you’re not sure that you want an apprenticeship, you can always say no, so there’s no harm in giving it a go. Throughout the application process, share what makes you passionate about engineering. If you have any cool projects you’ve done in your own time, show them off in your interview!
From my experience, applying to apprenticeships is quite different from applying to university—employers often prioritise interest and engagement over academics, which was true for UKAEA and others. Be passionate and confident and you’ll have a very high chance of success!
Spotlight Interview: Nyle Cohen
Spotlight Interview: Nyle Cohen
This month, we spoke with Nyle, a Level 4 Electrical Engineer Apprentice in the Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) division, about his experience so far at UKAEA. From circuit board design to Martian rover challenges, Nyle shares how his apprenticeship is shaping his future in fusion.
Can you tell us a bit about your role as an Electrical Engineering Apprentice?
As an Electrical Engineer Apprentice at UKAEA, I get the opportunity to work on many different projects across departments. The wide variety of placements and opportunities is a big part of what makes this apprenticeship so engaging and interesting.
I joined in September 2024 and am currently studying for a HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Engineering Manufacturing. I typically work on-site four days a week and attend Gloucester College one day a week.
I started in the RACE electrical workshop where I learned all
about cubicle building and electrical assembly. I’ve since moved on to working on the MAST Double Beam Box, where I’ve learned how to program PLCs with the C&I team. I’ve also been working on the RACE electronics team where I’ve been designing and prototyping circuit boards and testing various projects.
Are there any exciting projects you're working on that you can share with us?
The project that’s been the most exciting so far that I’ve worked on is the RHSME (Remote Handling Systems Maintenance and Enhancement) Interface Converter board. I spent a while designing it while learning to use Proteus, a software package that I’ve never used before, and I’ve managed to design something that I’m quite proud of. The boards recently arrived from the factory, and they look amazing! I just need to finish assembling them, and from there I'll begin testing to ensure they meet the requirements. Fingers crossed!
What drew you to working in fusion energy and more specifically at UKAEA?
Engineering and science has always interested me, and for a very long time I knew that it was what I wanted to do with my career. Back when I decided I wanted to do an apprenticeship, I was expecting that I would join a more traditional engineering company without much innovation. I never really thought that I would get the opportunity to work for an organisation that is aiming towards such a remarkable goal.
Fusion is an amazing thing that has the potential to change the world for the better, and being able to be even a small part of that work is not only inspirational, but also deeply quite motivating. Being a part of the amazing projects that are going on at UKAEA, while being surrounded by the many incredible minds at Culham means that I’m constantly learning and developing which is exactly what I wanted to get out of an apprenticeship.
What's the most challenging or unexpected thing you've learnt?
A funny one that comes to mind is regulatory law. I was part of RACE’s Olympus Rover Trials team where we had to build a rover that can withstand simulated Martian conditions (which we ended up winning, well done everyone!) and a big point of contention when we were brainstorming how we were going to control the rover was the regulation around radio frequencies. Turns out regulation can be incredibly ambiguous, and it was really hard to tell if what we were planning to do was illegal or not. We ended up settling for a 2.4GHz LoRa system for this reason, as it gave us the performance we were looking for while sticking to a frequency that definitely won’t get us in any trouble!
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship at UKAEA or engineering more broadly?
Apply! Even if you’re not sure that you want an apprenticeship, you can always say no, so there’s no harm in giving it a go. Throughout the application process, share what makes you passionate about engineering. If you have any cool projects you’ve done in your own time, show them off in your interview!
From my experience, applying to apprenticeships is quite different from applying to university—employers often prioritise interest and engagement over academics, which was true for UKAEA and others. Be passionate and confident and you’ll have a very high chance of success!
