Aerospace design engineer

I’m an aerospace design engineer because...

I have an everlasting hunger and passion for the development of aircraft. I’m profoundly deaf and the third generation in my family to be deaf. I did an apprenticeship with British Aerospace between 1986 and 1991 and was offered a permanent job as a mechanical design draughtsman at the end of my placement. In 1999 I decided to become a contractor and have worked for Ibis, BAE Systems, Airbus UK and BE Aerospace.

I’ve found basic deaf awareness skills were often lacking in the workplace and it’s important to address these problems straight away. Modern technology has helped transform access in the workplace for me through things like email, instant messenger, textphones, the Access to Work British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting service and video conferencing.

Richard Weinbaum