S&E from Campus to Career: Cian Hogan - Cleanroom Design Engineer at NGS Engineering

Sixmilebridge native Cian Hogan graduated from the BEng in Design and Manufacture Engineering at University of Limerick in 2021.

Now working as a Cleanroom Design Engineer with NGS Engineering in Shannon. We caught up with Cian to ask about the course, his time at UL, and any advice he might have for Leaving Certificate students.

Why did you choose UL?

In 2017, I picked Common Entry Engineering on my CAO, with the hope of going down the Design and Manufacture route from second year onwards. Like most young people coming straight out of school, I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do, so Common Entry Engineering allowed me to explore a range of different areas in engineering before I picked my preferred stream. Being from Sixmilebridge, UL was only half an hour away, and with a top-notch facility like it on my doorstep, I couldn’t turn it down.

Why did you choose the BEng in Design and Manufacture Engineering?

When I was in school, I really enjoyed hands on subjects like DCG and construction, so when I went to university, I wanted to pick something that allowed me to blend the theory with the practical. I struggled a bit in first year with the theory-heavy subjects, but when I picked Design and Manufacture, I began to understand the subjects more. Practical examples, experiments and real-world problems and projects took the forefront.

What did you enjoy most about the course?

One thing that stood out to me when choosing Design and Manufacture was the smaller class size compared to other engineering courses. Design and Manufacture allows you to have a more intimate learning experience. I found it a lot easier to learn and understand topics in a smaller class as the lecturer has more time for the students understanding. I found it a lot easier to ask a question in the smaller class too, it’s less intimidating!

Group work is a key aspect to engineering in the real world, so working in groups with my classmates has to be up there too. Banging heads together to come up with creative ideas for solving problems with your friends makes learning a lot easier, and is also great craic. I was lucky enough to be able to do my Final Year Project in a group with three of my classmates. We designed, manufactured, assembled, wired, coded, tested and implemented a section of a manufacturing line, encompassing all aspects of our learning from the previous 4 years. It was very satisfying to see our learning come to fruition.

What did you enjoy about UL and what is student life like here?

The campus is fantastic, and the facilities are second to none. Although I graduated almost 3 years ago now, I still remember the buzz around campus, around the courtyard, and even in town on freshers weeks, RAG weeks, racedays etc.

Clubs and Societies are huge in UL too. They’re a great way to make friends and socialise with other students. I joined the karate club in first year, and got to go to Japan with them. It was a fantastic experience.

Where did you complete your Cooperative Education Experience?

I did my 8 month Coop in Modular Automation in Shannon. Modular Automation are a leading manufacturer in automated solutions for MedTech customers all around the globe. I was a Mechanical Design Engineer during my time there. I worked on many machines, designing parts and systems to ensure the highest quality product could be manufactured from the machines. Coop is an excellent way to put your learned skills into practice in the real world, and Modular gave me a great platform to do that.

How did UL support you throughout your studies?

By the time I started final year in September 2020, COVID lockdowns were in full swing. Our FYP was based around manufacturing a physical manufacturing line, so we would have been in some serious bother if it wasn’t for the help of the technicians in the labs in UL. They helped us manufacture all the parts we needed, whether it was 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC lathe work, all while adhering to the COVID guidelines. They could have said we weren’t allowed in at all, but they allowed us into the labs, 1 or 2 at a time, to work on our project, and get it over the line. If it wasn’t for their generosity, we wouldn’t have been able to complete our FYP.

UL also offers a number of supports like the maths and science learning centres. They offer 1-to-1 tutoring on topics when you need it the most. I often availed of their support when I couldn’t get my head around certain topics.

Can you update us on your career, does it still hold relevance to what you would have studied in UL?

Currently, I am a Cleanroom Design Engineer with NGS Engineering in Shannon. I design state of the art cleanrooms and cleanroom equipment for leading medical companies all over Ireland, the UK and Europe. My job definitely still holds relevance to Design and Manufacture Engineering, as my day-to-day tasks involve designing and getting my materials manufactured, whether it’s on the factory floor on site here in Shannon, or somewhere else. My role is a bit different to what I was used to in my Coop job, but it’s all about embracing the change and learning the new skills. If you’re not moving forwards, you’re going backwards!

What advice would you give to school leavers considering the next step in their career journey?

My advice would be to do what you want to do. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of doing something someone else wants you to do. Enjoying your job can make the toughest days easier. As the saying goes, love your job and you won’t have to work a day in your life!