Starting a career in engineering is not just about learning technical skills—it’s about discovering confidence, building resilience, and finding purpose in the work you do, empowered by the work environment you’re in.
In this interview, we speak with one of Cubic’s apprentice Field Service Engineers, Dylan Brown, who is already making a meaningful impact on the UK transport network. From mastering preventive maintenance on fare gates at London Waterloo to overcoming early learning challenges with determination and support, he shares how his apprenticeship has shaped his growth, the achievements he’s most proud of, and the advice he has for future apprentices ready to take on the journey.
1. Can you describe your role at Cubic and how it supports the UK transport network?
As an apprentice Field Service Engineer, I am learning the ins and outs of fault finding, maintenance, and installation of E2, E1 and WAG gates used for train fares as well as the systems around them.
I am currently working at London Waterloo Station, shadowing other qualified technicians to build my skills around the trade through guided hands-on experience. The work I’m doing at Waterloo currently precludes learning the proper preventive maintenance, primarily on E2 gates.
Preventive maintenance is a major part of what I do. Preventive maintenance is the practice of maintaining a gate before issues occur to maximise its product lifetime and use by combating issues before they occur. It ensures all gate systems run as smoothly as possible, maximising their efficiency for the public and TFL. I not only perform preventative maintenance on gates but also on station control units (SCUs).
2. What achievements during your apprenticeship are you most proud of?
After a couple of initial hurdles of trying to get my head around the systems at Cubic, the point of which I am most proud of is that once I started to understand how individual components connected and worked, I really started to understand, which was a major motivating force, as it made me feel like this was the right job for me. I only began learning applied preventive maintenance a few weeks ago, and I already know most of the standards to follow when conducting them.
3. What knowledge or skills have you developed most during your apprenticeship?
How to effectively maintain gates using set standards and techniques, as well as tools. Before this apprenticeship, I could not tell you how a fare gate worked at a train station, let alone how to maintain it; but with the help of others, my maintenance and installation skills have flourished, growing steadily and efficiently. So overall, physical applied maintenance is the skill in which I have developed the most within the role.
4. What challenges during the apprenticeship have helped you grow the most?
Initially, one of the main problems I encountered was my understanding of the technical guides we were given, as I had never really encountered documentation formatted this way before, either in industry or college. But this initial lack of understanding drove me to understand these documents, as I saw it more as a challenge to overcome a flat-out work block, which heavily motivated me. I would read through them whenever the information specified was relevant to the work, and if I encountered any issues due to my lack of understanding, I could simply ask my colleagues for clarification, whether it be my Apprenticeship Manager, Dean, or others; and I was always given a concise explanation.
The fact that my colleagues at Cubic helped me understand the documentation was also a major motivating factor, as it negated my feeling ignorant or less than (an issue I have as someone with ASD). Every time information has been clarified , it was done in a respectful and understanding way within the role, I have never felt like I have been demeaned or spoken down to which motivated me to ask questions where I needed to; realising everything is part of a process, just because I don’t understand something now does not mean I won’t in the future. All of this has helped me build up a concrete understanding of how to read the documentation and where to ask questions if I do not understand, which has lessened over time.
5. What valuable feedback have you received from your managers and colleagues at Cubic that you have applied?
Dean, over the first couple of months of my apprenticeship, has given me valuable feedback on how I should conduct work, as I initially had a tendency to try to do everything all at once. He outlined how I should take my time and use it effectively to create the best possible work I can, whether it is practical or written work. I took this feedback to heart, and my work has become infinitely better for it.
The reason it is important for me to do work in this over-homogenised way is that it allows me to move from point to point, ensuring I do not miss anything and that everything is conducted as efficiently as possible.
6. How do you see your career progressing after your apprenticeship?
I want to continue working for Cubic as a fully qualified field technician in the London area after my apprenticeship. The way I would like to achieve this is to continue working hard and effectively as I can throughout my apprenticeship and after learning everything I can along the way.
7. What advice would you give to a new apprentice joining the team?
Simply:
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Use your time effectively learning everything you can about your role and by reading manuals and documents whenever you have the opportunity.
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Don’t be afraid to ask questions on points you don’t understand. Everyone has to learn.
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Stay positive and motivated in the face of workplace aversion; it will happen, but overcoming it is more rewarding than giving in.
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Set realistic goals for your time at work to motivate you and give you something to work towards within the role.