From One Ocean to Intern: Tom Parkinson’s Journey with KBR
Tom Parkinson’s journey with KBR started long before his current summer internship, beginning through a school sustainability program, a family legacy, and a spark of curiosity which has long since fuelled his engineering ambitions.
Having recently finished his second year studying electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Sheffield, Tom is now with KBR for a summer internship, but his connection to the company first began through signing up to the One Ocean program, a sustainability initiative that visited his school when he was in Year 9. “It was a great day, we built turtles out of plastic bottles,” he recalled. “It was a fun activity at the time, but it also made me think differently about engineering and the impact it could have on sustainability as a whole.”
Years later, after attending a KBR open day and seeing hands-on demonstrations of sustainable technologies, Tom knew he wanted to be part of the team. “Everyone was so welcoming,” he said. “Even before I was an intern and attended the One Ocean school program and the open day, KBR employees were really kind and answered every question I had. That friendliness stuck with me, because it’s exactly the sort of work environment I want to grow in. Now, as an intern, I really feel like I’m part of the team! The people here are so helpful and genuinely care about the intern program, taking the time to speak to us and teach us about different projects. It’s definitely the kind of workplace I want to continue being a part of.”
Currently in his internship, Tom is working on a project that aims to significantly streamline electrical engineering workflows. Alongside a fellow intern, he’s developing a program that automates load list calculations and switchgear sheet generation, an essential but time-consuming task that involves gathering power requirements from multiple engineering disciplines and performing detailed calculations. “By creating this program, we’re essentially trying to cut a process that can take hours down to just a few minutes,” Tom explained. “And so far, it’s going really well! We expect to have it finished before our internships are over, and if it works it will be highly useful to colleagues here.”
Tom credits Geoff Davies, who has supported him through the internship, for helping him build a strong foundation before diving into project work. “Instead of just dropping us into a project, we’re being taught how to apply what we’ve learned so we can contribute meaningfully,” he said. That preparation paid off when Tom recently joined a green ammonia project and impressed the lead engineer with his understanding of the system. “It’s very rewarding to see how much we’ve learned in such a short time. Being able to apply that knowledge and actually contribute to real projects makes the whole experience feel genuinely valuable.”
Geoff himself speaks highly of Tom’s contribution during his time, sharing that, “Tom is a confident individual with a can-do attitude. He tackles all tasks with enthusiasm and works well in a team environment. This has been demonstrated on numerous occasions, from learning a CAD package to draft a single line diagram, to the development of a load list including a user guide.”
In terms of the engineering itself, sustainability is a major motivator for Tom. At the University of Sheffield, he’s had the chance to work on solar-powered buggies, wind turbine models, and even the design of a hydrogen-powered airplane, so he’s excited by KBR’s commitment to sustainable technologies. “It directly aligns with my values and the career I want to pursue,” he said, “and it’s clear that a lot of people here care deeply about sustainability, too. I want to be part of something that genuinely helps the world.”
But Tom’s passion for engineering runs even deeper. His great-great-grandfather, Frank Parkinson, was a pioneering electrical engineer who helped develop early commercial lighting and funded scholarships for engineers at Leeds University. “There’s a building at Leeds University which is actually named after him,” Tom said. “And his picture hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in recognition of his engineering work and the various charities founded in his name. It’s always inspired me, especially as nobody else in my family is an electrical engineer. It’s a big part of why I chose this path - I want to carry that legacy forward.”
Outside of work, Tom spends most of his time with friends, on top of a busy home life with three brothers. And, inspired by Tom’s journey, his younger brother is already eyeing work experience at KBR! As for what’s next? Tom is keeping an open mind. “I just want to experience as much as I can in the engineering world and find what I enjoy most,” he said. “But if I get the chance to come back to KBR after my master’s degree, I absolutely will.”
