For Sqn Ldr Philippa Codd, engineering has never been about standing still. From network operations and air defence systems to the F-35 programme, NATO air policing and now advising the RAF's cyberspace profession, her career has spanned some of the most technically demanding roles in defence. As the current SO2 of the Cyberspace Profession Advisors Team, Philippa oversees the development of around 2,500 personnel, helping shape recruitment, training and professional development. In this interview, she discusses the value of Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration, the importance of professional recognition and why engineers should embrace every opportunity that comes their way.

Please tell us about your career journey to date.

I'm currently the SO2 of the Cyberspace Profession Advisors Team, where I advise a profession of around 2,500 people. My role covers everything from recruitment and resettlement through to training, development and professional progression.

Throughout my career, I've worked in a range of engineering and operational roles. I started at MOD Corsham, focusing on network monitoring and understanding the health of the network, including upgrades, updates and capacity management. I then completed a tour with 901 Expeditionary Air Wing in Qatar, working alongside US forces to ensure UK networks were available and functioning for UK commanders within the Combined Air Operations Centre.

After that, I moved to the Control and Reporting Centre at RAF Scampton, supporting the engineering aspects of the UK's 24/7 air defence capability. During that period, we refitted RAF Boulmer, stood down RAF Scampton and built RAF Swanwick. From there, I joined the F-35 programme as one of the A6 staff officers at MARHAM, and my most recent role before this one was as the UK's NATO Air Policing Lead.

It's been a very varied career and certainly never dull.

What motivated you to apply for Chartered registration?

A lot of it came down to perceptions. At the time, I was the Officer Commanding Engineering, but there were still occasions when people viewed me differently or made assumptions about my role. Achieving Chartered Engineer status gave me something tangible that demonstrated my professional standing. It helped me establish credibility in those conversations and showed clearly that I had reached a recognised level within the profession.

At the time, engineering was one of the professions where chartership really stood out. It gave me an additional level of recognition.

What impact has achieving Chartered Engineer (CEng) status had on your career?

For me, it's reinforced just how important and relevant professional registration is. As a female engineer, there are times when people underestimate you. You walk into a room and people don't necessarily assume you're the engineer. You're often mistaken for the administrator rather than the technical specialist.

Having Chartered Engineer status allows me to demonstrate that I've met a recognised professional standard. It gives weight to my expertise and allows me to say, confidently, that I know what I'm talking about because I've gone through the process myself.

In my current role, that's particularly valuable because I'm supporting others through their own development journeys. I understand what's involved, what the benefits are and how professional registration can help throughout a career.

How do you approach continuous professional development?

My current role gives me a really useful perspective because I oversee how we develop the profession as a whole. We're constantly looking at the skills our people need, how we structure training and how we're preparing individuals for different specialist roles. That includes both technical training and the professional development that follows later in their careers.

Alongside my day job, I'm also heavily involved in STEM activities and outreach programmes. A lot of that is about engaging with the next generation and showing them what engineering careers can offer. So, my CPD is really twofold - developing professionally through my role and continuing to learn through STEM engagement and outreach activities.

How does CEng status contribute to trust and credibility?

I definitely think it increases credibility. Something as simple as adding CEng to your signature block can influence how people perceive your expertise. There's a huge difference between simply telling people you're an engineer and being able to demonstrate that you've met a benchmark that's widely understood and respected. That's probably the key benefit for me. People recognise what Chartered Engineer status represents, and that builds trust.

What do you believe are the most important ethical responsibilities for engineering and technology professionals today?

For me, it's about people. Engineering is fundamentally a team activity. No major achievement happens because of one person alone, and it's important that we recognise the contributions of those around us.

One of the biggest ethical responsibilities is ensuring that you accurately represent your own work while giving proper credit to the teams that helped deliver it. You should be clear about your personal contribution, but equally clear about what the wider team achieved.

Sometimes people forget the number of individuals behind a successful project. As you become more senior, it can be easy to overlook where ideas originated or who made them happen. I think it's important to have the integrity and moral courage to acknowledge those contributions.

How can organisations better support people on the journey to becoming Chartered?

Awareness is probably one of the biggest factors. Within the RAF, we've worked hard to align training with recognised industry standards, including linking training pathways to the SFIA framework. That gives people a clearer understanding of their professional level and how their experience can support registration applications.

We've also developed simpler routes where experience gained within trusted roles can be used more effectively as evidence for professional registration.

Most importantly, organisations need to help people understand the opportunities available to them, how chartership relates to their role and how it can support career progression both inside and outside the organisation.

What advice would you give to people considering a career in engineering?

Try everything before deciding what’s right for you. I give similar advice when speaking to young people through STEM activities. Engineering is fundamentally about problem-solving, teamwork and analytical thinking. Those are skills that transfer into almost every profession.

Even if you eventually decide engineering isn't where you want to stay, you'll have developed capabilities that can take you into many other careers. That's one of engineering's greatest strengths. It's also an exciting and evolving field. While a lot of attention is currently focused on areas such as AI, engineering offers a huge range of opportunities, including more traditional hands-on disciplines as well as emerging technologies.

What makes an engineering career in the RAF unique?

The RAF offers opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere. You can travel around the world, lead teams, work on fifth-generation aircraft and develop highly specialised cyber skills, often all within the same career. What makes it particularly rewarding is that engineering isn't the only part of the experience. You're combining technical expertise with leadership, operational responsibility and opportunities that simply don't exist in many civilian roles.

Some of the engineering work we undertake is highly specialised and unique to defence. That makes it an incredibly interesting environment in which to develop both professionally and personally.

What would you say to someone considering Chartered Engineer registration?

It is a lot of work, but it's worth it. Once you've achieved CEng status it's about maintaining that standard through ongoing development. The value is that the recognition stays with you throughout your career. Whether you change jobs, move sectors or pursue entirely new opportunities, it demonstrates that you've achieved a particular level of competence and professionalism. It also shows that you uphold recognised ethical standards and possess highly transferable skills.