Our 2026 Summer Placement Students: Dylan Montes (Part 3 of 4)

We’re continuing our series of placement student blogs with Dylan Montes, who spent the summer with our Sheffield team.

Currently studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield, Dylan shares how the placement gave him the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, explore different areas of fire engineering and gain a new appreciation for how engineering theory is used in practice.

By Dylan Montes, Summer Placement Student

‘Going into the final year of my MEng, I have a completely new understanding of how engineering theory is used to keep people safe.’                        

Having just completed my summer placement at DFC’s Sheffield office, I can’t believe how quickly the last six weeks have gone, nor how much I’ve learned during that time. Being exposed to a wide variety of projects gave me the opportunity to explore different aspects of fire engineering and gain insight into an industry that was completely new to me.

One thing that stood out from the start was the amount of trust and support I was given. I was encouraged to get involved in a range of activities and learn about different projects, whilst always having experienced colleagues on hand to offer guidance when needed. Whether I was in Sheffield or visiting other offices, everyone was approachable and willing to answer questions. Coming from a Mechanical Engineering background, that support made a huge difference as I settled into the role.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the placement was the variety of experiences I was exposed to. Over the six weeks, I had the opportunity to learn about different areas of fire engineering, from fire strategy reports and RSET calculations to fire growth modelling. This meant no two days felt quite the same and helped me build a broader understanding of the profession. My learning was always prioritised, and the feedback I received throughout the placement was invaluable in developing both my technical understanding and confidence.

I particularly enjoyed spending time with the structural fire engineering team, an area of the profession I knew very little about before joining DFC. Seeing concepts from my degree, such as heat transfer, solid mechanics and fluid dynamics, applied to real engineering challenges was especially rewarding. It was fascinating to learn how structures behave in fire conditions and how engineers use both technical knowledge and practical judgement to help protect buildings and the people who use them.

Looking back, the placement has given me a much broader understanding of fire engineering and the role it plays in the built environment. I’ve enjoyed working with people across the business and learning from their experience and I leave with a far better appreciation of how engineering theory is applied in practice.

As our Summer Placement Series continues, you’ll be hearing from more of this year’s placement students as they reflect on their experiences and the lessons they’ve taken away from their time at DFC.

Read Part 1 and 2 here.