From classroom to cutting-edge robotics

Year 11 pupil Joseph is not your average work experience candidate. While many teenagers are only just beginning to explore possible career paths, Joseph is already working alongside world-leading engineers at Engineered Arts in Falmouth, the company behind Ameca, one of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world.

What began as a spark of curiosity has quickly developed into an extraordinary opportunity, placing Joseph at the cutting edge of robotics, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, all while he is still completing his GCSEs.

Joseph first discovered Engineered Arts simply because of its proximity. The idea that a globally recognised, technologically pioneering company existed “on his doorstep” immediately captured his imagination. After completing and presenting a mathematical and computer science project at school, he was put in touch with the team and invited to visit over the summer. “I was amazed by the facilities and the workplace environment,” Joseph explains. “When they offered me a week’s work experience, I was over the moon.”

That single week soon turned into something much more. Impressed by his ability, curiosity and adaptability, Engineered Arts extended his placement, and Joseph is now involved in ongoing work with the company.

While his Computer Science studies provided a solid foundation, Joseph quickly realised that real-world work often stretches far beyond the syllabus. “Interestingly, my projects have led me to dive deeply into many quite niche areas I couldn’t possibly have foreseen,” he says. “What’s helped most is having spent years exploring different aspects of computing independently. That’s given me the confidence to learn quickly and adapt, especially when fast-moving fields such as tech and AI are involved.”

Joseph’s fascination with logic began early. From discovering coding in primary school, he was hooked on the idea of using maths and logic to create something personal and meaningful. That passion intensified when he ventured into artificial intelligence several years ago. “I loved understanding why certain AI models worked better than others,” he says. “Exploring the data-driven mechanisms behind modern systems was fascinating.”

Interestingly, robotics itself wasn’t initially an area of interest. That changed the moment Joseph began working with Engineered Arts. “Working with Ameca sparked a completely new passion,” he explains. “It’s such a progressive field, right at the forefront of technological development.”

Truro School teachers have played a crucial role in nurturing this curiosity. Joseph credits several members of staff with opening doors to new ideas and encouraging him to explore beyond the curriculum, from AI simulations using game theory to dynamic mathematical visualisations. “These conversations helped deepen my understanding,” he says. “And what’s amazing is how much knowledge carries across different domains.”

Ameca, Engineered Arts’ flagship humanoid robot, is designed to look and feel remarkably human, with realistic skin, facial structure and expressive interaction. “No matter how much time I spend working with Ameca, it still feels surreal,” Joseph admits. “Even when I’m debugging code or manually controlling movements, things that should break the illusion, I still find myself entranced by the level of humanity it conveys.”

That sense of realism has prompted Joseph to think deeply about the relationship between humans, machines and nature itself. While maths and computer science are central to Joseph’s work, he’s been surprised by how useful other subjects have been, particularly biology.

“As I went through the biology curriculum, I started noticing how similar modern technologies are to systems in nature,” he explains. “Neural networks are fundamentally inspired by the architecture of the human brain.” Reading The Selfish Gene, recommended by a teacher, helped cement this understanding. “Natural selection tends to find the most efficient solutions,” Joseph says. “So it makes sense that the best technological systems often mirror nature. I find that connection really beautiful, especially when considering how humanoids such as Ameca will fit in to our future societies.”

For Joseph, one of the most valuable aspects of his experience has been the people he works with. “Everyone has been so welcoming,” he says. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented, creative people I’ve ever met.” He speaks particularly warmly of his manager, Rory, who has helped him settle into professional life, and of Engineered Arts’ founder, Will Jackson. “Will has been unbelievably inspiring,” Joseph says. “He’s given me so much time and guidance, from mock interviews to including me in Agile sprint meetings. He genuinely wants the best for me.”

Joseph is clear about his next steps. After Year 11, he hopes to continue working with Engineered Arts alongside his A-Levels, completing current projects and contributing to future ones. Long-term, he sees himself moving towards a career in high-performance computing and GPU acceleration.

“I love optimising large systems and creating fast, streamlined architectures,” he explains. “It’s incredibly rewarding – and this experience has been key in developing those skills.”

Outside robotics and computing, Joseph is also a passionate musician; he plays guitar, piano and drums, and enjoys singing with his dad. He has a deep love of history, particularly Ancient Rome, alongside gaming, endurance running, hiking and snowboarding. Above all, he loves to travel.  “Exploring other cultures is the highlight of my year,” he says, recalling adventures as far afield as Thailand, including one particularly close encounter with a falling jungle fruit.

When asked who inspires him most, Joseph doesn’t hesitate. “My dad,” he says. “He’s caring, devoted and works unbelievably hard for our family. Everything I do is guided by trying to be like him.” It’s a fitting reflection for a young person already combining intellectual brilliance with humility, gratitude and purpose.

As Joseph continues to balance school life with cutting-edge technological work, one thing is clear: this is only the beginning of a remarkable journey.