Keith Strong
Introducing Keith, our Senior Mechanical Design Engineer! We asked Keith a few questions to get to know more about his role at CAN and what is on his bucket list!
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I generally commute or work remotely, attend early meetings, and set daily priorities. My role involves researching and presenting product possibilities, interpreting customer requirements, and clarifying objectives. I focus on problem-solving, colleague engagement and evaluating alternative methods and timelines, report on varied topics and ensure all information I deliver is accurate, timely, and properly referenced. Continuous review and updates are essential, along with staying informed about emerging and allied developments in the field.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your career so far?
Look for the positive in every situation, walk away from negativity. Help and encourage people whenever you can and review and consider international perspectives. Take an interest in people and remain calm when others are getting impatient or frustrated.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
Designed a sensor for an autonomous cow yard poo collecting machine that evolved into a beacon-free navigation system for exploring lunar caverns. Originally, it had to detect waste in harsh conditions and cope with Mud, Moisture, Methane, Ammonia operate without GPS or visual mapping, self-locate, create maps, avoid obstacles, and operate day or night in all weather extremes. Core tech included Doppler radar → point cloud → video interpretation → vector-based mapping with GIS, plus gas and thermal sensing, rugged protection, and AI adaptability. For lunar use, organic detection changed to volatile mapping, Methane sensing identifies trapped gases, Thermal sensing finds safe zones, and its robust design thinking lends itself to the lunar environment. This was an interesting innovation from humble beginnings to use in space exploration.
What is on your bucket list?
Here are my favourites. In space system & engineering design using small modular reactors for planetary and interplanetary missions, ideally Thorium-based.
I’d love to see some of my earlier designs, like autonomous wave propelled marine vessels space adaptation be included for Titan’s methane lake exploration missions, complete with subsurface drones & aerial scouts relaying data to orbiting satellites. I also designed a Stirling engine design that overcomes traditional limitations, and plan to build & test it soon. And if I can apply any of this and allied engineering work to support Ukraine in a meaningful way, that would be a fulfilling part of my journey.
If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be and why?
My first choice would be Sir Winston Churchill—a figure of immense historical insight whose wit, eloquence, and firsthand accounts of World War II and global change remain deeply relevant. His sharp humour and love of spirited debate would make for memorable conversation. A prolific writer, painter, and lover of fine food, Churchill’s ability to learn from setbacks and make tough decisions under pressure offers poignant lessons. Listening to him directly, rather than through retrospective interpretation would be invaluable to me. Joining us would be Reginald J. Mitchell and Geoffrey de Havilland, especially to explore the design & thinking behind the Spitfire and Mosquito. I’d relish the chance to discuss every aspect of aircraft design and understand their thoughts on how they balanced engineering challenges with functional demands.
Interested in working for CAN? Check out our latest vacancies here: Vacancies – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
