What is the title of your current job?

Capital and Maintenance Engineer

 

What tasks do you do in this job?

I manage capital projects at an ethanol distillery, and look after reliability and maintenance activities across the site (including distillation, storage and distribution (tanker loading and drum / pail packaging).

 

What do you most enjoy about this position?

The ability to actively improve the performance and safety of manufacturing processes. 

 

What motivates you?

Seeing visible improvements to plant performance after implementing new projects / installing new equipment.

 

What is the biggest problem you have faced in your work life?

Not many problems, perhaps the biggest challenge for me is the continual need to communicate my ideas to a range of people (from the General Manger to shop floor staff).

 

What is your proudest achievement in this job?

The design and successful installation of a new cooling water system that saves 18ML/annum in fresh water use and 9ML/year in trade waste effluent discharge.

 

Are there any side benefits of having this job?

The job has allowed me to work at an ethanol distillery in North Queensland, giving me a chance to spend time living and working interstate.

 

What do you hope to be doing in ten years time?

Managing larger capital works or looking after the maintenance activities at larger industrial sites.

 

Why did you decide to go into this career?

I have had a interest in science and mathematics since I was at high school, and wanted to get into a career where I could be involved in the design and construction of plant and processes.  I also liked the idea of working in a manufacturing environment where there is always something happening!

 

Were there any other special factors like work experience, family members/tradition, teachers, open-days etc that influenced your decision to take on your career?

I had some really good Maths and Physics teachers at high school, and I didn’t really ever want a job where I would be sitting behind a desk all day.

 

Why did you choose to study these particular courses?

I enjoyed Physics and Maths at high school, and wanted to be able to get into an area involving these subjects.  Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering seemed to me to have more “visible” practical aspects to it than some of the other Engineering disciplines.

Any other points

 

Is there any advice you would like to give students or anything you think worth stressing for students?

I would recommend Mechanical Engineering to any student with an interest in science, and who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty.  As an engineer you get a varied and interesting job, and there is always some challenge to keep you motivated.  The variety of jobs that one can get into after completing an Engineering degree is very large, and I think it a good career path for someone who may have a liking for science and maths but who isn’t 100% sure of what they want to do after high school.