In our ‘day in the life’ blog series, we aim to showcase the work of our talented team and help you get to know the faces behind our projects a little better. This month we sat down with Jacob, who started with BRS as an Undergraduate Engineer and has since progressed to a Civil Engineer, to chat more about what it’s like being part of our design team and what’s surprised him most about working in engineering.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what interested you in engineering.
I have a passion for all things sport with a few of my favourite things being soccer, snowboarding and golf. To contradict the sports theme, from a young age I have had a love for all things Lego, which is where I think my trajectory to an engineering career all started. In school, I enjoyed maths, physics and design technology subjects which led to me studying Engineering for my HSC, from then I enrolled at university to become a Civil Engineer.
What does a typical workday look like for you and what brings you the most joy in your role?
A typical workday for me involves project design and quite a few cups of coffee. The design work is typically of a stormwater drainage system using software such as DRAINS and Civil3D. The problem-solving aspect of the project design and being able to come up with a working solution of my own, combined with open communication with the team who is always open for collaboration is what brings me the most joy in my role.
What’s it like being part of Barker Ryan Stewart’s design team?
Being part of the BRS design team is the best! The team is always supporting each other and willing to lend a hand whenever needed. There is a range of skills and experience amongst the members of the team, their willingness to share their experience and expertise and assist me with challenging problems is helping me to become a better engineer.
What’s been the most memorable aspect of working at Barker Ryan Stewart so far?
The BRS conferences, where all the offices get to come together to hear about the strategic direction of the business from the directors and get to know one another better as we participate in team activities and relax. It’s a great opportunity to learn and to bond as a team.
Looking back at your career, is there anything that’s surprised you about working in engineering?
English was never my favourite subject or strong point in school, choosing civil engineering as a career path I thought my focus would be on further developing and applying my mathematics skills, I never anticipated how much writing was involved in the role. Turns out, there is quite a lot of report writing required, and my literacy skills have since developed for the better. This is the one aspect of my role that I have needed to work on. I think if you told me I would now be writing complex reports a few years ago I would’ve laughed.
Finally, what advice do you have for anyone considering a career in engineering?
Do it, engineering offers such a wide range of opportunities and involves navigating complex challenges, developing strong problem-solving skills and working collaboratively, but to make the most of it you should join the BRS team.
Want to get to know our team a bit better?
Check out our other ‘day in the life of’ blogs to learn more about our talented team.
