In this edition of our ‘day in the life’ blog series, we meet Jeremy Harrington, Design Team Lead with Digitise Consulting. Jeremy shares what it’s like leading a design team and the rewarding challenges that come with bringing complex infrastructure projects to life.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what interested you about your field.
I’ve been heading down the path of engineering from a young age. I’m heavily detail-oriented (perhaps even a little OCD), good at mathematics, and have always loved to pull things apart and reassemble them. Although I majored in Civil Engineering, I completed a more structural-based honours thesis and initially wanted to go down the path of aeronautical engineering, but the job prospects seemed better in civil.
My career began working in the project management side of 1000+ lot urban greenfield subdivision, before quickly pivoting to the use of 12d Model for stormwater drainage design and analysis. From there I shifted into the road alignment space and soon found myself being a key part of some of the state’s largest major infrastructure projects in roles ranging from Design Engineer through to Design Manager.
What does a typical workday look like for you and what brings you the most enjoyment in your role?
Currently, it entails a combination of project coordination, client interaction, and complex road design. The project coordination aspect has been mostly related to the delivery of construction staging and temporary works projects, and the complex road design has been undertaken within 12d Model for several large infrastructure programs. I get the most enjoyment out of working through complex problems to develop a sound engineering solution on projects or developing custom innovative tools to keep our way of working ahead of the pack.
Are there any standout projects you’re currently working on or have recently worked on?
I am currently working on the Epping Bridge tender design as part of the SMEC and Laing O’Rourke team. While I can’t share specifics due to confidentiality, this has been a complex and highly constrained project, requiring innovative construction methodologies and a return to detailed engineering to develop safe, effective, and cost-efficient solutions in pursuit of a detailed design and construction package. Also, the concept design for the upgrade of Sheahan Bridge near Gundagai has been a refreshing change, allowing me to develop 4 standalone options for new interchange ramps etc either side of the 1.30km long bridge.
Looking back at your career, is there anything that has surprised you about working in your field?
What surprised me the most is how much your engineering experience impacts your life outside of work. I often find myself taking a sideways glance at a drainage inlet pit that has been placed in the wrong location, a lack of sight distance on approach to an intersection, or hazards within the clear zone. When you point something out to people who are not from your field, you suddenly realise how most people have very little idea what goes into making a durable and safe road, or how water/gas/sewer is provided to their property.
Finally, what advice do you have for anyone considering a career in your field?
If you have a strong curiosity for how things work, and you are interested in literally making your mark on the world, I say go for it! Be prepared for some difficult projects that may test you and require some late nights but look forward to the feeling of accomplishment when you see the project that you designed/reviewed/managed come to life out in the real world, and the impact that this might have on the community around you.
