Careers with STEM: Engineering 2020 by Refraction Media

CAREERS

TERM 3, 2020

withSTEM

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engineering

Make a (social) impact with STEM

Meet inspiring Indigenous engineers

p14

Building the cities of the future

p22

Software engineer

CAREERSWITHSTEM.COM SOCIAL IMPACT

HEALTH

FUTURE LIVING

RESOURCES

Applications now open for 2021

UTS Women in Engineering and IT Scholars 2019 Holly, Kayla and Jennifer.

If you are a cis- or trans-woman with a passion and interest to pursue a career in Engineering or IT, apply! Cooperative Scholarship

The Women in Engineering and IT Cooperative Scholarship is a cooperative education program between the University and sponsoring organisations.

Women in Engineering and IT Scholarships

Duration: 4 years Value: $66,000* financial support (over 4 years) Real world experience: Recipients have three different industry placements to meet the requirements of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice: -

3 months in Year 1 6 months in Year 2 6 months in Year 4

*2020 scholarship value

Eligibility: • Identify as female • Be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident • Be a current school leaver with a passion for engineering or IT • Have an ATAR above 85

Apply online at wieit.uts.edu.au

FOREWORD

CONTENTS

What’s inside? ramon buckland software engineer

P4 What is engineering? P6 Meet inspiring

Indigenous engineers P8 Get involved! comps Extracurricular uni g P10 Take your engineerin degree to the bank p12 Working together, apart at Atlassian

Career building

n Buckland CBA software engineer Ramo some sage reflects on his career and how all off! advice in high school kicked it

12, for university in Year 11/ hen it came time to apply the in up g win d to do. Gro I didn’t know what I wante ers bolin, working in comput ndo Co of n tow W small NS in ian erinar ged. I wanted to be a vet wasn’t something I envisa e changed my mind! Year 9 but work experienc eers rse selection time, my car cou y As I neared universit He s. ion opt my h oug we went thr advisor met with me and knowing t No s. rse cou e enc sci puting suggested I apply for com ing after a few weeks of worry and , ion opt an n eve s that wa done. it led cal and various universities and talking, I applied to e enc Sci r ute mp Co of o a Bachelor After being accepted int nths of my y, and in the first three mo ckl qui in tled degree, I set s eer car – I ref lected upon the course – heavy in maths s! wa he lised how correct advisor’s advice and rea tware iversity, my career in sof un of rs After seven yea travels and , UK the to I and family engineering has taken my have I . alia lland and back to Austr to India, Switzerland, Ho the in ay all systems and tod worked on large and sm ng my Australia (CBA), I am usi of nk Ba Commonwealth advising and ; day ry eve lls ski d velope university and career-de er and put resolving complex com fixing, and building and ving sol as ied is can look as var engineering problems. Th ded to nee all we en wh work issues complicated COVID-19 net ising adv or months, to writing code work from home for three and ty uri for computer-related sec on budgets and designs blems. pro software engineering hobby. my job, but it is also my is ng eri ine Software eng r children, fou and e wif my h nt wit Interspersed with time spe nting, music pri cs and sometimes 3D I like working on electroni the same ose cho I’d my time again and photography. If I had ing – with ard rew and g ng is excitin career. Software engineeri eers advisor ity and diversity. My car problem-solving, creativ I am very grateful! saw something I didn’t and , the ltant Software Engineer Ramon Buckland – Consu alia Austr Commonwealth Bank of

P12

P16

STEM + X =

Combine engineering (STEM) with your passion (X)! Start here! Engineering + …

P18

P14 Social Impact P18 Health P22 Future Living

Software engineering is exciting and rewarding, with problem-solving, creativity and diversity”

P22

ENGINEERING

UPFRONT

? G N I R E E N I G N E WHAT IS Engineers apply STEM skills to solve problems in the real world

of alian Government sur vey ccording to a 2019 Austr EM ST in E about what the young people, confusion sons keeping them from rea big means is one of the hways. their study and career pat choosing engineering for ign des to s an literally me To ‘engineer’ something ild engineers design and bu d an – ing and build someth ar sol to ds, roa d an s s, building everyt hing from bridge sthetic limbs and hospital pro s, app are tw panels, sof chines and to ma ke our devices, ma ventilators. It’s their job ntly. icie ter, safer and more eff infrastructure work bet lly does? ua act er what an engine Still struggling to imagine erse div a h suc gineering covers That may be because en eer! gin en an be to no one way range of careers – there’s

Problemsolving

Defining engineering going to s and wrecking balls, we’re f you’re envisioning hard hat ed ideas ceiv con pre e to clear out any stop you right there. It’s tim n about lear and g, erin ine w about eng about what you think you kno er. of an engine the 21st century definition as the… tionary defines engineering dic ter ebs m-W The Merria

d maths by which the “Application of science an es of energ y in nature properties and the sourcle” are made useful to peop AND THE…

of complex products” “Design and manufacture

Engineering skills W

hile there’s no one single car eer that defines everything that engineering encompas ses, there are a few key skil ls that are central to all engine ering careers:

Innovation

Design thinking

SHUTTERSTOCK. WORDS COMPILED BY: GEMMA CHILTON; CASSIE STEEL; AND ELIZA BROCKWELL

ggling to understand what Don’t worry - if you’re still stru g as a probably because engineerin engineers actually do, that’s g! . So keep readin career is so broad and diverse

Creativity

Maths and science, like physics

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Technical skills

What’s your type? iting Biomedical! With so many exc oftware! Civil! Mechanical! g discipline can erin ine king a compatible eng specialisations out there, pic g degree and erin ine eng l era to study a more gen be tricky. You might choose there. Keep in mind ts, discover your major from after trying out a few subjec sferable skill set uate courses teach you a tran though, that most undergrad s. ds of different engineering role that can be used across loa : rch sea job re r futu This should narrow down you ing from y engineers fluent in everyth Computer engineer: tech-s)avv , e) design product erience and UI (user interfac programming, UX (user exp chine learning and ineering, sof tware design, ma development, electronic eng AI (Ar tificial Intelligence). vice and cialists that design, build, ser Civil engineer: construction spe -ca – high pacity that we depend on every day adapt the public infrastructure te networks, airports, rtation systems, railways, was roads, cost-effective transpo ontrol facilities. flood defences and pollution-c ally mate STEM multitaskers, equ Biomedical engineer: the ultiering. On-the-job biomedical engineers engine skilled in health science and s and equipment ls to design and build device skil ng olvi m-s ble pro ir apply the used in healthcare. knowledge er who uses their extensive Chemical engineer: an enginerefine familiar products (think: food, ess and of chemicals to evaluate, ass g processes. production and manufacturin drink and fuel), and improve spends matician-meets-mechanic who ng Mechanical engineer: a mathe igni des ing, vat machines – maintaining, inno nine-to-five hanging out with rgy generators, and building spacecraft, ene For a full list of engineerin . head to bit.ly/cws-eng-job g roles robots or mining machinery s

Engineering jobs bingo Each of th

e following feature somewhere in types of engineers th off when you come ac e mag. Tick them ro yell “bingo!” when yoss them and u’re done.

Software engineer

Civil engineer

Biomedical engineer student

Biomedical engineer

Software engineer

Communications engineer

Chemical engineer

Systems engineer

Industrial engineer

ENGINEERING

UPFRONT

e r u t u f e h t g n i r Enginee y r t n u o c r e t t e for a b Indigenous engineering excellence has a deep history and an exciting future

mark henaway electr ical engineer

Forward thinker Music first sparked Mark Henaway’s interest in engineering, and led to a successful, international career

ut engineering, and alk to Mark Henaway abo on is flying cars. the first thing he’ ll menti and manufactured!” “They’ve been developed tructure engineer at says the associate infras ry eering, design and adviso Aurecon, a global engin so yet ted rke not mass-ma company. “They’re just one.” y bu d an t ou you can’t go ly fut uristic technology on the n’t are s Flying car in his work, which Mark is thinking about transportation and reimagines the fut ure of ign in 2050 will look des a vision for what urban it all is engineering. like. And at the heart of in smart motor way “I’m currently involved time or ma ke it reliable, projects to improve travel rk y for our customers,” Ma and improve the journe ce pla in t pu to ed ne we says. “To be fut ure ready,

SHUTTERSTOCK

Electrical engineering apprentice, Queensland Main Roads Senior electrical engineer and Principal Engineer ITS, Department of Main Roads, Qld

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Bachelor of Engineering, QUT Mentor, Engineering Aid Australia

Designer, Queensland Main Roads Associate Infrastructure, Aurecon

I’ve pretty much done a lot of what excited me”

Go with the flow

ve from our current steps that allow us to mo and systems that can adapt technologies, and create the on s ice dev t pu we can evolve to the point where .” car a to ly direct road that communicate

Electric feel

South Sea Island heritage, A Birri Gubba man with y started with his passion Mark’s own career journe and as he was pu lling apart for music. Growing up,

What have you learnt so

rejigging his amps and mu sical tech, something about the design and en gineering str uck a chord. “In Year 10, I worked wi th an electrician and it was fun just crawling thr ough people’s houses an d wiring things up. It rea lly captured me, that this is what I want to be a part of. “Then at the end of Year 12, I didn’t manage to get into university. So, I too k on an electrica l apprenticeship with Qu eensland Main Roads, which was great because it gave me a good practi cal baseline for what I did lat er through university fro m an academic perspective, ” he says. Mark’s career has since taken him around the world, from light rail an d road projects in New South Wa les and Queen sland, to working along side colleagues using vir tua l rea lity (VR) to help peo ple navigate through roadw ays and cycles and developing smart motor ways for Dubai and traffic management systems for Abu Dhabi’s longest tun nel. “I’ve pretty much done a lot of what excited me . Working in Dubai, everyt hing is done on a bigger sca le there, and particula rly in my part of the industry. It rea lly opened my eyes because I was working with people fro m Europe, the US, Asia and Africa,” he says. “Working in Abu Dhabi , Dubai, and Qatar it wa s about relationships,” say s Mark. “A nd the communication was tot ally different. Engineer ing is not just about technica l things. Communicatio n is a big part of it and develo ping relationships is eve n bigger.” – Heather Catch pole

far? IAES taught me that engine ering is about scale. I live in Mandurah, where the old bridge has bee n replaced [New Mandurah Bridge]. That was super interesting bec ause it’s reinforced steel con crete and was being pushed across the bridge at the same time it was being constructed. It was suc h a crazy challenge! How’s life as an unde rgra

d engineer? I’m in my second year of uni at Cur tin studying chemical engineering. I also gained a school scholarship with Che vron for their Aboriginal cadet progra m, working as an undergrad uate engineer. I’ve worked on a pro ject using soundwaves to eva luate the amount of sand in a pipe, and also gone up nor th to wor k on a week-long project evalua ting wastewater treatment. I help out with the IAES whe n I get a chance, and I also wor k with the STEM outreach pro gram at Cur tin helping to brid ge the information gap bet ween Che vron and Cur tin. Was engineering what yo

u expected? Engineering is not about gen ius people who live in books – it’s a practical science and lets you use knowledge to go and make something or see if something ’s viable. It’s kind of intuitiv e.

Chemical engineering degree, Curtin University

eived an email about the Ind igenous Australian Engineering School (IAES). She thought it was a great opportunity and would help me stay motivated. In Year 9 we had an assignment to choose a form of work and do a study on it. I thought engineering sounde d cool and I found a list of top 10 jobs in Australia that included che mical engineering.

Undergraduate Engineer, Aboriginal cadet program, Chevron

Cody Coleman grew up in Perth and identifies as Wadjak-Pinjarra. A curtin University engineering student, he works summers as a chemical engineer at energy company Chevron How did you get into engineering? One of my teachers rec

Any advice?

Get involved early and stay invo lved. As an introvert in high school, throwing yourself into opportu nities like IAES and camps, rea lly helps. Engineering isn’t as com plex as it seems but it does tak e an effort – you need to be engage d in it. – Heather Catchpole

Find out about IA E engineeringaid.orgS: 7

Indigenous Australian Engineering School, Year 9

What are your plans fo

r the future? I’d like to work in innovating the energy sector and look at how we do what we’re doing, but bet ter, and cleaner.

ENGINEERING

ese ex Ramp up your resume with th r? ee gin en n ca u yo ink th u yo So,

far from cruisy. ngineering degrees are , exams and Between the assignments to find five minutes rd ha internships it can be out-of-hours stuff that to chill, let alone do more . towards your final marks doesn’t officia lly count ur yo et me that you cou ld But what if we told you ot u’re programming a rob yo ile wh fut ure employer ge? en all ch gineering at an extracurricu lar en gineer, seasoned job en il civ , an tw Maria An of NW D Design & Build interviewer and director for of putting your hand up stresses the importance e u’r yo easy option when all that extra stuff. “The play video games in your to at university might be owever, under taking spare time,” she says. “H

tracurricular industry comps

activities related to your engineering degree shows an employer you genuinely enjoy what you’re studying, which makes you an attractive candidate.” And with job-search giants Seek stressing that employers are placing increasing value on the interpersonal skills learnt through practical, collaborative learning – there’s never been a better time to skill up out of hours.

What’s On Whether chemical, civil, software, mechanical or biomedical engineering is your thing, there are loads of competitions to pop in your iCalendars. Keep an eye on CareerswithSTEM.com for the full list.

iGem 2021 dates TBC Electrical engineering

Bridgestone World Solar Challenge October 22-30, 2021 Into STEM + epic road trip s? Participants engineer and build a sol ar-powered vehicle and power it for rea l from the NT to Adelaide. Once the teams have left Darw in they must travel as far as they can each day before setting up camp wherever they end up com e 5pm. Yep, even if it’s the desert. Skill-up in: Mechanica l engineering, electrica l engineering, renewable energ y engineering and advanced map-reading smarts.

l Genetically The iGem (Internationa p invites Engineered Machine) com unique to ms students to solve proble tic biolog y, the syn their communities in ms are given Tea ty. uri biosafety and biosec biologica l parts a kit of interchangeable t using standard to build, measure and tes iques. First place gets molecular biolog y techn tal LEGO brick! a bigger-than-life-size me thetic biolog y, Skill-up in: Advanced syn problem-solving. d orl innovation and rea l-w

QUENTIN JONES / SHUTTERSTOCK

RoboCup June 22-28, 2021

Biomedical engineering

Andris Samsons, Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, 1993 (now senior engineer at FORD Motor Company)

V C r u o y p u p e St

“It’s not just a motor race. The event challenges you and your teammates to project manage, fund, design, engineer, build, test and field a car in what is arguably the world’s most difficult design competition and one of the great adventures of our time.”

UPFRONT

Software engineering

If you’re a wannabe software engineer, this comp is the ultimate. RoboCup requires participants to design and build robots to play against each other in an epic game of football, with the ultimate goal of creating a team capable of beating humans come 2050. Skill-up in: programming, AI development and serious teamwork.

CREDIT ANNA KUCERA

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

like it was -participants tell it Ex ! at th n room wo e, er th Been be able to experience a to ol co s wa It ! gy er en e th

t and “I loved the environmen d about robotics as I was.” Alec Lyttle, RoboCup 2019 te fu ll of people just as exci

Extra credit Gravity Challenge 2021 dates TBC

Data engineering

Participating teams from six startups and unis have s on uti sol p weeks to develo ess sin bu to rea l-world te’s space challenges using Deloit ics ranging from data capabilities, on top ecommunication, transport through to tel station projects. ore environmental and ref ovation, Inn ! ng Skill-up in: Every thi str uction, con , ing nk out-of-the-box thi – Cassie Steel data science and strategy.

the extra hours Not convinced that putting in otherwise. “Anything us s ure will pay off? Maria ass ws initiative – which you do on top of university sho ce,” she says. is really important in the workpla great exercise in “Engineering challenges are a that you have strong, creativity! They demonstrate out-of-the-box thinking skills.”

Team comps no only suggest that you’retco – which is a plus – bu mpetitive can work well with ott that you hers too.” BONUS!

Apart from (hopefully) landing you a job, engineering comps are also awesome for: Meeting like-minded people ! Don’t forget to swap socials afterwa rds. Finding a mentor! Often the re are seriously inspiring experts floa ting around and helping out. Learning about the way you work! Didn’t know you were a leader? Or tha t you were so into the planning process? Discovering your learning style can be inva luable. Developing interpersonal skills, like time management, decision-m aking and collaboration smarts.

l skills are na so er rp te in ch hi w , So looking for? employers actually

39%

Communication

24%

*STATS ACCORDING TO SEEK. (SOURCE: SEEK RESEARCH)

Adaptability

15%

Collaboration

Pr ior itisation

Creativity

Grow th potentia l

Leadership

Culture fit

15%

18%

19%

Decision-mak ing

Ti me ma nagement

Ability to work under pressure

Self-motivation

20%

28%

33%

36%

Conf lict resolution

ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING+CBA

h t a p r u o y r e v o c Dis Preetpal Dhillon software

illon’s study Software engineer Preetpal Dh ists and turns and career path has taken tw as he’s followed his passions

engineer

ished high school, hen Preetpal Dhillon fin ething medical, so he wanted to study som ce degree. However, he signed up for a scien back it wasn’t for him. Going after a year he rea lised ed lov ays alw d etpal ha to the drawing board, Pre decided to switch to d an ool sch h maths in hig d act uaria l studies. a degree in commerce an still didn’t quite tick all However, this new choice al ref lected more on his the right boxes. So, Preetp his interest in technology, passions and considered g ngs work, before switchin and genera lly, in how thi – th wi ate on to gradu to the degree he would go d Information Systems, an e erc mm Co a Bachelor of at the University of NSW. gh all of those changes “I’m gratef ul I went throu ething I rea lly enjoy. because I landed on som s out,” Preetpal says. ng Don’t be afraid to try thi

Choices, choices...

ting a degree that Even after finally comple d passions, Preetpal matched his interests an trying and testing his hasn’t shied away from

Bachelor of Commerce/ Information Systems, UNSW

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Graduate, CBA

Software Engineer, CBA

LAUREN TROMPP

career options. Having joined the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) graduate program, Preetpal chose cyber security for his first rotation. However, he found he enjoyed software engineering more – recalling his love of the programming courses at uni. “I found it fascinating that you could build these apps just out of writing text,” he says. Now, Preetpal is a full-time software engineer at CBA. His team works on the bank’s online platform, NetBank – specifically improving the end-to-end digital experiences for business banking customers. Preetpal loves working in a tight-knit team – his “work family” – and the opportunities, like volunteering, he gets to do outside of his day job. His career tip if you feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new things to learn – at school, uni or a new job? Break the problem down into smaller pieces. And when he’s not building a career as a software engineer, Preetpal loves Marvel and DC superheroes, volleyball and has a passion for Lego!

emillie thiselton software engineer

Bachelor of Computer Science (Advanced), University of Adelaide

Going places CBA software engineer Emillie Thiselton is only at the start of her career, but it’s already taking off

Software Engineer, CBA

BRENTON EDWARDS

Graduate, CBA

at university wasn’t exactly millie Thiselton’s experience ence a Bachelor of Computer Sci run-of-the-mill. She studied of Adelaide, which included (Advanced) at the University d t Emillie worked on in her thir jec a research element. The pro hon Pyt a for g-in error messaging plu and final year – an enhanced the d ture Sublime Tex t – cap code-editing platform called she continued working on it so , isor erv attention of her sup separately to her degree. bred ted, the Adelaide born-andThe year after Emillie gradua ference at a sof tware engineering con student presented her paper life. her of one of the best moments in Brazil, which she says, was an at erience. Presenting “It was the most amazing exp other side of the world was the on international conference vous doing,” she says. “I was so ner something I’d never imagined er oth the of st mo ference and to present. It was my first con were really experienced in ting sen pre and people attending ir PhD.” ting, or had completed, the research and either comple

Researcher, University of Adelaide

With a graduate CV like that, it’s easy to see why Emillie could be picky with her choice of post-uni gigs. At a uni Careers Fair, Emillie says the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) stand stood out. She also knew they were often ranked among the top graduate employers in Australia and had heard good things about CBA’s culture. Emillie successfully applied for a graduate position at CBA and packed her bags, moving away from Adelaide for the first time, to a shared apartment in the middle of Sydney’s CBD. “It was pretty exciting, and a big change from home. Sydney is very different, there’s always stuff going on, which is good – but I also think there are too many people!” she jokes. At the time of writing, Emillie was working from home back in Adelaide during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she says she was able to make some great friendships through the graduate program and loved the social aspect. Even in the new work-from-home world, her team hosts fun virtual meetings. Emillie has completed the graduate program and is now a full-time software engineer at CBA. Her role is focused on home-buying projects in NetBank, CBA’s online banking platform. Emillie says a big factor in choosing her current role following the graduate program was the team she knew she’d be working with. “I’m surrounded by such a friendly and smart team, with a great culture,” she says. While Emillie’s burgeoning software engineering career might already sound pretty impressive, she stresses that anyone who is keen should give computer science a go and not be intimidated by it. “Don’t worry if you feel like you don’t know anything, everybody starts off at that point. If it’s what you want to do, then you should give it a go!” – Gemma Chilton

Tutor, University of Adelaide

All the way to the bank

ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING+ATLASSIAN

t r a p a , r e h t e g o Working t to three engineers working at ed att ch We al! rm no w ne the coming Working from home is fast be of socially distanced teamwork ts ou d an ins the t ou ab n sia any Atlas Sydney-based software comp at software like Zoom

a centra l king working away from ew tech was already ma and ng n COVID-19 came alo office more common – the ) was FH (W e a, working from hom accelerated it. In Australi even t bu ic, em pu lsory during the pand s ice encouraged or even com off ny ma ed, and restrictions eas d sai e as we flattened the curve hav – US the e – like Twitter in are staying closed and som to. nt wa y the if m home forever, employees can work fro sian, the shift bal tech company At las glo ed For Aussie-found a team, but teamwork – working as was smoot h. Distributed established. locations – was already from different physical

re using ch At lassian employees we munication, blogging to keep up com and Slack, and internal de fun office ma o als y in place. They’ve so the tools were alread d an cooking classes, activities like yoga and l. tua vir s even team lunche m fro ng goi e So what’s it lik y cit l coo a in o-5 spending 9-t ? me ho m fro ng rki office, to wo s yee plo em n sia las Three At n tell us! – Gemma Chilto

Mixing up IRL and virtual meetings was already the norm for Atlassian’s distributed teams pre-COVID-19

Use all the tools available to you – overcommunicate if necessary”

#1 ang Ziming Wwa re

Senior Soft Engineer, Atlassian

As a senior sof tware engine er, it’s Ziming’s job to understand the roadmap and requirements for a new sof tware products and translate that into design and implementation. He recently worked on enabling automation in Atla ssian’s best-known sof tware platform, Jira. “Th is update to Jira helps sof tware developers to reduce distraction from routine steps in their wor kflow, so they can focus on what’s most importa nt and things they enjoy doing,” he explains. Loves: Lego, travelling and skiing

SHUTTERSTOCK

Home office set-up: Study room with a standing desk and two monitors. “I’m grateful Atlassian

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Bachelor of Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China Software Development Engineer, Microsoft

ation to be helped us set up our workst ” rm. g-te lon comfortable for the e a lot of Best part about WFH: “I sav to work, ting mu com not time and stress g. Because so I spend more time workin nge my it’s more flexible for me to arra tive.” time, I feel it’s more produc team: Best part of a distributed und the aro “Because we come from ssing gre pro p world, tasks can kee know to d goo It’s around the clock. turning els whe the p someone can kee ” ep! asle while you are available to WFH tips: “Use all the tools necessary.” you – over-communicate if

Software Engineer, China Telecom

Senior Software Developer, Fidelity Investments

Senior Software Engineer, Atlassian

Isabelle Weber 2 #

Senior Software Developer, Atlassian

Product Growth Team. Isabelle works in Atlassian’s , product managers and “I collaborate with designers tures and experiences that other engineers to build fea r and adopt a broader set of help our customers discove lains. Atlassian products,” she exp rd games and hiking Loves: Baking, reading, boa desk, comfy chair, my Home office set-up: “Large sable mug”. laptop, headphones and reu ast while catching up on Typical 9-to-5: “I eat breakf ht, and plan my day. At rnig any missed messages ove daily ‘stand-up’. I do plenty 10am my team and I have our mmates’ work, and par tner of coding, help review my tea product manager to make with my team’s designer and h what I’m building.” sure I’m on the right track wit ith full-time remote work, Overcoming challenges: “W in person. However, what I definitely miss seeing others le cof fee slots on our my team has done is schedu beverage and all hang out hot a calendars, where we grab r rnoons we have a social hou on a video call. On Friday afte k!” wee the r wind down afte and play games together to Bachelor of Computer Science, UNSW

My team has schedule d coffee slots where we grab a ho t be verage and all hang out on a video call”

Graduate Developer, Atlassian

Developer, Atlassian

Senior Developer, Atlassian

Anushka Mudh

Software Developer, olkar Atlassian

Anushka’s job involves working with other engineers on the team, along with the team’s designer and product manager, to build products “that our customers love to use,” she says. This includes building features that make the product simple to navigate and more accessible, for example for people with visual impairments. “Every user should be able to use our products with no challenges whatsoever.” Loves: Hiking, swimming, dancing Home office set-up: “I have a desk in the corner of my room, that has a lot of plants and pictures, a big monitor and a laptop.” Typical 9 to 5: “I wake up at 8-ish and try to do some yoga. Take a shower and prep some breakfast and by then it’s time for my team’s stand-up – where we share updates on how we are going with our tasks.

It’s heartwarming to see so many of my teammates in Bangalore”

Bachelor of Computing and Software Systems, University of Melbourne

“Af ter that I get some cof fee , code a little, or attend meetin gs. The meetings usually involve making decisions abo ut the different design aspect s of the product. We spar on how we can resolve technical issues, plan for our nex t ‘spr int’ or I pair program with another teammate – we sha re our screens and give rem ote control to the other whe we’re working from home, in n the office we would just use one of our laptops. I normally for a nice long walk in the afte go rnoon and code a little more till around 5pm. On Fridays have some social events wit we h the team in the evening tha t I always look forward to.” Best thing about working with a distributed team: “De finitely the assimilation of different cultures – our tea m works with the Bangalore office in India and it’s heartwarming to see people from the two cities working on something they share a common passion for – it’s a delight to witness and be a par t of. I have definitely learnt so much and grown a lot as a person.”

Graduate Software Developer, Atlassian

Software Developer, Atlassian

ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING+SOCIAL IMPACT

+ HEALTH + FUTURE LIVING

Building a better world Meet three engineers using their skills and qualifications to improve lives and wellbeing

Disability access and inclusion

Huy Nguyen

arian engineer Systems and humanit

ieves engineering uy Ng uyen strongly bel lls to ma ke the world equips you with the ski and accessible place. a better, more inclusive ple take up the challenge He hopes more young peo ial impact and that there to use engineering for soc nities for those who do. are great career opportu tracted a vir us called Born in Vietnam, Huy con nths old, which left him polio when he was 18 mo to s in his legs. He moved with permanent paralysi g rin du d an old rs six yea Australia when he was tion for severe scoliosis era op an d ha ool high sch k Huy says this set him bac (curvature of the spine). his rea lly focus on a year – but also made him to do next. d nte wa studies and what he

Not (just) my problem

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land on his ideal degree Huy didn’t immediately ntually graduated from at university but he eve University (AN U) in the Australian Nationa l in systems engineering. Canberra, with a degree s having these personal “During my degree I wa d g a disability, so I decide challenges around havin his r Fo s. Huy recall to do something about it,” looked at the social y Hu , sis the Honours year ple with disabilities challenges faced by peo lens. through an engineering e ays was an approach I’v eaw tak key the of “One y Hu ’,” l model of disability adopted called the ‘socia th wi problem doesn’t lie explains. “It means the lity or impairment, it lies abi dis the person with the d them.” with the barriers aroun hy, Huy founded an sop ilo ph s Applying thi e Development which organisation called Enabl anisations to help them delivers workshops to org and accessibility to improve their inclusivity r example, Enable Fo people with disabilities. nual program for RMIT Development runs an an dents to help them and AN U engineering stu lity and ageing so they deeply understand disabi

Bachelor of Systems Engineering (Honours), Australian National University

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

if you don’t fit the mould, you don’t have to force yourself to fit” can apply it in their careers. Huy’s work in disability advocacy saw him awarded ACT Young Australian of the Year in 2014. Huy is now working on a new venture called Enabler Interactive – a high-tech platform that uses simulations, virtual reality and augmented reality to improve training for workers in disability and aged-care services. Huy says entrepreneurship – starting up his own businesses – was a great path for him and while it has its challenges, recommends it for any grads who find they’re struggling to “fit the mould” after uni. “If you can’t fit into the mould, you don’t have to force yourself to fit,” says Huy. “Maybe instead you should be out there creating better solutions.” – Gemma Chilton

Ambassador, Technical Aid to the Disabled, ACT

Founder, Enable Development

Founder, Enabler Interactive

g in ir p s a r fo s p ti 3 p to ’s Huy humanitarian engineers 2. Th

is career is legit! “There’s a misconception that doing good means you’re going to be poor fore ver,” says Huy. On the contrar y, Huy reckons the re are loads of opportunities for engineers in this space – par ticularly in disabilit y and aged care in Australia – thanks to the $22 billion NDIS (National Disability Insuran ce Scheme). “If you look at the disabilit y sector in Australia, it’s a massive gro wth area.”

1. Travel! “Travel extensively and get to know people and communities,” says Huy. “That informs and enriches our view of the world and challenges our status quo. “But when travelling, remember we are not there to solve people’s problems, we’re there to learn, listen and share stories. It’s important to be open minded.”

3. Humanitarian careers are for everyone. “It may sound

like the people working in this space are a special group, but we’re just people, some with slightly different needs. We need everyone’s input. There aren’t enough young professionals in social impact engineering,” says Huy.

Sujita Khadka

Civil engineer

International development

growth comes from learning. nepal has such huge potential in technology”

ineering, Sindhuli Diploma in civil eng ical Institute hn Tec ity un Comm Intern, Riverina Water County Council

r, Sindhuli Assistant instructol Institute Community Technica Cadet engineer, cil un Wagga Wagga City Co

epal-based engineer Sujita Khadka says she has a huge responsibility, “Being a civil engineer, I feel a sense of duty to develop my home and all of Nepal.” Although based in Sindhuli, Nepal, Sujita recently spent three months in Wagga Wagga, NSW doing a lengthy stint of work experience – six weeks at Riverina Water County Council and a cadet engineering gig with the City Council. Both roles, she hoped, would equip her with the skills needed to achieve her ultimate goal of improving the lives of those in her community. “Growth comes from learning,” she stresses. “Nepal has such huge potential in technology!” At school, Sujita always had a keen interest in science and tech subjects, which led her to enrol at Sindhuli Community Technical Institute after graduation. Studying a Diploma in Civil Engineering was a huge deal for any woman, let alone a woman in a developing country. “The only thing I could control was my work ethic,” she says. “I always kept myself busy!” The three-year degree led to a job working at the same school as an assistant instructor, where she helped out with building and construction projects. Along with seeing students smashing their goals, Sujita cites playing with cement, sand, stone and mud – and creating something from it – among the job’s biggest perks. “Developing something from nothing still excites me,” she admits. “It reminds me of the value of the small things that nature gives us!” “I’m still learning and making new principles for my life every day from each and every experience, and hoping for a better future,” she says. – Cassie Steel

ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING+SOCIAL IMPACT

3D-printed hands

START YOUR C AREER

Mat Bowtell

alian Nati m onal Univ edical System r o f En g ineering ersity s), (E n v ir Bachelo onmenta r o f En g l) , M o nash Un Queensla ineering (Ho iversity ns nd Unive rsity of T ) (Medical), Bachelo echnolog r o f En g y ine The Univ ering (Environ m ersity of Adelaide ental),

Bachelo

Industrial engineer

engineering at Bowtell kickstarted his ding a dream job at career ma king cars, lan as an engineer in automotive giant Toyota Hi nt. s ‘thing’ was lean their operations departme fying processes, reducing manufacturing – simpli nt ality – which led to a sti waste and improving qu direct ly from the in Japan in 2009 to learn nt team. Pla i ach company’s Motom Mat championed the use rs yea ee thr For the next ing techniques back of sophisticated 3D-print 7, ona factor y closed in 201 home, until Toyota’s Alt the wn do g rin sta t – bu leaving him out of work pat hway. w ne g itin exc an of barrel on maintaining a positive us “I really wanted to foc d a way that I cou ld use mindset and trying to fin 8 help others,” said the 201 my engineering skills to ar Ye the of stralian Victorian Local Hero [Au gh d the opportunity throu ha I ul tef gra awards]. “I’m .” eer gin en an as ssion Toyota to find my true pa in auto engineering and CV ve ssi pre im an With ng lower-cost production experience in implementi rkshop in his suburban solutions, Mat set up a wo t – 3D-printed hands. garage for his own projec

Helping hand

ing technologies and Using a mix of 3D-print dbackyard-start up-turne advanced bionics, Mat’s d-charity, creates internationally-recognise b born with cognitive lim se assistive devices for tho ed. m to those in ne differences, and gifts the ed hands to people all int -pr “We send our 3D n y free of charge, we eve over the world completel ut tho wi n bor s. “People pay the postage,” he say t have to pay even one cen n’t uld sho s nd arms or ha .” prove their quality of life for something that’ll im take around 15 hours to While the limbs typica lly ponents across three print, by spreading the com

Bachelor of Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Monash University Graduate staff engineer, Toyota Australia

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

HERE

engine +socia l impaering Bachelo r o f En g ct STU ineering DY (Hons) (B Austr io

+socieangineering l impa ct JOB Project enginee S r: $60K– Civil $1 25K enginee r: $55K– Disabilit $110K y specia list: $43 K–$92K *Source : salaries to paysc according ale.com

i really wanted to focus on using my engineering skills to help others” machines, Mat has cut the production time of each down to just five hours – a skill carried over from his time at Toyota. Aside from being supported by crowdfunding and donations, in 2018 Mat was among nine Australians to receive a Westpac Social Change Fellowship, valued at $50,000. As part of the fellowship, he went overseas to meet with prosthetic and bionic innovators and has since returned home, pumped to work on his most ambitious project to date – a low-cost bionic arm. – Cassie Steel

J-PAC Scholarship Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University, Japan

Diploma of Languages (Japanese), Monash University

Supplier Development engineer, Toyota Australia

Senior Engineer, Toyota Australia

Technical Interpreter and translator, Toyota Australia Founder, Owner, 3D Hands

Career with a conscienNUc) e grad Sunny Forsyth

University (A Australian National Water, a social enterprise that is CEO of Abundant es access clean drinking water iti helps remote commun

unny Forsyth has always bee n into solving stuff. It’s what attract ed him to studying engineering. “I was interested in how technolog y could help solve the world’s proble ms, and I figured engineering wou ld also allow me the flexibility to travel,” he says.

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sunny forsyth CEO & engineer

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), ANU

Cadetship, Defence Material Organisation

ENGINEERING+ANU Sunny stuck his head down in Year 12 maths and science, and headed to ANU to kickstart a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours). Soon into his degree, Sunny realised he’d need more than academic smarts to ace the practical units in his program. “My preconceptions of what engineering was were wrong,” he says. “It’s not just all academic but rather everything else that’s involved in a project too.”

Making a difference After graduation, a stint in sales and cadetship in Defence eventually led Sunny to his first passion project. He started a 12-month graduate gig as an AusAid Youth Ambassador, stationed in an anti-human trafficking organisation in Laos. “I discovered what I cared about,” says Sunny, “and became highly motivated.” After extending his stay in Laos well past the 12 months, Sunny founded his own organisation – Abundant Water – a social enterprise helping remote communities gain access to clean drinking water. As CEO, now based back in Canberra, the passionate innovator uses advanced systems and software engineering to do what he loves most – solve problems – and better the lives of the communities he works with. Sunny’s advice if you’re keen to have an impact? “Find what you’re best at, and get even better at it.” – Cassie Steel

Youth Ambassador, AusAid

Abundant Water, founder and CEO

CRICOS 00120C

See opportunity in unexpected places Study engineering at Australia’s top university. Take on the global challenges of tomorrow and make a difference in people’s lives using technology.

Visit cecs.anu.edu.au ANU College of Engineering & Computer Science

ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING+HEALTH

+ FUTURE LIVING + SOCIAL IMPACT

Problem-solving in a pandemic COVID-19 has delivered the world’s biggest health challenge in a century – and engineers have been at the frontline finding solutions

by the COVID-19 he world has been rocked rs s and medical researche pandemic. Doctors, nurse g yin pla o als are s engineer are on the frontline, but gst the crisis. on am e rol g a crucial supportin a vaccine, we need new As the quest continues for safe as d equipment to keep us routines, technology an in the new normal. the world opens up again nes rking hard behind the sce Engineers have been wo d an rve help flatten the cu designing technology to ese ent for the vulnerable. Th ipm equ building life-saving g nin tur s eer gin automotive en innovations range from l ica an ch me to e; tur ld manufac their hands to face-shie of ng to double our supply and test engineers worki h urg nb ne Cra e din s. – Na intensive care ventilator

rld Engineering a healthier wo Keeping people healthy is complicated, and no single engineering discipline can do it alone

Mechanical and industri engineers work together to desalign hea

knowledge of mechanical and an electronic engineering, hum al dic me and ogy siol phy s and applications to design device dical me r lase technolog y including stic gno dia , imaging, ventilators devices and prosthetic limbs.

lth products and plan the large-s cale production of masks, face shields and com plex medical devices from ventilators to heart mo nitors.

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Civil and environmental engineers

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Biomedical and medical engineers combine in-depth

design buildings that increase health and reduce stress. They also make sure that drinking water is clean, and waste is disposed of safely.

Driving solutions to manufacturing Ford Australia turned during the pandemic 100,000 face shields

ngineers are problem-solve rs and have a knack for ada pting existing solutions to new combat the COVID-19 crisis, challenges. To engineers at Ford Australia are manufacturing 100,000 to donate to medical worker medical face shields s. To do this, they’ve source d custom par ts from autom a foam insert from a manufact otive suppliers, including urer who usually makes the foam trim inside car air-con ditioner vents.

START YOUR CAREER HE RE

engineering +health study

Software engineers develop

and maintain programs and algorithms for modern medical equipment and modelling tools, analyse health data and create health apps and secure telehealth protocols.

Electrical and electronic engineers design power systems to

supply essential medical equ ipment – including off-grid solutions for remote locations. They also research and design new technolog y for sen sors and electronic components of me dical instruments and devices.

and mass-produce drug

Chemical engineers researchses of disease, and design ways

Bachelor of Biomedical Eng ineering, RMIT University Bachelor of Engineering (Ho nours) Chemical Process, Queensland University of Tech nology Bachelor of Mechanical Eng ineering, University of South Australia Bachelor of Engineering and Biomedical Science, Monash University Bachelor of Medical Enginee ring, University of Newcastle

engineering +health JOBS Biom

edical engineer: $50K–$90K Test engineer: $52K–$101K Mechanical design enginee r: $56K–$98K Chemical engineer: $50K–$ 122K Health and safety coordinator : $53K–$112K* *Source: salaries according to payscale.com

lar cau treatments, study the molecu sses. to detect and diagnose illne ues tiss and d flui to test blood,

ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING+HEALTH

A breath of fresh air Mary poniard test engineer

Biomedical engineer Mary Poniard is making sure 2000 new ventilators for Australian intensive care wards are ready to care for COVID-19 patients urne-based Grey s the test engineer at Melbo ks across disciplines wor Innovation, Mary Poniard al engineering. Each nic cha including electrical and me dreds of components which ventilator is made up of hun al engineers. Mary tests the are assembled by mechanic y function correctly. One prototypes to make sure the set of artificial lungs. piece of test equipment is a k to replicate sick or “We can change how they wor ple,” Mary explains. healthy, big ger or smaller peo ble the countr y’s current dou The ventilators will almost , approvals and manufacture supply – and design, testing months. Mary says this is need to happen in just three al devices, which are usually almost unheard of for medic developed over several years.

Inner workings Mary grew up in Ireland and spent time in hospitals visiting a sick family member. “Machines fascinated me, and I was always asking nurses how they worked,” she says. After studying biomedical engineering, Mary worked on projects including a device to catch blood clots during minimally invasive surgery. Keen to travel, she accepted a role with Fisher & Paykel in New Zealand. There, she designed humidifiers to help babies in incubators whose lungs weren’t working. “It really opens your eyes to see how much you need to put into the design to not harm vulnerable end users,” she says. – Nadine Cranenburgh

Medical equipment usually takes several years to build and test, however eng inee around in months during the rs are turning them COVID-19 pandemic

machines fascinated me, and i was always asking the nurses how they worked”

Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical/Medical), National University of Ireland, Galway

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Product Design Engineer, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, New Zealand

Design Engineer, Arrotek, Ireland

Test Engineer, Grey Innovation, Australia

ENGINEERING+UNI OF ADELAIDE

DIY degree aire Morphett Engineering student Clpassions – engineering has combined her two te her own epic pathway and medicine – to crea ured STEM subjects. In high laire Morphett has always favo ths, and later at university, school it was physics and ma . “Their skills and concepts are programming and engineering s. “Having a background in so transferable,” she stresse uni.” really useful to my studies at physics and maths has been sity s student at The Univer of Currently a final year Honour two degrees – proving that if Adelaide, Claire has taken on have to settle for just the one STEM is your thing, you don’t working on my Honours project specialisation. “I’m currently studying subjects in applied in biomedical engineering, and engineering,” she says of her mathematics and aerospace be working on a project that dual pathway. “It’s exciting to ineering and medicine, whilst combines my interests in eng research.” also contributing to ongoing between attending lectures var Claire’s days on campus y al and tackling the more technic and tutorials, to hitting the lab ing, mm gra I do a lot of pro side of her course work. “As where which is really any from k wor I can fortunately

It’s exciting to be working on a project that combines my interests in engineering and medicine”

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Double degree in Mechanical Engineering with Mathematical and Computer Sciences, The University of Adelaide

cool,” she says. “I get a lot of study in in-between classes but also from home too.” And if you’re wondering when the up-and-coming biomedical eng ineer manages to eat, sleep and watch Netflix, the answer is probably never. On top of all the study, Claire has been working as a part-time undergraduat e for 18 months, scoring the eng ineering gig after a summer internship at Saab Australia. “At uni it’s so important to put yourself forward for leadership opportunities and work experie nce,” she says. “It’s so good to put all the theory into practic e!” – Cassie Steel Research project, Adelaide Spinal Research Group

Summer Intern, Saab Australia

Undergraduate Engineer, Saab Australia

Industry-relevant majors Defence Systems Drive improvements

in this multi-billion dollar tech industry.

Medical Technologies Be part of the biomedical engineering and healthcare revolution. Renewable Energy Create global solutions to the world’s growing energy demands. Smart Technologies Redefine how we live with the exciting world of machine learning.

Gain specialist knowledge and practical skills with South Australia’s most innovative engineering programs. At the University of Adelaide we’ve reinvented engineering, offering a range of core disciplines with the opportunity to specialise in a variety of industry-relevant majors and minors. As the only South Australian university ranked in the world’s top 50 for Computer Science and Engineering*,

our internationally recognised degrees will prepare you for your future STEM career^. * Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019. ^ Our engineering degrees are internationally recognised and accredited by Australia’s peak professional body, Engineers Australia (EA).

FIND OUT MORE adelaide.edu.au/degree-finder ENGINEERING

6108

ENGINEERING REINVENTED

ENGINEERING+FUTURE LIVING

+ SOCIAL IMPACT + HEALTH

y r t n u o c r e v e l c e h T

ble arter, safer and more sustaina sm be ll wi e ur fut e th of ies cit Thanks to engineers, the ivities and way we run everyday act ngineers are changing the technology ing Us . urban environment how we interact with the . ure fut the of the smart cities and data, they’re creating tructure, ras inf d an ape dsc o the urban lan int s sor sen ng ati egr collect int can By sensors alth of data. For example, we a t lec col can er s eer ath we gin , en transport asures, data from public ly? ive air and water quality me d effect t how can this data be use conditions or traffic. Bu works of objects net ): (IoT s ing Th of ernet The answer lies in the Int Internet. For example, h each other through the able to communicate wit te sprinklers. iva s that automatically act imagine weather sensor er by technology. saf d y made easier an ead alr is life ay ryd eve r Ou lifesaving... intersections and smart Think: smart bins, smart

Smart bins

Last year, Randwick Co uncil in Sydney installed smart bins that compact the rubbish int ernally, lock when full and send an ale rt so a crew can empty them immedia tely.

HERE R CAREER U O Y T R A T S

ring DY engineein iv g STersiUty of Adelaide l e r u t u f iv + echanical), Un

ns Smart intersectioive rsity of Melbourne are

(M ions), Engineering Communicat Bachelor of ctronics and le (E g in er Engine University Bachelor of Edith Cowan ering), (Civil Engine Engineering Bachelor of ersity of Melbourne s), Univ ware System ter and Soft pu om (C g in chnology Engineer Bachelor of eensland University of Te Qu

Engineers from the Un s and people’s mobile testing a system where car e at a busy intersection. Th phones sense each other car the d an n ria est the ped system sends a signal to collision. a o int g din hea if they are

g engineerining JOBS iv +futureanallyst: $51K–$99K

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Data –$115K gineer: $56K Software en 82K –$ 6K er: $4 Office manag K* 99 –$ $51K City planner: cale.com ys pa to g ries accordin la sa e: rc ou *S

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

ENGINEERING+QUT

World building Civil and construction engineer Genevieve De Michele loves seeing her work in the real world everyday

hen Genevieve De Michele was in high school, she really loved maths, physics and IT. During her engineering degree, howeve r, Genevieve she says she didn ’t have much of an idea of wha engineers did or what type of t engineering she wanted to spe cialise in. Her lightbulb momen during a class on mixing concre t cam e te. “My dad’s a builder, and gro wing up around construction with him, I felt immediately com sites fortable,” she says. “I realise d, ‘I’m going to be a civil enginee Genevieve graduated from the r’.” Queensland University of Tec hnology (QUT) with a Bachelo of Civil and Construction Eng r ineering. Based in Brisbane, Genevieve now works as an infrastructure and transport advisor for a company called Gluco Consultants.

genevieve de michele civil engineer

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil & Construction), QUT

Consultant, Advisian

Advisor, E3 Advisory

“I help government and private clients scope projects and solve problems in a really broad range of ways,” she explains. Genevieve has worked on major projects including Brisbane’s M5 Legacy Way tunnel and the rail network strategy for South East Queensland. She’s currently working with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority on disaster relief projects. Genevieve loves seeing the product of her work in the real world. “I drive past the Legacy Way tunnel and I get so excited when people are using it,” she says. Her advice to aspiring engineers is to do what you love, and to take advantage of networking opportunities. – Gemma Chilton Advisor, Apical ADS

Director, Gluco Consultants

The world needs future engineers.

QUT STEM Engineering 23 CRICOS No. 00213J

ENGINEERING

SHUTTERSTOCK

Smart lifesaving technology

At Lake Macquarie City Council, as the smart city lead, Claire collects data from sensors on local beaches to provide lifeguards with immediate, continuous surf conditions and crowd numbers. This helps them determine what resources are required to keep the beaches safe and user-friendly.

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

ineering event, fter attending a women in eng for her. She Claire knew engineering was Environmental and il Civ of r helo Bac enrolled in the hno of Tec logy, Sydney Engineering at the University working in the (UTS), during which she started construction industry. for coding, so after She also discovered a passion in digital engineering graduating she took on a role lding’s design and – using data to optimise a bui yed computer coding. construction. “I realised I enjo type of engineering if I’d I might have done a different school,” says Claire. known that when I was in high went through When the construction industry versity to do a uni to k a downturn, Claire went bac engineer, the an ing “Be g. Master’s in Town Plannin erstanding of und the and had I problem-solving skills for planning,” she says. how things are built were useful ked with different During her Master’s she wor until the opportunity to councils to gain experience ’ project management join a ‘digital transformation my engineering skills and team came up. “Because of a position,” says Claire. background, I was able to get planner, Claire’s unique n tow a Being an engineer and a smart city project from skill set allows her to work on how to engage with beginning to end. “I understand gs or the legislation the community, how to plan thin things,” says Claire. around that and how to build job” at Lake Claire is now doing her “dream is the smart city she re Macquarie City Council, whe hnical. She tec y ver lead. Par t of her job can be s, making sor sen the of re looks after the sof twa that all sensors are well sure they run smoothly and a lot of time integrated. She also spends in the industry. ple peo er oth h net working wit of smart cities, she Collaboration is a key aspect s most is engaging with explains. But what she love d what people need. the community to understan e skill you need in ber Claire believes the num -on oblem-solving “Pr . ving -sol engineering is problem e. In smart hav to ls skil able is one of the most valu munity problems cities, you’re trying to solve com uela Callari all the time,” she says. – Man

Assistant Planner, Pittwater Council

ack for An engineer with a kn -Bryan is kin coding, Claire Chai to make using her STEM skillseable liv communities more

Master of Planning, UTS

Street smarts

Digital Engineer, Laing O’Rourke

But who is building these smart cities? Electrical and electronic engineer s are working on building better sensors, while sof tware engineers are improving how sensors work. Artificial intelligen ce and machine learning en gineering are at the core of sensors’ technology, and a lot of job opportunities will generate from these expanding areas. Another massive area con tinuing to gain momentum is the field of data analy tics. “There’s no point collecting all these data and doing nothing with it. We need to be able to tell stories from data,” say s engineer and smart city lead, Claire Chaikin-Bry an. Data Analy tics is funda mental to finding patter ns in the data that give use ful information. But smart cities are not only about placing sensor s, collecting and interpret ing data. Mechatronics engineers are building autonomou s vehicles and sophisticate d robots; and chemical an d environmental engineer s play a crucial role in are as such as energy efficiency , air and water pollution, sewage and waste treatm ent. The possibilities are endless and unfolding. “People talk about it as a destination, but it’s more like a journey that you are continually updating an d continually evaluating,” says Claire. – Manuela Ca llari

Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UTS

in smart cities, you’re trying to solve community problems all the time”

Transformation Project Manager, Northern beaches Council

smart city lead, lake macquarie city council

ENGINEERING+FUTURE LIVING

ENGINEERING+ECU

Green connections Associate Profes

communicationS engin sor Iftekhar Ahmad is a the cities of the futueer researching how to connect re – without costing the Earth

r of Computer Science and fter graduating with a Bachelo had just finished his PhD in Engineering, Iftekhar Ahmad field at Monash University when his communications technologies g. alon e e shift and smartphones cam of expertise underwent a hug ch ear Res ss Communications Iftekhar now leads the Wirele (ECU) in Western Australia. sity ver Group at Edith Cowan Uni icles sor technologies, electric veh He points to wireless and sen of as are g itin exc as of Things (IoT)’ and the ‘industrial Internet ies log hno tec n atio nic commu innovation. “Smartphones and the way we access ised tion olu rev e hav 5G like 4G and information,” Iftekhar says. currently focused on green In his work at ECU, Iftekhar is rgy “The increasing trend of ene communications technologies. nt contributed by the consumption/carbon footpri khar a major concern,” he says. Ifte is ry communications indust

Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

iftekhar ahmad communications engineer is researching ways to integrate renewable energy into communications technologies and is also interested in technology around electric vehicle charging. Iftekhar was sold on ECU based on the facilities and culture, and says the uni’s School of Engineering boasts one of the best hands-on study experiences, working with the latest engineering equipment. “With the uptake of industrial automation and the digital revolution, electrical engineers are more important than ever,” he says. – Gemma Chilton

PhD, Communications Engineering, Monash University

postdoctoral researcher, School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University

If you’re hearing about it out there. You’re learning about it in here. Imagine studying the breadth of what engineering has to offer at a university globally ranked in the world’s top 175 for Engineering and Technology. ECU is renowned for its teaching quality, world-class facilities and strong industry connections. Our engineering courses are professionally accredited by Engineers Australia and globally recognised under the Washington Accord. With over 20 courses to choose from and some of the most advanced industry-grade labs in Australia, once you’re done dreaming, start your undergrad journey at ECU.

BECOM E WORLD READY. ecuworldready. com.au/e ng i n e e ri ng 303ML 11391100 | CRICOS IPC 00279B

ECU ranked 151-175 for Engineering and Technology (Times Higher Education 2020)

ENGINEERING

TRENDING

? r e e n i g n e n a Want to be Start here!

Check out these cool resources to kickstart your engineering career – before you’ve even hit uni

LISTEN…

Plu g into these en gineer

ing themed podcasts

99% Invisible 99percentinvisible.org about the This popu lar podcast is stuff we the o int s goe t thought tha covering hardly ever think about, as much design and architect ure all go y as engineering, but the episode: e hand-in-hand. Our fav talks about the problem – 63) (#3 Invisible Women ign and the sometimesof ignoring women in des p, inclusion saves lives! deadly consequences. Ye d Engineering Reimagine st dca po m/ aurecongroup.co ing company Aurecon eer gin en m fro This podcast ion: “What role do seeks to answer the quest d what does the fut ure engineers play today, an tures an interview with hold?” Each episode fea e: ir story. Our fave episod a different guest telling the ing an eering Create Me How Can Ar t and Engin isode 7) – explores the Ep 1, n in our Lives? (Seaso at role engineers va lue of public art and wh become a reality. can play in helping it to

WATCH…

Your next Netflix binge, sorted Abstract: The Art of Design (2017) This series takes you into the minds of some amazing contemporary designers like American Israeli Neri Oxman (Season 2, Episode 2) a professor from the MIT Media Lab who combines design, biology, art and materials engineering to cultivate new materials that emulate nature. Dream Big: Engineering Our World (2017) Meet the engineers from across the globe who turned big dreams into truly massive feats. Engineering Girls (2018) Hang out with three Indian engineering students in this Netflix series as they deal with uni dramas, dating and making their engineering dreams come true.

FOLLOW…

Connect with these cool real-life engineers on socials @RomaTheEngineer Roma Agrawal is a London-based structural engineer and STEM advocate. Roma worked on The Shard – the tallest building in western Europe and is the author of Built: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Structures.

@anji_t A senior software engineer at Amazon, Anji’s TikToks are fun insights into her software engineering career. For some STEM lols, check out her vid on software engineers IRL versus the movies. – Gemma Chilton

@tweetsoutloud Bobak Ferdowsi (aka NASA’s ‘Mohawk Guy’) is a systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His red mohawk was famous during NASA’s live stream of the Curiosity rover landing on Mars in 2012.

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

@EricaJoy Director of Engineering at GitHub and formerly Principal Group Engineering Manager at Microsoft, Erica Joy Baker is a high-profile engineer and a massive advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in all things tech.

FIND THE RIGHT ENGINEERING DEGREE FOR YOU!