What is your job about?

My job sits on the construction and project management side of civil engineering. Rather than just being office-based doing design work, I’m involved in the delivery of projects on the ground, working closely with project managers to make sure works are being executed properly. Day-to-day that means a mix of site inspections and quality control, coordinating contractors, and handling RFIs and other queries. I work across a range of different project types, so there’s always something different to get your head around.

What’s your background?

Growing up in Japan with Sri Lankan parents meant I was exposed to very different cities and ways of building from a young age. That contrast – seeing how different cultures approach infrastructure and the built environment sparked an early fascination that naturally led me toward civil engineering. During university I worked as an undergraduate engineer at a local council, which cemented (pardon the pun) that civil engineering was exactly where I wanted to be. That experience gave me a taste of real projects and real problems, and after graduating I joined Northrop Consulting Engineers, drawn to the hands-on construction and project delivery side of the work.

Could some with a different background do your job?

Yes – Absolutely!! A lot of what you learn in this role you pick up on the job rather than in a lecture theatre like understanding how projects actually run, how to communicate with contractors or how to read drawings. If you’re someone who enjoys being hands-on, doesn’t mind the variety that comes with a construction environment, and can stay organised under pressure, there’s a definitely path.

What’s the coolest thing about your job?

The fact that you can physically see the results of your work. There’s something really satisfying about being on a site at the start when it’s just bare ground and watching it progressively come to life. Being close to the construction process as a graduate also means you build a really practical understanding of how things actually get built, which I think makes you a better engineer in the long run. On top of that, the team around me at Northrop has been a huge part of what makes the job enjoyable – you’re learning something new from someone almost every day.

What did you find challenging about the role and any advice to overcome this?

The steepest learning curve has been getting across the technical knowledge and standards. Understanding not just what the design says, but why it says it, and what the implications are if something on site doesn’t match up. That gap between university theory and real-world practice hits you pretty quickly when you start. My advice would be to ask questions constantly and never pretend to understand something you don’t. On a construction site, a misunderstanding can have real consequences, so it’s always better to clarify early. Lean on the engineers around you, they carry a wealth of practical knowledge, and they are always more than happy to bring you along for the ride if you show genuine interest and initiative.