What’s your job about?
Within Ascent, the company operates through two primary divisions: Explosive Ordnance (EO), which relates to bullets, missiles etc. The other half is Aircraft Structural Integrity (ASI), focused on ensuring aircraft sustainability. My role exclusively revolves around ASI, where I engage in various projects including analysing aircraft usage, examining maintenance manuals, attending training sessions just to name a few.
My daily routine fluctuates from week to week based on the immediate demands. Some weeks are predominantly spent in the city office, while others necessitate interstate travel for conferences or training sessions. Typically, I arrange meetings with my supervisor on a weekly basis or upon completing tasks to outline future assignments. The decisions made during these meetings dictate my schedule going forward.
What’s your background?
Grow up on the south coast in South Australia and still there (I still love it!). The pivotal milestones of my career journey include discovering my passion for engineering during high school, identifying my preferred specialisation at university, and honing my skills in people management during my managerial role prior to entering the engineering field. Securing my current position was largely attributed to networking—a crucial part I cannot stress enough! Engaging with staff at Ascent furthered my interest, and after discussions with my current supervisor, we found common ground regarding my future contributions.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely, any engineering disciplines (excluding civil) would be eligible for my role. As long as the applicant was hardworking, determined and willing to learn and ask questions (there is a lot of questions to ask!) they would be capable of the role.
What is the coolest thing about your job?
THE AIRCRAFT!!!
In all honesty, it's the team that makes the difference. They're an incredible bunch of people to work with. The environment here is incredibly inviting, fostering open discussions about personal aspirations and innovative ideas. A testament to this is the internal developments like AeroALTAS and Corrovision, which originated from staff proposals and received approval from higher-ups. It's a clear demonstration of the collaborative and empowering culture we have here.
What are the limitations of your job?
There are some early mornings and occasional travel involved in my role. Given that our customers are spread across different time zones, there are times when early starts, like 5 a.m., are necessary. However, the silver lining is that these early starts often translate to earlier finish times. Additionally, there are periods where I may need to travel interstate for a week or more to attend to various responsibilities.
3 Pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student