What's your job about?
The company I work for assists various industries such as oil and gas, renewable energy, and petrochemicals through detailed design engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services. Our expertise lies in designing, modifying, and constructing offshore and onshore platforms, pipelines, structural work, mechanical systems, and other related project.
My responsibilities include proposing designs, reviewing them, procuring materials, creating and reviewing technical documentation, and managing projects.
As a mechanical engineer, my daily routine involves working on various projects that require different problems. The process involves identifying the problem, designing a solution, reviewing it in a 3D model, preparing documentation, discussing it with the client, procuring materials, assisting in creating drawings, managing documentation, and holding weekly meetings with clients/vendors to ensure the project is on track to achieve its scope of work and schedule.
Let's say you are a client, and you want to upgrade your dining table to be expandable and add LED lighting, I would provide you with design concepts and discuss with you the most suitable and practical options—then the selection process.
Once we agree on a design, my team will create a 3D model and conduct a stress analysis to ensure the design is strong enough and meets the required standards. If the design passes the analysis, we will inform you and proceed to procure the necessary materials and documentation.
We would then source a supplier who can provide the required wood, lights and other materials, and arrange for the fabrication process to begin. Finally, our team would come to your house to modify the dining table, and the process would be complete. This is a summary of the entire process.
What's your background?
I was born and grew up in the City of Bekasi Indonesia
After completing high school in Indonesia, I travelled to Australia to study English for six months. Following this, I enrolled in a Diploma of Engineering in Oil and Gas at TAFE and later pursued an Advanced Diploma in the same field. Upon completion, I continued my academic journey at Curtin University, initially studying Chemical Engineering. However, I found that I was not enjoying it and decided to switch to Mechanical Engineering, which proved to be the right decision for me. During the final year of my Bachelor's degree, I was allowed to intern in Singapore.
Thanks to a recommendation from a friend, I was invited to an interview and was fortunate enough to be offered the job. I have now been working at the company for a year.
The decision to leave Indonesia and move to Australia was a difficult one for me. As an international student, I had to work hard to pay for my university fees while also studying. This experience helped shape me into the person I am today.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
I have noticed that the team is made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds, although they may have similar education or experience. To succeed in this team, it is important to possess certain characteristics such as the ability to continuously grow and stay motivated, work effectively as a team, and have a positive attitude and willingness to learn. These qualities are essential for both personal and team success.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
One of the tasks that I enjoy the most is when we come together as a team to discuss a problem and brainstorm solutions. It's great to hear everyone's point of view and ideas and to work together to find the best solution. Even though it can be tiring at times, the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction we feel when we find the right solution makes it all worth it. And, as I mentioned, working together as a team makes the process more enjoyable and rewarding.
When we work together as a team to do the right thing, we can feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness. Knowing that we have done our best and made a positive impact can be very rewarding. It also helps to alleviate any doubts or worries we may have had about the task at hand. When we work together towards a common goal, we can achieve great things and feel a sense of pride in our accomplishments.
What are the limitations of your job?
I have not had to work on weekends yet, as our work is primarily office-based. However, I would like to have the opportunity to witness the physical progress of a project. Currently, the projects I am working on are being carried out offshore. This limitation does not apply to field engineering work, which involves working offshore. I believe that the main limitation of my current job is that it involves sitting in an office and working on computers for most of the time. If you prefer a job that involves more physical movement and dynamic work, this job may become monotonous for you. However, I think it is crucial to gain experience in this job as it requires problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of technical knowledge.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
If I had the chance to go back in time and meet my younger self, I would advise him that there are many things to learn beyond just studying to achieve perfect grades on your own. It's important to reach out to friends or join clubs, work together, and have fun together. As a university student, you don't have to struggle alone. You can ask your friends to study or do assignments together. It's not a competition. Instead, focus on understanding the concepts of what you are studying by discussing it together, and the information will naturally make more sense