Jaydon Almeida

Graduate Bridge Engineer - Perth, 2022

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in Australia and graduated from Curtin University in Western Australia with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Construction Engineering) (Honours). I enjoy going to the gym, playing golf, watching sports and hanging out with mates in my spare time.

What is your Job?

As a Graduate Bridge Engineer, my day-to-day job is mainly design of bridges and specialist structures. This includes software modelling, Excel calculations, collaboration with my team/sub-contractors/clients, site visits, construction support, communication with clients and general problem solving.

What do you like the most about your Job?

What I like most about my job is the collaboration with my team, construction support and variety of work. The difficult part of engineering isn’t the calculations itself, but knowing what variables to use in those respective equations and understanding the theory. A lot of this requires collaboration with engineers and clients to identify and mitigate design flaws early on in the design process. Construction support helps me to visualize a design and have the foresight to see potential construction issues while completing concept/detailed designs. The variety of work ensures that no two projects are the same, which presents a large scope for understanding the complete picture in consultancy and keeps the work interesting.

Some Tips for future Graduates?

Try to prioritise your work-life balance. Full-time work can be draining, especially as a graduate, so it’s important to surround yourself with hobbies and things to look forward to after work or on the weekends.

It’s okay not to know everything. Engineering is extremely different to what is taught in university and it’s common to develop imposter syndrome as a graduate. Be enthusiastic, ask the right questions to the right people and try do some reading in your spare time. The beauty of engineering is that 60 year-old engineers are still learning.

Find your specific passion in engineering and be proactive about it. Whether you like designing buildings, bridges, roads, rail, waterways or you prefer the construction side of things, it’s important to be passionate about what you do, and as a graduate, the best time to explore what discipline interests you the most is now. Years down the line, being passionate about what you do will go a long way with helping you to stay driven and motivated to pursue engineering excellence.

Engineers are reliant on communication skills which aren’t fully addressed in university. Take it upon yourself to develop your own communication skills; learn how to write an email, to be competent at public speaking, learn how to be clear and concise in your speech, etc.

What is it like working at BG&E?

BG&E is a fantastic place to work at. They value technical excellence and have a strong team culture. Outside of the direct work, BG&E organise social events, technical events and opportunities to get to know each other better, build the team culture and develop our technical knowledge. The thing I like most about BG&E is that you are put outside of your comfort zone from day one, and you are given the resources and support to work at your own pace and competency with the trust of senior engineers. It’s helped me to develop my technical knowledge at a rapid pace without being overwhelming.

Why should I choose BG&E’s Graduate Program?

Most engineering consultant graduate programs are similar, but excelling as an engineer depends on more than just the program. It’s about the people you work with, the project opportunities, the support the graduate program will give you and the value your company places on you. At BG&E, you’ll work with some of the best engineers in your state, and the support will set you up for long-term success and personal growth. The duality of BG&E often winning noteworthy projects coupled with being outside your comfort zone will help you excel in technical skills and stand out among your peers. At BG&E, you’re not just a “graduate”, you are treated as a future director, associate or leader, and the long tenure of many of BG&E’s employees highlights the positive work environment and why BG&E’s Graduate Program is a great choice.

Tell us about your projects.

In my one and a half year of experience, I’ve worked on the Armadale Access Alliance doing construction support, designed two reinforced concrete culverts on Great Northern Highway, inspected various existing bridges to assess the current condition and quality, designed components of the Fitzroy River Bridge, designed a footbridge for Midland Junction Alliance, completed an in-house assessment to quantify the effects of a specific heavy vehicle loading for MRWA, designed a section of the Thornlie-Cockburn link for PTA/Metronet, designed components for Station Street Bridge and Tonkin Gap Alliance, designed a prestressed concrete bridge over Great Northern Highway for Rio Tinto and various site inspections, representing the client.To date, my favourite project was designing the prestressed concrete bridge over rail on Great Northern Highway for Rio Tinto. It was technically challenging, very stimulating, and gave me the opportunity to develop a strong understanding of the theory behind bridge design. It was the second project that I was the only engineer working on, and so there was an onus on me to seek the right guidance and help on any question I had.

Tell us about your team.

The Perth Bridge team at BG&E has a strong diversity of skills, qualities and experience. There are many engineers that are technically elite, and get recognition both nationally and state wide. There are engineers that have a solid understanding of construction and how things are done on site who have great rapport with site engineers, and there are engineers who are exceptional at project management, fee proposals, client interaction and scheduling. I’ve made many friends and mentors during my time, and as a graduate, I know I have all the help I need for whatever question I have.

Angelica Mae Sumanga

Graduate Defence Engineer (Perth WA), 2025

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm Angelica, most of my close friends call me 'Anj'. I have 1.5 years of experience in civil construction as a Graduate Civil Engineer and have now decided to transition into consulting services at BG&E.

What is your Job?

As a Graduate Defence Engineer, my role spans crucial aspects of defence project development, from initial design through to construction phase oversight. I collaborate closely with senior engineers to contribute to the design of defence projects, focusing on civil infrastructure such as Bulk Earthworks and Stormwater Infrastructure essential for Defence operations. My responsibilities include coordinating design activities and ensuring engineering standards are met throughout project lifecycles.

In addition to design coordination, I am actively involved in engineering design and on-site project involvement, ensuring technical integrity and compliance with specifications. I prepare technical reports to document project progress and findings, facilitating clear communication within the project team and with drafters to ensure accurate documentation and drawings.Furthermore, I liaise with consultants and contractors as necessary to manage project logistics effectively, ensuring smooth project execution and compliance with Defence requirements. I also play a key role in supporting tender proposal submissions, providing technical input and assisting in the preparation of comprehensive proposals to secure project contracts.

What do you like the most about your Job?

What I like most about my job is the daily challenges I encounter. Previously, I used to approach these challenges with apprehension, but now I view them as opportunities to expand my skills and grow continuously, both personally and professionally.

Some Tips for future Graduates?

Embrace a mindset of lifelong learning. Even as a recent graduate, I understand there's still a long road ahead to becoming an accomplished engineer. Building relationships and consistently maintaining a professional and respectful attitude are key.

What is it like working at BG&E?

Working at BGE offers a very flexible work-life balance.

Why should I chose BG&E’s Graduate Program?

You should choose the BG&E Graduate Program because it offers a dynamic and stimulating environment. The Graduate Program Coordinators have meticulously designed workshops and sessions aimed at equipping you with essential skills to advance your career. Moreover, you will be immersed in a diverse community of engineers from various disciplines who are eager to impart their knowledge and experience whenever you need guidance or feel uncertain.

Tell us about your team.

I love the Defence team because it consists of competent and highly supportive engineers from various disciplines such as Civil and Water Infrastructure, spanning different states of Australia including SA and NSW. Whenever I need assistance, everyone is readily available and willing to guide me, helping me to become a more competent engineer and showing me the way forward. We also engage in team building activities occasionally, which adds to the enjoyment of our work environment.

Clayton Feng

Materials Engineer, 2023

Hi, I am Clay, a materials engineer in the Sydney office of BG&E. I recently graduated with a Materials Engineering/Biomedical Engineering degree at UNSW. Tea and coffee brewing is a ritual for me to get me started for the day. Reading and lego/gundam building are there when I need to recharge my social battery . Exploring other hobbies adds other elements of fun under my name, like photography, embracing the offline life, and going for runs.

What is your Job?

My current role as a Materials Engineer at BG&E is to be involved in the durability assessment of concrete and steel elements for civil infrastructure projects. The durability assessment takes into account the analysis of the macro and micro environment of the elements before or after construction, the strength grade required and the safety measures to ensure structures meet the required design life. Examples of civil infrastructure projects may include concrete investigative works for proposed building developments, condition assessment of existing structures, and durability evaluations of design feasibility on new infrastructure works.

What do you like the most about your Job?

I love that whilst my job is primarily focused on the condition of elements and the safety precautions required to prepare or repair an element before modifications, I am constantly learning new concepts and perspectives of how to apply knowledge to a project. There is always no bad question to ask when it comes to learning. I am glad to work on big projects that will shape the transportation of resources around NSW. It definitely has become a passion to engage with other disciplines to assist with their durability concerns for their design.

Some Tips for future Graduates?

Take the leap of faith. You won’t know if you like it, if you don’t do it. So don’t live with the guilt and regret of reaching for the opportunity.- Balancing work-life timing is important. Having a hobby or a sport to keep your grounded outside of work hours makes the days zoom faster.-Lean more into the discomfort, and maybe you will find a treasure hiding under the layers of your overthinking.

What is it like working at BG&E?

Working at BG&E feels like an amusement park. Always something new to learn and have fun with. The social culture is well promoted with social sports and events for people to engage with others. The thrill of participating in discussions on major projects is always inviting. Its always ends up being a fun day.

Why should I chose BG&E’s Graduate Program?

BG&E Graduate Program is designed to nurture and develop your footing into the civil infrastructure industry. In comparison to university, the graduate program hones and refines your abilities and passions for application. Pairing you up with a mentor within your discipline and having events to promote critical teamwork and communication skills within the graduate space, made me comfortable and settle in well. It has enabled me to network with other graduates, colleagues, and other discipline members across the company. Lastly, bonding with a smaller group of graduates invited me to open myself up to others more likely, and have found many rewarding experiences that has happened after this.

Tell us about your projects.

My projects currently include a durability assessment of design modifications along a major railway line across NSW, a condition assessment to determine existing structural integrity and life of concrete assets along the Murray River, and concrete investigative works to determine existing strength grades of structural elements prior to the design of proposed developments.

Tell us about your team.

At the doorstep of my first day, I was filled with anxiety on the thought of how I was going to fit in, but once I saw my team lead, that thought left my mind instantaneously. He made me feel welcome by introducing me to the team, the others in the office, with some added banter here and there. It made the whole atmosphere of the “first day” so much lighter.Ever since then, the Materials team has been one of the most chill and easily approachable teams I have worked with. We always share banter around and are willing to support each other by sharing responsibilities. Learning is always around the corner, and refining our learnings is always valued. There is no dumb question, and always someone to assist.The foundations of my knowledge and continuation of my learning is thanks to the dedication and hard work of my colleagues in the Sydney office, and extending to my peers in offices around Australia, nationally.

Pravin Muthukrishnan

Civil Graduate Engineer, 2019

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I have great memories of the time I was playing with building block sets during my childhood. It etched an everlasting impression that constructing something is fun and exciting. Naturally, I was attracted to the field. My numerical aptitude and craving for technical expertise drive me to choose the Engineering profession.

Hailing from a small town in India, I ventured over 8000 km to pursue my aspiration of becoming an engineer in Australia. I completed my bachelor's in civil engineering in my hometown and went on to earn a master's in construction and Infrastructure Management at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. During my Master's program, I began my professional journey as a part-time graduate engineer in Geotechnical/Civil consulting, gaining valuable exposure to the construction industry. This experience marked the initial step in my career. Subsequently, I seized an opportunity to contribute significantly to a prominent precast manufacturing enterprise. Here, my focus shifted towards civil infrastructure projects, eventually leading me to BG&E, where I found an ideal environment to cultivate and advance my engineering career.

What is your Job?

Presently, I am employed as a Graduate Engineer specializing in the drainage team within the Civil engineering domain. My primary responsibilities entail providing crucial support to senior engineers in drainage design. This includes tasks such as developing catchment plans and modelling 2D and 3D stormwater drainage networks as well as sub-surface drainage networks. Additionally, I analyse pre and post-development scenarios to determine detention requirements, conduct design checks such as flow width analysis, ensure compliance with water quality standards, perform buoyancy and pipe class checks, and handle clash detection tasks. Moreover, I contribute to design reports and am involved in preparing appendices based on drainage outputs, which are integral aspects of my role. Software that I use, 12d, MUSIC, AutoCAD, MicroStation, Pipeclass v2.0, and in-house design spreadsheets. Also, 12d synergy and ProjectWise for file management.

What do you like the most about your Job?

As a Graduate Engineer, I have the freedom to ask any questions that come to mind, which I find enriching as it allows me to learn about a wide range of topics and enhance the skills necessary for my career development. The challenges inherent in this role also add to its excitement, and the guidance provided by senior engineers helps streamline my learning curve. Moreover, participating in social gatherings and professional development training sessions contributes to my overall growth. For me, the process of learning, applying newfound knowledge, and continually improving are the aspects of my job that I find most fulfilling.

Some Tips for future Graduates?

We're all evolving, so I'll share some tips based on my journey. Don’t be afraid to test the water: Don't hesitate to explore different specializations. Trying out a few options before committing can help you make informed choices that resonate with your passions. Run your race at your own pace: Set your own pace and focus on developing strategies that benefit both your personal growth and professional journey. Embrace the trial-and-error process, as it's often the journey itself that brings excitement, rather than just the results.

What is it like working at BG&E?

Being part of a robust technical team at BG&E offers me an excellent opportunity to thrive in a collaborative and supportive workplace environment. BG&E provides substantial growth prospects by involving me in prestigious projects such as Pakenham Road Upgrade WP3, Suburban Rail Loop East, Highfields Cycleway Upgrade, and Grattan Street Upgrade, projects that make a visible impact on the community. I've noticed that BG&E places a strong emphasis on personal development through frequent training sessions, in addition to enhancing technical skills through project assignments. The work environment is welcoming and fast-paced, yet it prioritizes work-life balance, which I find particularly beneficial.

Why should I choose BG&E’s Graduate Program?

The graduate program at BG&E is well-designed to foster both personal and professional growth. As a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy, BG&E offers rotational opportunities within the program, allowing graduates to engage in diverse projects and cultivate interdisciplinary relationships. The company promotes a positive work culture with flexible hours and options for remote work. Regular training sessions are conducted to support continuous improvement, and HR conducts regular check-ins to gather feedback, ensuring adjustments can be made to enhance the program experience. BG&E, a rapidly expanding firm with a strong project pipeline, provides an excellent foundation for starting a career, complemented by buddy and mentorship programs to support ongoing development.

Tell us about your projects.

I’m currently involved in Civil Infrastructure projects such as Pakenham Road Upgrade Work Package 3 (involving the upgrade of Healesville – Koo Wee Rup Road to meet the rapid growth of the Pakenham precinct) and assisting senior engineers in the drainage aspect of Suburban Rail Loop East project. Apart from this, I got the opportunity to work on a council project – Grattan Street Upgrade (involves analysing the water quality treatment effectiveness of the proposed rain gardens). Further, I worked on an inter-state opportunity – Highfields Cycleway, QLD (drainage design for the proposed cycleway along the section of New England Highway).

Tell us about your team.

The team at BG&E is incredibly supportive, and the management structure is approachable, promoting an environment where asking questions and seeking input from professionals at all levels is comfortable. Despite their busy schedules, senior professionals allocate time to clarify doubts and provide guidance on projects, which I deeply appreciate as a team member. There's also ample opportunity for us to contribute opinions and receive constructive feedback, reflecting the positive work culture that permeates throughout the company.

Yoon Ko

Graduate Civil Engineer, 2022

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and grew up in Yangon, Myanmar. Ever since Grade 8, I dreamt of studying in a foreign country.After my high school, I decided to pursue a career in Civil Engineering. I enrolled to study a Bachelor of CivilEngineering degree at West Yangon Technological University in 2011 and graduated after 5 years of study.In July 2019 I moved to Sydney, Australia to study my master’s degree from the University of Technology(UTS) where I was fortunate to receive the “Engineering and IT Postgraduate Academic ExcellenceScholarship”. After graduating from UTS in 2022, I began working at FJA Consulting Engineers, specialisingin Utility Engineering. After 9 months at FJA, I moved to BG&E Consulting Engineers. Since then, I havebeen working under both Drainage and Road disciplines across the Civil team.

What is your Job?

My experience at BG&E has been specifically in the fields of drainage design, utility design and road design.Currently, my responsibility is to assist in delivering road design models by applying 12d software under thesupervision of senior civil designers, along with resolving design problems, coordinating inputs from otherdisciplines, and cross-checking the 2D and 3D design models in CAD and Navisworks to meet TfNSW andARTC standards before they are issued to the client.

What do you like the most about your job?

The best part of my job is the opportunity to constantly learn and grow. I am exposed to new challengesregularly which help me develop both professionally and personally. I enjoy being creative and developingnew ideas which help to provide efficient and sustainable road design models that contribute to thecommunity in many ways. I also love working with people across different disciplines who bring diverseperspectives to my work.

Some tips for future graduates?

Having the “Graduate” title is a blessing. Please don’t be shy and ask as many questions as you want to yourmentors. Your mentors are willing to support you to develop both your professional and personal skills.Always show a willingness to learn while challenging yourself to grow. This is a great opportunity to discoveryourself. So, please discover what you are good at, what you love to do, and what you dislike. Throughoutthe graduate journey, please make sure to do self-assessment that will benefit you in many ways. There isno better way to advance your career than assessing yourself. Most importantly, don’t be scared to makemistakes, we all learn from our mistakes just as much as our successes. There is one more important thingto add - please make sure to treat everyone with respect no matter what their titles are. Lastly, pleaseconsider this title an advantage that will help to shape your future career path.

What is it like working at BG&E?

BG&E is a fantastic company to work at for many reasons, but primarily that the company’s values align withmy own. It feels great to be a part of a community which most importantly has a great culture, providing apositive and supportive work environment where I feel comfortable. At BG&E, your contributions are alwaysappreciated no matter how big or small.

Why should I choose BG&E’s Graduate Program?

BG&E’s Graduate Program will provide you with many benefits. Firstly, during activities, you can cultivate aGrowth Mindset which enables you to embrace challenges, persist, and be driven to achieve your goals. Youcan apply it in your real-life project to efficiently communicate to your team or client and deliver work in amore effective way. There are a few benefits of having your own mentor throughout your graduate journeysuch as being encouraged, empowered in personal development, being helped to identify and achieve careergoals, and being provided unbiased advice or opinions using their relevant knowledge and experience. Youcan also learn different visions from other graduates when they share their experience in the Sharing andReflection Session.

Tell us about your projects.

I have worked on two major projects so far at BG&E.

Project: M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace Southern Package, NSW

Description of Project: The M1 Pacific Motorway extension (Southern Package) project includes delivering a 10-kilometre dualcarriageway motorway extension to the M1 motorway between Black Hill and Tomago to reduce thecongestion on the existing M1 Motorway, New England Highway and Pacific Highway when it is completed.

Key Responsibilities

Assisted the Drainage team with delivering drainage design models and reports.
Provided assistance to the Utilities team with resolving design related issues such as the relocation ofimpacted poles, and conduits of streetlighting to suit the standard clearance within other utilities and/orexisting and finishing road surface.
Assisted Road team with design coordination across other disciplines.

Project: Inland Rail Albury to Parkes, NSW

Description of Project: The Albury to Parkes (A2P) project is a part of the Inland Rail fast freight line which is divided into two partsrunning from Albury to Illabo (A2I) and Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P), which make up 185km and 170km ofthe existing rail corridor respectively. The project includes enhancements of specific sites to achieve thevertical and horizontal clearance requirements for double-stacked trains and constructing a new crossingloop to increase line capacity.

Key Responsibilities

Assisted in delivering road, footbridge, rail level crossing design models by applying 12d under thesupervision of senior civil designers.
Resolved design problems and coordinated inputs from other technical disciplines to provide 2D and 3Ddesign models to meet TfNSW and ARTC standards.

Tell us about your team:

I believe that working in an area that interests me and inspires me to learn ensures that there is room forgrowth. I am fortunate enough to work with an amazing team. All my colleagues are very supportive andwant to give me important opportunities for growth, allow me to take smarter risks, and encourage me to gainconfidence to provide my own individual vision. My manager always treats us with respect and gives usadvice for our personal growth. He always cares for our wellbeing rather than only caring for the productivityof work. Working in an amazing team enhances my growth and boosts my productivity.

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