What's your job about?
Western Power is a Western Australian State Government-owned corporation responsible for building, maintaining, and operating an electricity network that connects millions of customers to traditional and renewable energy sources, delivering an essential service to our community. The graduate program is for three years, where you have an opportunity to rotate around different areas of the business and learn how the business operates.
I am currently in my second rotation under transmission lines and communication. My work involves designing a transmission line using PLSCADD software and attending and responding to requests i.e. network requests and different technical queries from clients such as Water Corporation, PTA, Jacobs etc. My day begins with looking at my emails, browsing through the requests and looking for appropriate solutions in consultation with the senior members of my team. During the rotation period, I got the opportunity to ask questions and build on my technical and communication skills which enables me to be a confident engineer.
What's your background?
I grew up in the southern part of India, Chennai which is known for its beaches and strong filter coffee. I am the only young engineer in my family as my family was from a business background. I pursued my major in Electrical and Electronics where I worked on various projects during my previous studies back in India and Australia which provided me with a highly valuable and practical experience. I chose Electrical and Electronics because I have a passion for electronics and power analysis and the automation sector which made me choose Perth as my ideal destination to complete my masters at UWA. After my master's, I wanted to gain hands-on experience in the industry. I got this opportunity with a couple of good companies, one in specific was Lynas Rare Earth (leading mining company, where I worked as a secondment Electrical Engineer and got the opportunity to design a complex substation from scratch. I do like challenges whenever they come my way. Though initially, things were quite new to understand, with assistance from my mentor, I was successful, and this project is still highly recognized at the Kalgoorlie site. Following this, I developed a passion for power systems which led me to apply for a position with Western Power, where each day provides me with the opportunity to do something new and productive.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Western Power employs people from a wide variety of backgrounds, i.e., civil, and electrical backgrounds so the answer is yes. However, if you are employed in a specific area, you need to acquire basic preliminary knowledge. Western Power team members are happy to mentor you if you ask plenty of questions.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is putting your theoretical skills into practice. Even as a graduate, I have the opportunity to work on significant projects which are in some way connected to different disciplines. As a transmission lines graduate, I deal with projects which also include distribution aspects, so it is my primary responsibility to ensure my design meets both Distribution and transmission standards at the same time, which has enabled me to interact with engineers from different teams during the project phase.
One interesting thing during this rotation was that I was given an opportunity to work on the Asset replacement project at Kwinana where I was held responsible as a project designer to redesign the existing transmission lines which are going to be constructed on site this coming year.
What are the limitations of your job?
A limitation of my job is the rotation duration, especially if the project which you are currently working on is a big one as essentially you only have the opportunity to work on a phase of the project. Being a part of the Western Power graduate program actually makes you feel like an important member of the project and the kind of recognition we get after finishing a project motivates me to be a confident engineer.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student.