Thinking about a career in Electrical Engineering
The Electrical Engineering sector has seen significant growth over the past decade. Engineering New Zealand estimates that we will need 2,500 new engineers every year to keep up with the current demand. A large portion of this demand comes from renewable energy projects, infrastructure development, and advancements in areas like artificial intelligence. People working in the electrical engineering space almost always have a degree in some form of engineering, this may be mechatronics or electrical. A good electrical engineer needs to have several key skills; Electrical fundamentals, an understanding of other engineering practices, resiliency, and curiosity to name a few.
We recently interviewed Charlie Lane, the Electrical Engineering Team Lead at Fabrum. Charlie has a clear passion for anything engineering. Outside of his work at Fabrum he also runs his own business looking to bring fully customisable electric motorcycles to the New Zealand market.
How did you get into Electrical Engineering and where are you now?
I was lucky enough to be born an electrical engineer. I received my first soldering kit at ten and always knew this was something I wanted to pursue. Nothing changed throughout my time at high school and university. Once I had gained my electrical engineering degree, I took a position in Invercargill and spent the following three and a half years putting all my knowledge to use. After moving back to Christchurch to work for an installation firm I quickly recognized that being challenged at work is what I enjoy the most, so I took on my current exciting role at Fabrum.
What excites you most about the work?
To put it simply, solving problems. Like most people in the engineering and IT space, what drew me to it was the ability to break down a problem and find a solution that may have never been thought of before. Electrical provides numerous opportunities for solving problems, as all other aspects of engineering will need to have some electrical work done on them. This allows me to constantly face new challenges and solve new problems that allow other areas of engineering to work as smoothly as possible.
What’s the best project you’ve worked on and why?
The most rewarding projects are the most satisfying. For that reason, the best project I’ve worked on has to be the Hydrogen Liquefier project from when I first started with Fabrum. I came into the project in the middle, and it tested all my abilities, both on the people and technical front. At the end of the project, we had a successful delivery that I am incredibly proud of.
Where do you see the future of Electrical Engineering going?
Engineering will always be engineering and the core concept of this will never change, which is solving problems. I’ve noticed a move towards more automation of low value tasks using tools like AI. This allows me and other engineers to spend more time focusing on complex problems.
What have your biggest roadblocks been?
It would have to be well intending engineers outside of the electrical space who may overestimate their understanding of electrical engineering. There have been moments where an engineer from another discipline has quoted electrical work incorrectly and ended up causing more work and expenses for the project on the back end.
What advice would you give to someone trying to get into the Electrical Engineering space?
A degree is a must have for anybody I am looking at bringing onto my team. For new graduates, project work is very important. Hiring managers will want to see that you’re passionate about engineering and have had fun doing the work while solving real problems. Networking is an important aspect too, get out there and meet people who might need a hand with a project.
What do you love most about living here in Christchurch?
Although Christchurch is New Zealand’s second largest city it is accessible and has cheap housing compared to other areas of the country. In engineering there are plenty of job opportunities, and Christchurch also has a vibrant history with the likes of John Britten coming from here.
For those new to Christchurch, I would recommend joining any clubs that you’re interested in, as there is something for everyone here. Don’t be afraid to jump in your car and just drive an hour in any direction. You will find something amazing and new every time.
What books/ training/websites would you recommend for anyone aspiring to work in Electrical Engineering?
Electrical Engineering is a broad field, and there are plenty of resources out there depending on what specifics you want to learn about. A degree will give you the fundamentals and anyone who is seriously looking at moving into electrical engineering should get one. It seems that the University of Canterbury creates the best electrical engineers in the country!
Beside from this if you purchase an Arduino then this will allow you to play around and learn some engineering basics. Inspiration can come from anywhere, think of some interesting and challenging ways to solve a problem with the kit.
I would also recommend seeking out a mentor. Remember that mentorship is a two-way street, if you have found somebody you think may be a good mentor reach out and ask them “What can I help you with?” Make friends with your techs at Uni also, they are likely to know good people who might be able to mentor you in the industry.
Stay tuned for next month’s blog on another discipline within the tech arena!