Aurecon

Location: Melbourne

University: RMIT 

Degree: Masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering 

Year of graduation: 2021

Meet Joshua Paul: Engineering a sustainable future

For Joshua Paul, the path to engineering wasn’t always straightforward. Initially drawn to biotechnology and genetic engineering, he envisioned a future in the medical field. But as he explored the ethical complexities of genetic engineering, he began to question if it was the right fit.

This search for a career that aligned with his values led him to electrical engineering – a field where he could make a meaningful impact while staying true to what matters most.

Since joining Aurecon’s Building Services team in Melbourne in 2022, Joshua has been applying his Master’s in Electrical and Electronic Engineering to help design smarter, more sustainable buildings for the future.

How did you end up at Aurecon?

Almost three years ago, I made the leap to Aurecon after hearing about it from a friend in the rail team. What really drew me in was how different Aurecon felt compared to other consultancies, there’s a strong emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and doing things that make a real impact. Initially, I had my sights set on another area within the company, but I ended up in the Buildings team. Looking back, it was the best thing that could’ve happened. The projects here are truly next level, and I’ve been able to grow in ways I never imagined.

What excites you most about your work?

The shift toward alternative energy sources is what truly drives me. Melbourne still relies heavily on coal, but Aurecon is pushing boundaries with solar battery systems and hydrogen fuel. Watching these innovations take shape, especially in data centres, is incredibly exciting and exactly where I want to focus my career.

Plus, there’s something deeply fulfilling about seeing your projects come to life. Walking through the city, pointing out buildings I’ve worked on, and knowing they impact people’s daily lives makes my job that much more rewarding.

Do you feel supported in your career adventure?

Absolutely, 100%. The learning curve has been incredible, in the best possible way. Especially when it comes to data centres, the design is something you can’t learn in university; you have to be immersed in it. In just three years at Aurecon, I’ve gained more knowledge here than in six years of study. Everyone contributes to a strong culture of collaboration and collective growth, which makes working here an amazing experience.

"When I sort of dove into that world, I realised there's a lot I can do creatively in this area, especially with how the world just needs more sustainable infrastructure in terms of electricity."

If you have a question, you're never left to figure it out on your own. Every day is different, and I love seeing how different personalities and ideas come together to find the best solution to a problem. My team has great leaders who genuinely care about your well-being and growth, which fosters a powerful sense of belonging and appreciation in the workplace. So if you’re looking for a place where people are constantly encouraging you to grow and push boundaries using cutting edge tools but are also keen to be there with you on the journey, this would be the place.

What part of your grad experience really stood out to you?

It would have to be Limelight. Limelight is Aurecon’s Early Careers Professional Network, run by and for Early Career Professionals (ECPs), creating opportunities for career growth, global networking, and meaningful engagement with Aurecon’s future. Connecting with like-minded colleagues, many of whom became friends, inspired, and empowered me to take on new challenges and give back to the community.

For example, last year I had the privilege to volunteer with Empower Australia, contributing to food relief and community outreach. That turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences that not only made a real impact but also helped me to develop valuable teamwork skills.

What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on?

One of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on was designing an mRNA facility for a client leading the way in cutting-edge medical advancements, transforming how we approach vaccines and personalised medicine.

From an engineering perspective, it was a complex challenge, we had to design according to different standards and integrate proprietary technology into the grid without fully knowing its potential impact. But beyond the technical hurdles, this facility is making a real difference, helping save millions of lives in Australia by driving innovations that advance cancer treatment and prepare us for future pandemics. It was a full-circle moment for me, getting to work on something I once aspired to be part of, pretty surreal!

Location: Melbourne

University: Monash University

Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce

Year of graduation: 2019

What's your background?

I was born in Israel, where I lived until I was seven, when my family moved to Auckland, New Zealand. I then moved to Melbourne, Australia when I was 13 and have been living here ever since. When I was in school, I always loved maths and science, particularly the problem-solving aspects. This is what drew me to study engineering. 

I applied for an internship at Aurecon in my penultimate year at the university and did that over the summer of 2018/2019 in the rail team. I was then offered a graduate role for the following year and continued working part time during my final year at university. In 2020, I started as a graduate in the rail team and then transitioned over to the Integrated Transport & Mobility (ITM) team, which I am currently a part of. 

What's your job about?

The ITM team aims at providing safer, smarter, and more connected transportation systems. 

There are many different roles within the team, however I focus on transport planning and traffic engineering. This involves looking at the best way to move people and goods and what corresponding infrastructure is required. No day is the same for me which I love! This is because, in my role, we provide many different types of services and often work across multiple projects.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes, definitely! Our team is made up of people with lots of different educational backgrounds, such as mathematics, urban planning, data science and more. A lot of the skills are taught on the job, so I think it is more about having a passion and interest in the work we do that is important. Being a good communicator with strong analytical and problem-solving skills is hugely beneficial. 

What's the coolest thing about your job?

I love that while my job is often about improving or designing transportation infrastructure, it is all about society and what/how people will use and interact with this infrastructure. It has a human-centred element to it that really appeals to me. 

I have also been lucky enough to work on some big projects that have shaped the transportation network of Melbourne. It is really amazing to think that in 50 years’ time, I can look back and know I played a part in that.

What are the limitations of your job?

There’s often not a straight answer or one you get from a calculation. As an engineering student, I like having a clear solution that is based on calculations or standard practices. In transport, planning things are often assessed qualitatively and quantitatively, so the answer is often not as obvious. The good thing is, it gets easier with experience and I can already see how the work I have done on previous projects is helping me with my current projects.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

It’s okay not to know what you want to do and be, or what kind of job you want after life at university. Just take whatever opportunity you get and learn as you go.

Have fun and get involved! University has a lot to offer beyond the lecture hall. Be sure to get involved in any clubs or associations that interest you.

Make connections. This can be with your peers at university, as they will ultimately be your colleagues one day. In every aspect of your life, connecting to other people is so important.

Location: Perth

University: University of Western Australia

Degree(s) completed: Master of Professional Engineering (Mechanical)

Strongest Aurecon Attribute: Resourceful

My experience with Aurecon

I’ve wanted to be an engineer since I was in Year 10 when my dad took me to an industry panel presentation. After hearing about the work an engineer does, the industries they can work in and the travel opportunities, I decided to pursue engineering. I studied at the University of Western Australia, completing an undergraduate degree in civil and mechanical engineering, and later obtaining a Master of Professional Engineering. 

Being a mechanical engineer in the energy and industrials unit, I specifically work on projects regarding bulk material handling and process systems. In the last year I’ve been able to work on a range of projects within this area, such as the upgrade of a tailings pipeline and the design of the compressed air system and hydraulic lines to be installed in a maintenance workshop. 

The range of projects and the chance to work with different departments, means there are many diverse learning opportunities at Aurecon. On one big project that involved doing multiple smaller projects to increase productivity and efficiency, my tasks included modelling and doing calculations of the process water. I then looked at how upgrading the pumps, valves or installing new pipelines would improve the process system. While working on this project I gained experience working with vendors, liaising with site personnel, and working with the contractor to determine the cost and schedule of the project – which developed my soft skills, like communication, to collaborate with future clients.

One of the things I enjoy most about my job is working with my team and the chance to work with people who have a range of experiences and different engineering specialisations. We have quite a varied team within the energy and industrials unit, so there are different career options and projects to work on if you’re interested in specialising in a field or managing projects. I also enjoy that you get the mix of the office and on-site experience where you have the chance to see different project sites. It’s good to get out there and see what you are working on, see the layout of the equipment, talk to site personnel, and see what solution might be best for the project outcome. Aurecon has a strict safety procedure for on-site inspections with our safety and wellbeing the priority. Before going for an on-site visit, you need to be fully inducted and attend training sessions to ensure you can watch out for yourself and others.

Depending on what projects I’m working on at the time, my typical day at Aurecon can vary quite a lot – from meetings with the project team or clients, to doing calculations, modelling, or writing reports. I’m also currently one of the Perth Co-Chairs of the Limelight committee, which is our network of emerging professionals and graduates at Aurecon. Between my normal tasks, I also help organise fun and inspiring events and initiatives for our Perth office such as ‘Coffee Roulette’, where graduates and senior leaders pair up to have a casual chat about their career, experience or advice, or project showcases -  a series of presentations from different projects to give graduates an insight into what other teams are working on.

It’s really rewarding being able to run events that can help recent graduates acclimatise to working fulltime and provide them with opportunities to meet senior leaders around the company. Management fully support Limelight, as the feedback sessions with senior leadership have opened their eyes to new ways of thinking, new ideas, and hearing the voice of the future thought leaders of our company and within the wider industry. I think it’s a great way to get involved and I enjoy meeting graduates from other teams who I don’t typically work with. 

As well as the development opportunities you can get from Limelight, Aurecon provides other more formal learning and development, too. Aurecon values career development and supports it with the Mentoring for Success Programme and initiatives like Let’s Talk, which allow us to chat about our role expectations with our managers, helping us align our passions to our goals and working on projects that will provide learning experiences. As a graduate this gives us the chance to develop our skills in the areas we want to pursue further down the line, such as developing relationships with clients, learning technical skills and adapting to the changing market. I value these meaningful talks with manager because it means I can continue to set and achieve my goals and progress my career in a supportive space.

My best advice to graduates

1. Take advantage of all opportunities that come your way. You never know who you may meet or what skills you will gain; networking may lead to future opportunities. 
2. Get in the habit of separating work from personal time so that you achieve a healthy work/life balance. 
3. Make the most of the time you have after work to play a sport, find a new hobby, or catch up with friends. Having plans after work makes the day go faster and you have something to look forward to.

Degrees: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)

University: Queensland University of Technology

Tell us about your role and the team you are part of.

I am a mechanical engineer in the Brisbane Buildings team where I work on mechanical services, hydraulic systems, fire protection and ecologically sustainable design for the built environment. My role involves designing and modelling building services such as heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC), plumbing and drainage. I do this by working with colleagues to develop schematic design mark-ups before finalising them in computer aided design (CAD) software such as Revit and AutoCAD.

What kind of projects do you work on?

One of the first major projects I worked on was developing a Building Condition Assessment report for the Swanbank Power Station administration and warehouse buildings. Our team was asked to provide an assessment of all the building services’ assets. We had a two-day site inspection at the power station which is set to be redeveloped into a clean energy hub.

More recently, I have been involved in designing drainage services for rural housing across Queensland. My team was tasked with modelling the sanitary drainage and potable water services of modular dwellings. This involved engaging with many stakeholders, including local government area councils and the civil land and water teams.

I am currently working closely with the electrical team to upgrade building services for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). I am designing the mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems for the upgraded switchboard and dimmer rooms. This project has included site visits to QPAC and modelling coordination with Aurecon’s overseas offices. I have really enjoyed going behind the scenes of building services design and of QPAC’s backstage areas. It is exciting to see how much engineering goes into a performance!

What’s the best thing about your job?

The people. I work with highly knowledgeable and encouraging colleagues who are always happy to help with technical queries and support my professional development. Aurecon has a welcoming and supportive work environment and I enjoy coming into the office for the coffee catchups, kitchen conversations, lunchtime chats with other graduates and Limelight events. Getting to know other early career professionals and making friendships that go beyond the professional workplace has been a highlight of my Aurecon experience.

What are some of your interests or passions outside of work?

Besides playing the flute in a wind symphony and competing in gymnastics, I am also the Chair of Canteen Australia’s Youth Advisory Team. As a Youth Leader, Advisor and Ambassador, I advocate for improved cancer care and support services for young adults. This volunteer role complements my day-to-day work as it allows me to apply professional skills such as leading teams and facilitating meaningful discussions. In my spare time, I enjoy learning Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and being creative through writing poetry.

What has been the highlight of the Aurecon graduate programme?

From attending my first Limelight event, to now being part of the Queensland committee; Limelight has been a key highlight of my graduate experience. I currently run public speaking workshops for early career professionals in Brisbane, which came into fruition because several of my colleagues were looking to improve their presentation skills.

I wanted to foster a safe and supportive environment for my peers to learn tips, tricks and techniques for building confidence when speaking. I have organised and facilitated two practical workshops so far and will be running more in the future. It has been a very rewarding experience seeing so many early career professionals partake in these events!

What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining Aurecon’s graduate programme?

If I can give two pieces of advice, it is to find your courage and to take ownership of your career. Being able to lean into discomfort and advocate for yourself will lead to great opportunities.