V/Line Careers ~ Graduate Project Engineer

Anne Joosten, Graduate Project Engineer

I’m now in my second year at V/Line. I have a degree in Civil Engineering from Melbourne Uni and I previously worked with Pacific National, the freight operator that became part of V/Line a couple of years ago.

My role here is to assist in the management of major upgrades of some of V/Line’s infrastructure – like bridges, tracks and rail embankments. This involves determining work levels, setting and following budgets, design, managing contracts and making sure work is delivered as planned. In the past two years I’ve worked on bridge design and reconstructions, embankment stabilisation and level crossing upgrades. Currently I’m managing the use of specialised machinery for general track maintenance and also for major upgrades.

I’m usually in the office three days a week and out across the state for two days a week. I get the opportunity to see a lot of the Victorian countryside, which I really enjoy. I’m a Melbourne girl, so it’s great to get out and do some off-road driving.

The graduate program gives structure to my work, defines the things I need to learn and provides the right mix of independence and supervision. It’s a great balance with the right level of responsibility for someone relatively fresh into their career. There’s always someone there to give you a hand if you need it.

My first major project was re-decking a timber bridge over the Avon River in Stratford, near Sale. With supervision, I was in charge of producing the design and construction drawings, as well as overseeing the construction. It was a million dollar project and a big responsibility, but I loved it.

V/Line is very customer driven. There is a serious responsibility to the thousands of people who use the trains every day. There’s also a great atmosphere here – everyone looks after each other. The rail industry is a far more complex and interesting industry than I’d ever thought. What it actually takes to get people from A to B…I truly had no idea about how complex it is.

My goal is to finish the grad program and move into a permanent project engineering role. I’d also like to gain my Chartered Engineer status. Beyond that, I’d like to learn a bit more about the rest of the business. I’m constantly learning new things, it really keeps me interested. Oh, and the free public transport, that’s a winner too!

Graduate Track and Civil Engineer

Main duties: Maintain level crossings, bridges and tracks. Work on special design projects.

Minimum qualifications: Degree in civil, mechanical or structural engineering.

Your skills: Teamwork, organisation, design, project management.

Job benefits: Work outdoors, challenges, responsibility.

V/Line training: Project management and ongoing training.

Job locations: Based in Melbourne and locations across Victoria.