Can you share a bit about your role as Senior Staff Commissioning Engineer?

I am currently performing a dual role as “Senior Staff Commissioning Engineer” (what a mouthful) and “APAC Project Manager”.  Basically, I handle all aspects of project delivery for the APAC region, and I support our commissioning colleagues in the other parts of the world, either remotely, or in person as required. It is my job to plan and perform all aspects of the site works for a new installation including customer coordination, device inspections, pre-installation site testing, support for device installation, pre-energization testing, SCADA design and testing, commissioning, on-line performance testing, and customer training. Once this is all done, I am responsible for any ongoing warranty, customer support and maintenance for the APAC installations. I am also passionate about world’s best practices in commissioning, so I am particularly focused on the thoroughness of testing, producing high quality documentation, managing site change control, and maintaining clear, open communication with the customer.

What is your favorite part of your role, and why?

Once the first clod of earth is turned on site, I am the face of Smart Wires on the ground with the customer. I really like meeting all the customers’ front-line staff and their contractors and working closely with them to deliver a successful project.

Transmission companies tend to be very conservative by nature, so it is very enjoyable being part of their journey to deliver leading edge technology to assist them to have better control over how their systems are operated. It always brings a smile to my face the first time we operate a system and all the customer’s site personnel crowd around the SmartInterface™ and watch as the line current is pushed off and then pulled on to the transmission line. I also enjoy teaching the customer’s technical staff and operators how our equipment works, and how to get the most out of it.

What is the most challenging part of your role?

Australia is over 10,000 kilometres away from the Americas and Europe where most of Smart Wires employees are based. Initially the biggest challenge was working across different time-zones to most of my colleagues and the very early morning, or late-night meetings I was always in. We even have 5 different time-zones in Australia, so it took a little while to get my head around how to coordinate between all the regions efficiently.

Now the most challenging part of my role is working in different utility substations across the world. Each Transmission company uses different design philosophies, technologies, and complies with their own local standards. They each have different OHS & PPE requirements, different processes for applying for system outages and safe access procedures, and they all use different terminology for work permits, tools, and equipment and they all have different requirements for releasing new equipment to their system. Each country also has different regulations and legislation about professional engineering services, electrical work, and they all have different work cultures. Navigating through this is very challenging, but also quite interesting.

Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had while working at Smart Wires?

In January 2023, the whole Technical Deployment team met for a week in the Jabil manufacturing facility in Florida. This also gave me the opportunity to visit the company headquarters in Durham NC. It was very nice to finally meet many of my colleagues face-to-face after working with them for 18 months. I was extremely impressed with the whole manufacturing setup and seeing how the SmartValves progress through the production facility, how each part is tested and then how the end-of-line process tests the final product.

It was also invaluable for the team to have access to a SmartValve to open it up and test it in a controlled and safe environment prior to testing and commissioning them on site.  It was also great to spend some time with team-mates. That is something you take for granted working in a traditional office-based role.