Careers Service Guide
2016
Graduate Gallery Engineering and the Built Environment
Graduate Gallery
t • Eng
How I obtained my current position
i
d
en
th e Built
ironm
ne
E nv
I applied to Unilever’s Future Leaders Programme and was selected for the supply chain where I am currently involved with the processing side of our products.
e r in g a n
How my qualifications relate to my work
Pule Segale
How I obtained my current position
Saajidah Moolla
Degree(s): BSc Civil Engineering Current job(s): Assistant Site Manager at Mainstream Renewable Power Previous job(s): Quality Engineer at Acciona Civil Engineer at Haw & Inglis Civil Engineering Intern at the Department of Transport and Public Works, Western Cape
Civil engineering graduates often branch out into specialisations such as structures, water, roads, wastewater treatment and geotechnics. In fact, that is how I started. However, I soon realised that I was not interested in road construction. I then became involved with concrete tower segment production and quality assurance. It so happened that we were implementing the quality system in concrete manufacturing for a global company that was building a wind farm under the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. Acciona is the first company in Africa to build concrete tower sections. We were the first team in SA to manage the quality of these tower sections. That led to a deep interest in renewable energy and mainstream renewable power as a developer. We directly improve the quality of life of communities by supplying clean, renewable energy to the national grid.
Degree(s): BSc (Hons) Chemical Engineering (UCT)
www.noupoortwind.co.za pulesegale @PuleSegale @pulesegale
Advice about how to approach your careerdevelopment journey Be responsible and focused. Identify companies that you want to work for or the industry you want to conquer as an entrepreneur. Structure your time (what you study, where you complete vacation work, what extracurricular activities you do) at university towards achieving that goal.
84
Current job(s): Process & Project Engineer at Unilever Spreads Factory (Johannesburg). saajidah-moolla/70/a66/b3
Margarine production deals with combining an aqueous and oil phase, heating it to pasteurise, and then cooling it for crystallisation, forming a solid brick. The heating, cooling and crystallisation processes are all based on chemical engineering fundamentals.
Day-to-day activities Since I am involved on the processing and project side of the factory I usually work on both during the day. I assist when we have issues on the processing side that operators cannot solve. Usually this is related to the quality of the final product, like taste and texture. On the projects side, I liaise with contractors to order the equipment required, and engage with different departments to understand the various elements that need to be addressed when implementing a project.
Best and most challenging parts of my job The best part is knowing that you are working on projects and aspects that have a real impact at the factory. The most challenging part is learning while working on the job, especially when you need to meet deadlines. Working effectively with people can become challenging especially in a factory environment.
85