Carl Lewis

Carl Lewis
JOB Principal mechanical engineer
EMPLOYER CB&I UK Ltd
DEGREE BEng mechanical engineering (1993)
UNIVERSITY University of Southampton

I am lead mechanical engineer on a multimillion pound fixed price LNG import, storage and re-gasification terminal project. I manage a team of ten people, including mechanical, materials and welding, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and noise engineers. The role includes technical responsibility for all work carried out within the team on the project, keeping the work to schedule, reporting and forecasting the team’s progress and performance to the project management team, liaising with other departments on the project and interfacing with the client.

Previous roles

After graduation I joined the company I am with now as a mechanical engineer. I worked in various departments and other parts of the company worldwide, both in an office environment and on site, progressing from being a ‘junior’ mechanical engineer to my current position. I have found progression here is based on ability and opportunity – over the years I have had a bit of both.

Most exciting project

I would say that the best experience I have had as an engineer was when I was seconded to a petrochemical project in the Netherlands, where I lived for six months, working as a mechanical engineer. The work was interesting, the people were extremely good to work with and the remuneration was handsome! Europe was on my doorstep, so the opportunity for travel was taken up frequently.

The highs

No two projects are alike and almost without exception my role on each project has been different.

The lows

The work constantly changes, which can be difficult to adjust to.