Rob Conway

Rob Conway
JOB Lead instrumentation, control and electrical engineer
EMPLOYER Jacobs Engineering
DEGREE BEng electrical systems and control engineering, Sheffield Hallam University (1998)
UNIVERSITY Sheffield Hallam University

I manage a team of 16 engineers and designers. My work involves liaising with the client to ensure they are satisfied with our work, managing the project budget and ensuring that it runs to schedule. I oversee the work of my team, which includes reviewing specifications of equipment to be purchased, answering site queries and approving any instrument or electrical drawings.

Previous roles

I joined the industry on a four-year apprenticeship, after which I studied for a degree at university. I got as much work experience as possible during my summer holidays and when I graduated I was offered a place on a graduate training scheme. I then joined an oil and gas company as an instrument engineer where I worked for two years before accepting the position with my current employer. I gained experience working in a variety of countries from Ireland to Belgium and gradually took on more responsibility to become lead engineer.

Most exciting project

My most memorable project was the construction of a pharmaceutical plant in Denmark. Individual parts were built in Chicago, New York and Springfield to be shipped back to Denmark. The opportunity to work in America and Denmark was exciting and I learned a lot from the different practices and methods of working.

The highs

The opportunity to travel is one of the best things about working in this industry – you gain a lot more responsibility and experience different ways of working.

The lows

Working in a managerial role means you have less hands-on engineering work which I miss, but it’s a higher role with different responsibilities.