Mathew Da Silva

Discipline: Engineering

Location: Octagon, Parramatta

Contact email or number: Mathew.DaSilva@transport.nsw.gov.au, 0424 772 748

Job title: Civil Engineering Scholar

Work experience: I joined Transport for NSW in 2015 as a Scholar. I was placed in Maintenance Engineering with Sydney Trains from 2015 to early 2018. Throughout these 3 years, I worked full-time in university holidays, part-time throughout semesters and completed a 6-month full-time internship as part of my university requirements. While working in Maintenance Engineering with Sydney Trains, I was mainly involved in the Track Engineering side, with minor stints in Civil projects, such as tracking budgets for the Geotechnical and Surveying projects undertaken for maintenance engineering. The Track Engineering experience I gained throughout my time includes the development of re-railing and resurfacing programs and scopes using local defect data, the creation of registers for failed crossings, REVTAR's (aka. REVCOM's) and High Priority Defects, development of a rail-wear analysis program which was used to drive re-railing projects at critical sites and on-site inspection experience relating to detailed defect identification and scoping of project works. I was also able to run one of my own re-railing projects which involved the straight-railing of decommissioned turnouts. With a senior engineer overseeing my work, I was required to complete project documentation, scope and plan the work, complete regular site inspections, bid for a special night LPA, procure plant and contractors and be on-site to deliver the work. I have since moved over to RMS to complete my second 6-month internship with the Bridge Rehabilitation Design team. I have increased my ability to read and interpret technical engineering drawings and have learnt and extended my fundamental design skills through designing temporary bridge systems, such as piers and Bailey bridges that will be used while critical members are being rehabilitated.

What are you looking for in a mentor?

Coming to the end of my degree, I am looking for a mentor who can give me advice and guidance on possible career paths in civil engineering, whether that be in design, project management or construction etc. I'm hoping that they can give advice based on a wide range of experience, possibly both in public and private sectors. Someone who is proud of their work and shows a passion in what they do is also something I am hoping to find.

Categories: Engineering
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