Career Profile: Engineering

Turning Design into Reality

Have you ever dreamed of having your Lego building constructed in real life? Do you have strong analytical skills? Do you want to make a difference in the world with your talent in design?

The beginning of turning this dream into reality may lie in considering a career in civil design engineering. Next time you turn on the tap, switch on the light or phone up a friend, you have the field of design engineering to thank. Youthink recently caught up with Tanner Fellinger, a project design engineer with the City of Calgary, to get an inside look at this broad career field.

YT: What are your responsibilities and expected activities as a project design engineer?
TF: I design and project manage large diameter water feedermain, sanitary and storm sewer projects within Calgary. Some projects are designed in-house while others are designed by consultants, but managed through our office. Project manager duties include design review/approval, stakeholder consultation, tender award and daily construction management.

YT: What training and prerequisites are necessary to become an engineer?
TF: In order to become an engineer, you have to obtain a degree in engineering from a certified university. The degree usually takes four years, but may take five if there is a work-term component. Each semester would be a full workload of five classes and a couple labs.

YT: Can you tell me how you ended up working with the City of Calgary as a project design engineer?
TF: When I was first hired at the City of Calgary, I was hired into a program called the EIT (Engineer-in-Training) Rotational Program. As an EIT, you would be a part of four year-long rotations in different business units within the corporation. After the four years, the EIT would then apply for Professional Engineer designation and look for a permanent placement within the City. Once I fulfilled my four years in the program, I was hired by Water Resources into my current position.

YT: What are the perks of your job?
TF: There really are no “perks” when you work for a municipal government. What you do get is a healthy work/life balance that allows you to make a contribution to your community and still have the time to spend with your family. After coming from the private sector of engineering, it was important to me personally to be able to have a healthy balance between the two.

YT: Is there anything about your job that you don’t really enjoy?
TF: Because we are the municipal government, it can be frustrating when citizens do nothing but focus on the negative. Maybe it is a sign of the times, but it is rare to have a citizen commend the city on a job well done. I think there are many positive initiatives that the city has incorporated over the years. The employees are taxpayers too and we all want what’s best for our community.

YT: In your opinion, what is the best way to get into the field?
TF: If you are in high school, it is important to concentrate on getting good grades. Entrance to most engineering faculties at universities usually comes down to grades and they want people who are committed to putting their full effort into the program. You need discipline and a hard work ethic to obtain your engineering degree. It is a very intense four or five years.

YT: What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on before? Your proudest accomplishment?
TF: Over the last two years, I was involved in an environmentally sensitive river-crossing project in which we had to install four large diameter pipes across the Bow River. It was completed this past summer and was a success. My proudest accomplishment was seeing my first water feedermain design get installed and become a reality.