Careers
Mitchell Beggs - Mechanical Engineer, Meridian Energy
"Not everything in the electricity industry is electrical!"
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| Mitchell Beggs in the machine hall at Ohau B |
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I completed my BE (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury in 2014. Following a summer placement with Meridian Energy in 2013/14 I secured a position on Meridian's graduate programme. I have now a permanent engineering role in the Tactical Engineering Team located in Twizel, and am involved in projects across all of Meridian's hydro assets in the Mid Waitaki, Upper Waitaki and at Manapouri.
How do your skills as a mechanical engineer add value to the electricity supply industry?
Not everything in the electricity industry is electrical! Electricity is produced through a mechanical process where, in the case of hydro generation, the energy of moving water spins a turbine and creates electricity. The process involves a whole lot of mechanical equipment; the turbine, shafts, bearings, heat exchangers, pumps, servo rams, linkages, bushes, pressure vessels… the list goes on. All these parts require constant monitoring, maintenance and improvement to ensure the electricity keeps generating, and the country’s lights stay on.
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| Mitchell Beggs in the drainage gallery at Ohau B |
Why did you decide to join the electricity supply industry?
I decided to work in the electricity industry due to the opportunity to experience a wide range of work. No two days are the same, and I am constantly learning. Every day I am putting into practise what I learnt at university; everything from design and materials to failure analysis and fluid dynamics. As a graduate we get to see projects through from start to finish which includes preparing scopes and specifications, design work, pricing, securing the required funds and physical on-site delivery. The ability to work with other people is key; all of my projects require input from other engineering disciplines (The Tactical Engineering Team is comprised of mechanical, electrical, civil, and automation engineers), as well as the onsite tradesmen and contractors.
What are the career prospects for mechanical engineers in the industry?
With the wide range of work mechanical engineers are subjected to in the power generation industry a whole range of career options exist, in New Zealand and abroad. Technical work in any area of asset management, not just power generation, is possible. The communication and organisational aspects of my role mean project management and people manager opportunities also exist.
Would you have any advice for engineering students?
If you are interested in how things work, and have a flair for problem solving then engineering is the career for you. Never assume you are not ‘smart enough’ for engineering, if you work hard the results will come. Once at university I recommend students should learn as much as they can about all the different industries that exist, and take any available work experience opportunities. For mechanical engineers don’t be put off the electrical industry because you don’t know much about electricity, there’s still plenty of mechanical work to be done.
Last updated: July 2017