What team do you work in and what are they responsible for?
I work in the Reliability team at the Geelong Refinery. The Reliability team is made up of electrical, instrumentation, condition monitoring, and mechanical (rotating equipment) disciplines. As a mechanical engineer in this team, I look specifically at rotating equipment, which includes pumps, compressors, and turbines. More specifically, this has involved long term projects such as planning an overhaul of a compressor, and shorter term projects including assessing options so that a stand-by pump can meet its process requirements.
The refinery has equipment that can be decades old and a big part of Reliability is to support maintenance strategies and actions to ensure smooth running of the refinery. Where possible, potential issues are identified and proactively addressed before they escalate and affect the operation of the refinery.
What tips can you share with prospective graduates going through the application or recruitment process with us?
It’s useful to come prepared and learn about the company’s values, and have an idea of what projects are happening at the moment. Specifically for engineering, it’s also helpful to have an idea of what role you would like to undertake at Viva Energy. There are different roles that graduate engineers can apply for such as: working at the refinery, at the Newport terminal, and in supply and trading - to name a few.
As usual, come prepared to the interview with specific examples from university and/or work that highlight your actions and strengths. It’s also normal to be nervous in the interview, so remember to take a few breaths and relax. Most of all, be curious and interested! Your interviewers want to see your personality and why you would be a good fit at the company.
What have been some highlights of the Graduate Program?
I’ve been lucky to start as a graduate at the beginning of this year as the refinery had a large TA (turnaround) scheduled in May. TAs are large, planned maintenance projects where one or more units in the refinery are shut down so that maintenance that can’t be completed while the unit is running can be undertaken. This was an exciting opportunity to see equipment being taken apart – something that you don’t usually get to see while the units are running, and in particular, be involved with an overhaul of a compressor on the Platformer unit.
As a whole, the refinery is a fascinating place to work in and people have been extremely generous with their time and knowledge - something that I’ve valued immensely especially as an engineer at the beginning of my career.