Ever wondered what life’s really like as an engineering graduate working in the water and wastewater industry?
Meet Oskar Hill, a Civil Engineer Graduate at Unitywater, the organisation keeping communities across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa hydrated with fresh, safe and clean water every day.
Through the Unitywater Graduate Program, Oskar’s been tackling real engineering challenges, rotating through diverse teams, and helping shape the future of essential services. In this blog, he shares a behind-the-scenes look at his day-to-day life, the projects he’s proudest of, and why starting your engineering career with Unitywater could be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make:
A Day in the Life of a Unitywater Engineering Graduate
A typical morning for me starts with checking emails and reviewing any updates from previous day’s tasks/projects. I’ll usually catch up with fellow team members and discuss priorities, projects, and safety items. From there, my morning could go in several directions.
Some days I’m in the office, reviewing information to assist with problem-solving. Other days, I’m out on site with crews, checking project progress and ensuring everything’s built to plan and standard. The work is always varied here when you’re an engineering graduate, which I think is great as no two mornings are the same.
Balancing Office and Field Work
Some of the tools I use, which students might not expect, are GIS (Geographic Information System) programs such as ArcGIS. These tools are powerful as they allow us to spatially visualise Unitywater’s entire water and wastewater network on interactive digital maps.
Think of it like Google Maps, but it shows pipes underground instead of roads. With GIS, we can see where every pipe, valve, and pump station is located – with all its data attached. It’s an essential part of managing Unitywater’s water and wastewater systems as it’s useful for tasks such as planning upgrades, outages, and investigating issues.
Using Technology to Solve Real Problems
I’ve worked on a range of network modelling queries that varied in complexity, with some being quick and straightforward, while others were complex and time-consuming. Balancing these alongside other responsibilities could sometimes feel challenging.
To manage this, I learned to take a step back and assess the urgency and impact of each task, focusing on what needed immediate attention and what could wait.
“Regular communication with senior engineers and my manager also played a big role, helping me stay on track and ensure everything was completed efficiently while meeting expectations and avoiding unnecessary delays.”
Real Engineering Projects at Unitywater: Problem Solving in Action
One of my favourite projects I’ve worked on so far was coming up with a network solution to support unprecedented future population growth in the Maroochydore CBD, ensuring adequate and reliable water supply. The final solution involves a new water main, upgrades of existing water mains, and a small DMA (district metered area) rezone (opening and shutting valves).
Getting to this solution meant first understanding how the network was performing, then running model simulations with population growth numbers projected to 2056 to find when demand would exceed supply. We then re-ran simulations after making upgrades until we found a solution that maintained reliable pressure and flow.
Although the physical construction of the solution is still many years away, I’m proud to have had the opportunity to participate in a project that will improve sustainability and help supply future communities with safe and reliable drinking water.
Finding Creative Solutions for Real Challenges
A developer once proposed wastewater infrastructure that wouldn’t be reliable or cost-effective for future customers. To achieve the best outcome for Unitywater’s customers, I created alternative wastewater infrastructure solutions and presented them to the developer. After meeting with the developers, we agreed on a code-compliant solution that reduces customer costs and ensures long-term network reliability!
Collaborating Across Teams and Specialties
I work alongside a variety of people with different roles and experience levels, mostly engineers such as network planners, modellers, asset knowledge, and GIS specialists. Now more recently, I’ve been engaging with site coordinators and external contractors. Everyone brings their own perspective which helps ensure projects are considered from every angle.
The graduate rotations are great for building networks. You meet and work with people across diverse teams, and everyone’s willing to explain things, making the learning process faster and more engaging.
These connections become really valuable later on when you need to reach out for advice or information, you already know who to contact.
Why Engineering Graduates Love Working at Unitywater
Knowing that my friends, family, and I all rely on Unitywater’s network makes my work feel incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s improving efficiency, planning for growth, or detecting leaks early, every task supports the goal of delivering reliable, sustainable water services to the community.
“Seeing how projects can begin as something small such as a network deficiency detected in a model, to then resulting in a physical solution that benefits thousands of people, shows just how much of an impact you can have to making a difference everyday as an engineer.”
Discovering New Tools and Technologies
I never expected to use data analytics and automation tools as much as I do. University focused heavily on traditional engineering design, but in the workplace, I’ve learned that tools like ArcGIS Pro, FME, and Excel can save heaps of time and minimise errors.
Learning to think logically and automate repetitive tasks has been one of the most valuable real-world skills I’ve developed, and now I might be a little obsessed with improving efficiencies in everything I do.
I may be a little biased in saying this, but engineering is a fantastic career path. It’s such a diverse field of work with endless opportunities and it’s a perfect combination of problem-solving, creativity, and real-world impact.
Why Unitywater Is the Perfect Place to Start
The work performed at Unitywater allows you to see how you can make a direct and positive impact on the local community. Having personally started at Unitywater as a University student in their Vacation Work Program, I quickly realised how many different opportunities were available in the water and wastewater industry that I otherwise would’ve never discovered.
Now having finished my studies and being in their Graduate Program, I have no regrets and couldn’t recommend starting an engineering career at Unitywater enough.
Launch Your Engineering Future at Unitywater
The graduate program at Unitywater offers a strong support system through structured 6-month core rotations in engineering teams with mentoring and regular check-ins with managers.
Learning Through Graduate Rotations
I’ve been encouraged to explore different teams, having completed my first rotation in the Network Planning team and now in my second rotation in the Private Works team, I’ve developed a broad understanding of how Unitywater works.
Exploring Beyond Your Discipline
There are also short, non-core rotations that let you explore other parts of the business (even outside your discipline, like finance or field services). These are a great opportunity to learn about something else that might be helpful in your main line of work. Senior engineers and managers have always been willing to assist me when necessary and provide constructive feedback to help me improve my work, allowing me to complete increasingly complex tasks with confidence.
“There’s great opportunity to attend professional development training sessions, such as presentation skills and project management, to help develop technical and leadership skills.”
A Supportive, Collaborative Culture That Inspires Growth
The culture at Unitywater is one of my favourite parts about working here. Everyone is friendly, collaborative, and genuinely supportive. No matter their roles or experience level, I’ve always felt that I can easily approach the relevant people for help. There’s a strong focus on safety, collaboration, and community, making you feel like your work has a positive impact. Fresh perspectives and new ideas are always welcomed, with innovation being openly encouraged from graduates.
“The balance between professionalism, safety, quality, and being able to have a laugh makes it a great place to work and learn.”
Unitywater is an excellent company for students to get into the water and wastewater industry, especially as an engineer. There are plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning with exposure to real-world engineering challenges. The Graduates at Unitywater aren’t just observers – we’re involved in meaningful projects that make positive impacts on the community.
The rotations available through the graduate program allow you to develop a solid foundation to decide which area of engineering you’re most passionate about. Overall, Unitywater provides a great environment for students to grow into capable and confident engineers through their strong mentorship, supportive culture, and sustainability-driven initiatives.
Where to Learn More
Ready to make a splash in your engineering career? Discover current opportunities and learn more about Unitywater careers today!
