Vearinama Kila

Undergraduate Site Engineer

Travelling on my day off as an undergraduate site engineer (FIFO)

I am a final-year Mechatronics Engineering (Honours) and Business (Accounting) student at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), with a passion for projects that leave a tangible impact on communities/clients. From a young age, I have been fascinated by how ideas on paper turn into real solutions. This has been a drive that has shaped my journey into engineering.

While my academic focus is mechatronics, my professional interest lies in the construction industry, where I can apply both technical expertise and business insight to deliver infrastructure that matters. I enjoy understanding technical concepts in detail and using that knowledge to make informed decisions on site and in a business development context.

Through my time at VSL Australia, I have gained diverse experience across site engineering and business development. Notably, I worked as an Undergraduate Site Engineer on the design and construction of a 10 ML precast tank project in Rockhampton, QLD, where I was involved in inspections, QA/QC, and supporting site operations. I also contributed as a Site Engineer on a bearing replacement project for a 2.5 km steel pipeline in Kangaroo Valley, NSW, where I engaged with contractors and addressed technical challenges. These projects reinforced my interest in travelling, learning new techniques/skills, and applying engineering solutions to complex problems.

At the same time, my Business Development experience exposed me to tender preparation, costing, and stakeholder engagement, where I learned the importance of aligning technical work with client expectations and business outcomes.

I thrive on challenging myself and seeking opportunities for growth as a young engineer. My goal is to use the combined skillsets I’ve developed in mechatronics, business, and construction engineering to contribute to large-scale infrastructure projects that are delivered safely, efficiently, and with a lasting positive impact on the built environment.