Education and qualifications:

MSc and BSc Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Pakistan

ASNT NDT Level III, American Society for Non-Destructive Testing

Certification Scheme for Personnel (CSWIP) 3.1 - Welding Inspector, The Welding Institute, UK

Job title: Welding and Metallurgy Engineer

Employer: China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Company (Dubai Branch).

What inspired you to become an engineer or pointed you towards an engineering career?

My father, a teacher by profession, encouraged me to choose a career in engineering. I always wondered how things fitted together and worked. My curiosity, along with the encouragement from my father, led me to becoming an engineer.

Please describe your role or position within your workplace.

I am currently working as a Welding and Metallurgy Engineer in Dubai, U.A.E. My role mainly revolves around welding engineering and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of pressure parts and equipment. I prepare and maintain the quality management system of the company. I help the design department in the selection of materials being used in various sections of boiler and high-pressure and high-temperature piping. I also perform metallurgical analysis of components which fail, either during the construction or during the operation.

Can you describe a typical working day?

My typical day starts with a small meeting with my subordinates to discuss the progress of the previous day and the schedule of the day ahead. I also find out if they faced any difficulty or problems at the site which require immediate attention.

I analyse welding and NDT data and the performance of each construction group to identify any risks which may lead to a non-conformance and, if required, propose corrective and preventative actions.

I also carry out random inspections at the site and witness NDT as well. Later in the day I participate in a management meeting to discuss the overall progress of the project.

Are there any particular challenges or unusual aspects to your role?

When you are working on a construction project, every day is a challenge. Keeping the project to schedule without compromising quality and safety is quite a challenging task, which comes with my role.

What do you find most enjoyable about your job?

Being a focal person for welding and metallurgy, I enjoy every bit of it. I always take an opportunity to conduct a detailed analysis of any problem at the site and to come up with a solution which helps my company to avoid a similar problem in the future.

Is there a great professional achievement or high-profile accomplishment that you would like to tell us about?

I achieved the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) NDT Level III certification in 2016. I was the youngest professional to get this certification in my country.

What contributed to your decision to become professionally registered?

An engineer with professional registration is what employers are looking for these days and professional recognition is what every engineer looks to achieve.

In what ways has registration benefitted your career?

Professional registration demonstrates my skills and competence. It has increased my confidence to deal with day-to-day engineering activities.

How does your employer benefit from your professional registration?

Having a professionally registered engineer in their employment shows that competence, commitment and the ability to successfully achieve milestones are important to my employer. It also boosts the confidence of clients in my employer.

Is there any advice you would pass on to someone considering professional registration?

Professional registration is a global recognition of your skills and qualifications, which makes it a valuable addition to anyone’s professional portfolio. My advice is to get yourself registered as early in your career as possible. It will help you grow professionally and personally.

Where do you see yourself in your career in five years’ time or what are your future ambitions?

I see myself as part of an organisation which is working on renewable energy resources and is helping to reduce harmful emissions.

Outside work, is there any activity you enjoy doing in your spare time that relates to engineering? For example, do you participate in mentoring, volunteering or membership of other engineering groups?

I actively take part in local sections of ASNT and organise webinars on regular basis related to NDT. I also give training to young engineers on different methods of NDT.