Many talented engineers hesitate to move abroad, fearing they will lose career momentum and disconnect from the vibrant Irish engineering community. However, an Irish engineering degree is in fact a global passport, opening doors to innovation on an international scale while maintaining strong Irish roots.

This special mini-series explores how Irish engineers successfully navigate international markets, secure funding, overcome the fear of failure, and leverage their qualifications to build thriving careers overseas. They also discuss how the Irish engineering community supports them abroad.

Joining the conversation is Joseph Mooney, a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree at the forefront of US energy research, and Sinéad Conneely, a Structural Director and Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer of the Year finalist.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Choosing to leave Ireland and where
Irish engineering qualifications are valued globally
Why Irish engineers are natural risk-takers
Funding differences between US and Ireland
Practical advice for moving abroad earlier

GUESTS DETAILS

Joseph Mooney is the Co-Founder of WattAir and a Research Engineer at the Georgia Institute of Technology, recently named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Energy.

Connect with Joseph:

linkedin.com/in/josephpmooney

Sinéad Conneely is a Director and Structural Engineer at Simple Works in London, a finalist for the Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer of the Year, and a leader in the UK construction industry.

Connect with Sinéad:

linkedin.com/in/sinéad-conneely-9b847139

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

Mega projects often struggle under their own sheer weight, leading to massive budget overruns, stakeholder conflict, and unmanaged complexity. The challenge lies in managing change ruthlessly while maintaining safety and quality across vast, long-term undertakings.

This episode explores the disciplined mindset required to deliver major infrastructure on time and on budget, focusing on "right-to-left" planning, risk ownership, and the crucial role of collaboration.

We also look at how digital tools like BIM and AI are revolutionising project delivery and safety in the construction sector.

Our guest is Carl Devlin, Capital Works Director at MTR Corporation. His three decades of experience include senior leadership on iconic projects such as London Heathrow Terminal 5 and upgrading 40 per cent of the London Underground network

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Driving career with big goals
Right-to-left planning and requirements
Minimising change on mega projects
Leading rail expansion in Hong Kong
Using AI for construction safety

GUEST DETAILS

Carl Devlin is the Capital Works Director at MTR Corporation. He oversees new railway projects and major upgrades for Hong Kong's sophisticated transport network.

His core expertise includes navigating the immense complexity of mega-projects, balancing technical excellence with strategic stakeholder demands, and spearheading digital transformation in construction.

Connect with Carl Devlin:

Website: https://www.mtr.com.hk

Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-devlin

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.

https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

When you're managing change, you have to look holistically at the whole system, not just at the components that you're actually accountable for. - Carl Devlin

Change is the thing that drives mega projects off course, because once you've committed a supply chain... and you change one of the requirements, it can have a huge knock on impact on the project. - Carl Devlin

I keep saying to my team, if you were spending the money out of your wallet, would you do this? - Carl Devlin

KEYWORDS #MegaProjects #ProjectManagement #EngineeringLeadership #DigitalConstruction #InfrastructureInvestment

Engineers spend too much time fixing broken data instead of focusing on high-level design. This inefficiency, known as workflow friction, is a major enemy of modern construction projects.

This episode explores how intelligent automation and verified software can eliminate manual rework and enhance global collaboration. We discuss the crucial challenge of trust between engineers and fabricators, the necessity of specialised AI solutions, and the innovations of Trim BIM.

Our guest is David Sanderson, a former site engineer who now leads Product Strategy for Trimble’s structural tools. He offers a unique 40-year perspective, having witnessed the digital transformation of engineering since 1982

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Accidentally invented structural software in 1982
Lack of trust creates workflow friction
Specialised AI best for tedious tasks
Commercial value prioritises software features
Contractual deliverable is still 2D drawing

GUEST DETAILS

David Sanderson is the Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble. His expertise is rooted in structural design, leading product strategy for major tools like Tekla Structural Designer, and championing the use of verified, quality-assured software in the industry.

Connect with David Sanderson, Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS: https://www.trimble.com/en/products/tekla

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sanderson-49926852/

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

The contractual deliverable is still a 2d drawing, believe it or not. - David Sanderson
The biggest issue that I can see now is that within a project, you've got many stakeholders. - David Sanderson
People have got to start accepting other people's models on trust, in my view. - David Sanderson

KEYWORDS

#StructuralEngineering #IntelligentAutomation #WorkflowFriction #TrimBIM #PortalFrameDesign