As part of our #PeopleFirst series, we have been talking to one of Kirby’s Graduate Project Planners, Joe Ronaldson, about why he chose his profession and what he enjoys about life at Kirby.

“In 2018, I graduated with an ME in Mechanical Engineering from UCD. I was lucky enough to spend a gap year in Australia before COVID-19 shut their borders. When I returned, I remember not knowing what jobs to apply for but knew I didn’t want to get lost in a vast company. I wanted a fast-paced environment with opportunities to learn and to work hard.

And that is exactly what I got at Kirby Group Engineering.

Kirby are a leading Mechanical and Electrical contractor for some of the largest and most complex Data Centre and Pharmaceutical projects across Ireland, the UK and Europe.

When I applied to Kirby, I knew very little about Ireland’s booming construction sector. What drew me to the company was the family feel and emphasis on its people. These Core Values have put Kirby on a huge growth trajectory with a large and diverse range of projects.

As a planning engineer, I spend my time in the office and on-site, working with the Project Team, developing realistic and achievable plans to finish our projects on time. I also undertake on-site measures that provide fact-based answers to critical management decisions.

What I enjoy about the job is understanding all the systems and services that make up a construction project. From learning how the complex power distribution system works in a Hyperscale Data Centre to understanding the construction strategy for a high-end Office block, I have gained enormous insight into the industry in such a short time. Unlike many other roles, I work on a diverse range of projects with many overlapping. This fast-paced environment has accelerated my learning and has given me great groundings in this sector.

I love the work and the fast pace of learning. What’s more, Kirby have offices throughout Europe with various career opportunities on offer. They actively encourage movement within the group which from a graduate perspective is great to see.”

Life at Kirby is rewarding, challenging and progressive if you would like to know more, visit us here: https://careers.kirbygroup.com/

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