Employees

Engineer-in-Training, Traffic Engineering

Employee Name:

Kenedee Ludwar

Title:

Engineer-in-Training, Traffic Engineering

Ministry:

Ministry of Transportation

Background:

Education: Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering (UBC)
Member of the BC Public Service Since: 2005

My Role

I am in the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) program and even though my job title hasn't changed, the job itself has many times. During my first rotation in Nanaimo, I did traffic related tasks such as traffic speed surveys, reviewing signs and working with the development approvals staff. My next two rotations were in Victoria working in planning and in Traffic, Electrical, Highway Safety and Geometric Standards. I did a variety of tasks from determining how long the average truck is on our highways to a study on pavement markings. My current rotation is in the Burnaby regional office where my work includes modelling intersections, updating and creating timing sheets and working with the district.

Career Path:

When I was in school, I really enjoyed maths and sciences and my dad is in the engineering field, so I was always exposed to it. I enjoyed the coursework so I knew it would be a great fit. During my university career I spent my summers working for a small city in Saskatchewan as an engineering summer student. Before my final year of study, I spent three months working for an engineering consulting firm in Vancouver. Once I graduated, I began working for the Ministry of Transportation and haven't looked back.

What I Like Best:

I really like the people I get to work with. Everybody is always willing to go the extra mile to teach me something new or show me the ropes. I enjoy getting to solve problems, trying to come up with more than one solution and coming up with a new solution that hasn't been used before. Everything I do right now is really new, so it's interesting; I don't feel like I'm doing the same work over and over. Every intersection is different.

Ideas At Work:

I can see the difference I make almost every day on my commute home. There are many intersections that I have modelled and signals I have helped time. When I see an intersection working better because I improved the timing, I know I have made some difference. We actually got a phone call from a member of the public about some of the lights that we had re-timed to say how much they appreciated the improvement.

Advice:

If you are in school for engineering, I'd recommend you try to get summer student positions with the provincial government; you'll get to know the players and you'll get to see how government works and functions. I would encourage new engineering graduates to definitely look at the EIT program. I have been given a wide range of interesting tasks and the people you work with are always helpful in obtaining your professional goals. Everybody's equal coming in and the program is tailored to every individual. They will work with you to make sure you get a professional designation.