Employee Spotlight: Zoe, Project Engineer
From purchase order to final delivery, Zoe is across the full journey. As a Project Engineer, she turns drawings into detailed fabrication packs, works alongside the floor team to refine them, and stays connected with the customer from start to finish.
“I take the drawing and create the files for fabrication. I put together the instructions to make the work. If anything changes, I’m the key contact with the customer. From purchase order to out the gate, that’s me.”
Her role brings together engineering thinking, practical collaboration, and clear communication. That balance is what keeps the work interesting.
Turning theory into practice
Zoe studied mechanical engineering after first considering maths and physics. She enjoyed the technical challenge and wanted a career with strong foundations and real-world impact.
“Engineering is applied science, plus people skills.”
University gave her the theory. Longveld showed her how it works in practice.
Zoe joined Longveld part time in 2022 while finishing her degree and stepped into a full-time role in 2025. The transition felt natural. The modelling skills stayed the same. The biggest shift was seeing how much strong communication and teamwork shape good engineering.
Designing with the people who build it
Ask Zoe what she enjoys most and she answers quickly.
“The core of design is building something in the virtual space. That’s always fun.”
She enjoys putting together a clear, well-structured fabrication package and handing it over to the team on the floor. The conversations that follow are just as important as the design itself.
“You’ve got people here with years of experience. It’s great being able to show them the design, get feedback, and adjust things before steel gets cut.”
One of her favourite projects was delivering four tanks for a fast-paced project within a tight timeframe. It required coordination, clear communication, and strong teamwork across departments.
Learning from experience
Working closely with fabricators has played a big part in Zoe’s growth.
“It was intimidating at first. I’m young and I was still learning. But if you’re willing to ask for advice and take it on board, people will help.”
She values the mix of backgrounds within the engineering team. Some came through formal engineering pathways. Others built their knowledge through decades of hands-on experience.
“They’ll look at a drawing and spot something straight away because they’ve dealt with it before. That practical thinking is invaluable.”
Being able to walk a drawing onto the floor and get immediate feedback has helped her build confidence quickly. The access to knowledge is direct. The support is there when you need it.
A team that feels genuine
For Zoe, appreciation and wholeheartedness stand out among Longveld’s values.
“It makes a difference when someone says thank you. Even if you’ve just met expectations, it still matters. I try to do the same.”
She also values the authenticity of the team.
“People are themselves. They don’t change depending on who’s in the room. That makes it easier to just be yourself too.”
Having the same manager throughout her time at Longveld has also provided stability. Consistent leadership, open conversations, and practical guidance have supported her move from student engineer to project lead.
Building what’s next
This year, Zoe is excited to take on larger projects, including one of the biggest tanks she been working on so far. She is also leading an internal initiative to overhaul the CAD material library.
Think organised systems, refined standards, and smarter foundations for future designs.
“When your assets are organised, everything works better.”
It is detailed work that will strengthen the engineering process across the team.
Outside of work
Away from engineering, Zoe shares a range of hobbies with her husband. Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer 40K, gaming, running, and long weekends visiting friends all make the list.
“Any kind of nerdy stuff, we’re probably into it.”
Curiosity, strategy, and creativity carry through from her hobbies into her work. She enjoys learning, refining, and improving. Whether it is a game strategy or a fabrication drawing, she likes getting the details right.
Zoe’s advice
“Have a good sense of humour. There are a lot of different personalities here. If you can get along with people, you’ll fit in.”
Engineering at Longveld is collaborative. It relies on shared experience, open conversations, and people who are willing to help each other get it right.
Zoe’s journey shows what happens when technical skill meets practical knowledge and strong teamwork.
