Always learning, always improving: In conversation with Luke Rochester
Luke Rochester joined Birzulis in May 2026 as a Graduate Structural Engineer. He holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) from the University of Newcastle and brings hands-on experience across structural analysis software including SpaceGASS, RAPT and Hilti PROFIS. Outside work, Luke is a surf lifesaver with the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC and a competitive triathlete.
Out of the industries and project types you’ve worked on so far, which do you enjoy the most and why?
I’ve only worked as a structural engineer so far, but I’ve been loving it and I don’t think I’ll want to change. Structural engineering is a broad field — you work with so many different materials and structures that you’ll never fully know everything, which is nice. You’re always learning and improving.
I really enjoy the construction supervision side of it. Seeing things on site and how they go together greatly improves my design skills as an engineer.
You’re across a solid stack of structural software – SpaceGASS, RAPT, Hilti PROFIS. What tips would you give other graduates on how to approach learning a new software, and do you have any favourites or recommendations from your stack?
Know the fundamentals of structural engineering first. That’s what helps you use software effectively and efficiently — knowing exactly what you’re designing and having a good idea of what the answer should look like.
My favourite would be SpaceGASS. It’s handy for structural elements that are loaded differently or aren’t a typical simply supported beam.
You’ve done site investigations and dilapidation reports as part of your work. What’s something you’ve seen on site that you didn’t expect, and how has it changed your approach to how you work now?
I’ve been lucky to have a lot of experience on site, particularly on high-rise residential and commercial buildings. I’ve had the opportunity to inspect massive transfer slabs, and seeing the size of these structures for the first time is pretty crazy.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but I find just taking it all in and seeing it for what it is really helps break it down. That approach applies to a lot of what I do day-to-day as an engineer.
Tell us about a design problem where you had to figure something out that uni hadn’t prepared you for.
There’s a lot that uni doesn’t prepare you for. You learn the fundamentals and theory, but as a structural engineer there’s a lot of general construction knowledge needed to apply what you’ve learned.
A good example is designing a roof. Knowing what makes up a roof, and how the load is transferred through all the elements to get to your rafters or beams, isn’t something uni teaches you.
You joined Birzulis in May. What’s something you’ve already picked up here that’s changed how you approach your work?
At my previous company I was lucky to be the only grad working with three highly skilled engineers along with great senior draftspeople. Moving over to Birzulis, which has a larger team, I’ve had to learn how to work with fellow grads. That requires different communication skills compared to working with senior engineers.
You’re a surf lifesaver and a triathlete outside of work. Do the habits from those carry into how you approach engineering?
Surf lifesaving is all about teamwork and working together to help each other out. That translates well into working as an engineer, and being part of a company in general.
Quickfire
What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you started out?
Join a company as early as possible and get that experience while you’re still at uni. It’ll fast-track your career and make uni a lot easier.
What advice would you give someone finishing their civil engineering degree?
Absorb as much information as you can and ask a heap of questions. Don’t suffer in silence.