From site to structural design
In conversation with Jordan Olivieri, Graduate Structural Engineer
Jordan Olivieri joined Birzulis in 2025 as a Graduate Structural Engineer, bringing practical experience from Moits (2021–2023) and Enspire Solutions (2024–2025) before completing his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with a Diploma in Professional Practice at UTS in November 2024. His site experience includes a stint as Site Engineer on the NSW Government’s Sydney Fish Markets redevelopment under Multiplex – a background that shapes how he thinks about design today.
The through-line
“Engineering solutions must be buildable.”
You’ve worked site delivery for Moits at the Sydney Fish Markets under Multiplex, and now design at Birzulis. What does each side teach you that the other can’t?
Working on site, you see firsthand how sequencing, access, safety, procurement, and coordination all influence whether something is practical to build. It taught me that engineering solutions must be buildable.
Since moving to Birzulis, I’ve gained a much deeper understanding of the engineering behind those decisions. I now spend more time considering load paths, structural behaviours, and the rationale behind different design solutions before anything reaches a job site. Having experienced both sides has helped me approach projects more holistically – not only whether a design works structurally, but also how it will be constructed.
The Sydney Fish Markets is a project most engineers would want on their CV. What’s something about it that wouldn’t make it into a project sheet?
What doesn’t get highlighted is how much communication goes into delivering a project of that scale. There are constant conversations between engineers, subcontractors, supervisors, and clients to keep everything moving. The technical aspects are important, but successful projects rely just as much on teamwork, planning and clear communication as they do on engineering.
What made you move from contracting into structural consulting?
I really enjoy construction, but I wanted to learn more about the engineering decisions happening before drawings reached site. Moving into consulting gave me the opportunity to develop those technical skills while still drawing on the practical experience I’d gained in construction.
Tell us about a problem where you had to figure something out that uni hadn’t prepared you for.
At university, problems are well defined, and solutions are provided to you. On real projects like the Sydney Fish Markets, there are competing priorities – programme, constructability, cost, and stakeholder requirements – that you’re never taught to weigh against each other. Learning how to balance them while working with different subcontractors was something you only develop through practical experience.
What’s something you’ve learned at Birzulis that’s already changed how you approach your work?
The importance of asking questions early. As a graduate, it’s easy to think you need to have all the answers, but discussing ideas with experienced engineers leads to better outcomes and helps you develop much faster.
What do you find genuinely satisfying about structural engineering?
I enjoy the balance between technical problem-solving and creating something tangible. Knowing the work you do contributes to buildings and infrastructure that people will use every day is rewarding. Every project presents different challenges, so there’s always something new to learn, and it’s satisfying seeing a concept progress from design through to construction.
Quickfire
How has Birzulis helped you develop since joining?
Birzulis has given me exposure to experienced engineers who explain not just what to do, but why. That mentoring has accelerated my learning and given me confidence to take on more responsibility. I’ve also worked on a variety of projects, which has broadened my technical knowledge and exposed me to different structural systems and design challenges.
What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you started out?
It’s impossible to know everything as a graduate, and that’s normal. The most important thing is to stay curious, ask questions and learn from the people around you. Engineering is a profession where you’re constantly building knowledge, and every project teaches you something new.
What would you tell a graduate considering a path that mixes construction and design?
I’d recommend gaining exposure to both if you have the opportunity. Working on site gives you an understanding of how projects are delivered, while consulting develops your technical engineering skills. The combination helps you become a more practical engineer because you can appreciate both the design intent and the realities of construction. Having experience on both sides has given me a broader perspective, and it will make me a better engineer overall.
Jordan Olivieri is a Graduate Structural Engineer at Birzulis’ Sydney office.