OTHNIEL CRESSY

Mechanical Engineer, based in Christchurch

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

The desire to create new stuff, to bring a new idea into the world and give it life. Towards the end of school I got a taste for thinking stuff up drawing it and making it happen in the garage.

How did you get your start in the industry, and what was your first role?

I had a great start at GTech NZ, an industrial centrifuge manufacturer as a design engineer in the field of industrial product design. As a small team there was a good mix of the mundane and the terrific thrill of cooking up completely new machines. I got the job through a cousin who worked there. Going into it it was almost a last resort—I’d done like 20 job applications, which felt like a lot, but in retrospect it was a dream job to start out in.

Can you tell me about some of the key projects or roles you’ve held that shaped your career?

The projects that have stretched my capabilities the most have undoubtedly been the most formative. One project to develop an plastic film intermittent slitter was dropped on us by the sales team and was quite a challenge due to unfamiliarity. It taught the importance of networking and letting other experts dictate some elements of the design. And in the end it was a raging success even if slightly over budget. Another project that stands out is one to develop a very small centrifuge for the NZ market. The idea was to really think broad and reduce manufacturing complexity. A lot of juggling with stock sizes and bearing sizes to make it work was well rewarded. It really knit the team together especially when it showed really competitive performance for its price point.

What’s been the most rewarding project you’ve worked on in your career?

I was just starting out on my own as a design engineer and got a project to develop a large centrifuge that had a number of quite ambitious features. Conceptually it was quite a challenge to solve a few problems and there was a lot of calculation and simulation complexity. But in the end it really came together as an awesome product which is selling really well.

What are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned along the way?

(1) Be open and honest all the time and use tact where necessary. (2) Ideas are floating around us everywhere you just have to be able to see them and pick the right one to solve your problem. (3) Don’t stall, keep doing stuff until the pathway emerges. My ridiculous mantra is: if you want to get stuff done you have to do stuff.

What attracted you to Caliber?

The variety of work. There’s a high level of support. It’s kind of like having a seat belt. You don’t need it very often but it’s very reassuring to have it there.

What does your current role at Caliber involve?

I’m largely occupied with industrial design from concepts through to detail design.

How would you describe the culture at Caliber?

No politics. Its always interesting to hear the stories of others in a similar environment solving similar problems.

How does working at Caliber differ from other places you’ve worked?

Working at Caliber gives a good range of experience. Many of my Caliber secondments I would have never chosen as a full time job. But getting into them for 6 months makes the work more intense since usually you are expected to deliver well. And when things do go badly or you have a poor secondment environment, there isn’t the feeling of having no escape—it is only going to last for 6 months to a year.

What do you enjoy most about working at Caliber?

The no fuss attitude to most things.

How have you grown professionally since joining Caliber?

Two things: (1) Gaining confidence in how I present; and (2) Thinking more holistically about the value added to the client and not just the small design task I have. Thinking big and trying to add value both at the detail design level and in larger picture thinking.

Are there any certifications, training, or milestones you’re working toward?

I’m working on developing a training module about Concept Design that I’ll present to the Caliber team as part of our Learning & Development program. It will cover things like ideation and concept development, design, and methodologies like MPV and Lean.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their engineering career?

1. Push yourself. Challenges are to be overcome, not for the too-hard basket, don’t avoid them.
2. Keep on learning, especially where you see a deficit in your team.

What’s something you wish you knew earlier in your career?

ChatGPT 🙂 And, if you face a difficult awkward problem, don’t procrastinate and don’t let it stall you. Think about it, tackle it. Develop tools to tackle it if need be. You will grow in the process and will be more useful.