My first year as a Graduate Engineer at Jee

I joined Jee Limited to take my first steps into the energy industry after completing five years of study in mechanical engineering. My goal was to find a company that would challenge me to develop the skills I had gained at university while providing the support of experienced engineers I could learn from. Jee felt like the perfect fit to help me build practical experience in the industry.

As a Graduate Subsea Pipeline Engineer at Jee, I was exposed to a wide range of responsibilities from day one, including pipeline design, pigging, integrity management and decommissioning. This breadth of experience enabled me to develop a strong understanding of subsea pipeline engineering across all stages of the asset lifecycle. I felt well supported by my managers yet was consistently encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and apply problem-solving skills to real-world projects that deliver value for clients.

While the level of responsibility early on was challenging, looking back, it accelerated my growth far beyond what I would have achieved otherwise. One of the aspects I enjoy most is the dynamic nature of the work, no two weeks are ever the same. This variety keeps me engaged and continually deepens my understanding of the engineering principles behind subsea pipeline systems. The work I do now builds naturally on what I learned at university, with engineering degrees providing an excellent foundation for this role. Core concepts such as FEA, engineering design and mechanics are integral to my daily analysis of pipeline systems.

A highlight of my first year was completing a full design suite for a new pipeline installation in West Africa. This project tested every aspect of my foundational engineering knowledge and strengthened the FEA skills I developed at university. Another memorable experience was conducting in-person engineering assurance for pigging tools deployed in the North Sea. Seeing theory applied in practice enhanced my understanding significantly and being able to get this variety of work has helped me broaden my knowledge of how to design, maintain and decommission pipeline systems.

One thing that really makes Jee’s graduate programme stand out is the balance between guidance and independence. I’ve always felt supported by experienced engineers, but I’ve also had the freedom to influence the projects I work on. As a consultancy, Jee allows graduates to match company needs with their own skills and interests, which has been a big part of why I’ve enjoyed my first year here. This flexibility means I’ve worked on projects that genuinely interest me, and no two graduate experiences are the same. That variety has helped me build a broader understanding of subsea pipeline engineering and has enhanced the experience as a whole for me.

Overall, my experience at Jee as a graduate engineer has been positive. For anyone passionate about solving real engineering challenges and eager to gain hands-on experience from the outset, I would highly recommend Jee.