Cobus, Staff Engineer

"When I started with Fugro, I barely knew how GPS systems and GNSS assistance worked. Now, I’ve reached a level where I train others on how they function and how they interface with everything else."

I started off in the company as a positioning engineer. For the first few years, I was moving rigs and boats around. As my career evolved, and our office in South Africa as well, I became more involved in geophysical operations, where we conduct actual seabed surveys. During that time, I became really interested in remote operations and autonomous systems. As part of my career development, I had the opportunity to come to the USA to assist on projects that introduced me to remote operations.

The role of an Engineer

My main role as an engineer is to ensure that all systems are functional and operational. We set up the equipment for data acquisition, and once it is running, we monitor it to make sure the systems are placed at the correct height behind the boat, so that the data quality is not affected.

This is my second time in the USA. I’ve done some positioning operations in Norway and rig moves in West and East Africa. I’ve also been to the Netherlands and the Middle East, and I’m still travelling.

What I really like about working at Fugro is the diversity I am exposed to. The people I meet are incredible; there’s a wide array of nationalities and personalities. And yet, it’s amazing how similar we are. Even when I speak to someone from the Middle East, someone from Europe, or someone from the USA, there are so many similarities, and differences as well.