Working in hydraulic engineering and on your own professional development

From designing a pumping station to building bridges, locks, and innovative solutions for flood control. At TAUW, it all comes together. The engineering and consulting firm works on a wide variety of projects every day, where different disciplines collaborate seamlessly and there is plenty of room for personal development. It is precisely this versatility that makes the work incredibly dynamic, according to design lead Erik Korterink: “No two days or projects are the same.”

Korterink has been with TAUW since 2007. “My career actually began while I was studying Civil Engineering in Arnhem, when I did an internship at TAUW. It’s been nearly eighteen years since then, and I’ve grown significantly within the company, specifically in the field of structural hydraulic engineering.”

Content and Project Management

Korterink began his career as a designer of hydraulic engineering structures. “In that role, I was primarily involved in the technical development of designs. My ambition to advance toward becoming a structural engineer quickly grew. After a few years, I had the opportunity to take on more and more calculations, often in collaboration with experienced colleagues. That’s how I gradually developed into a structural engineer, specializing in hydraulic engineering. Over the past seven to eight years, I’ve also taken on the role of design lead. In this role, I combine engineering with coordination: I liaise with clients and contractors, ensure that project teams know what is expected of them, and monitor technical quality. This places me at the intersection of technical work and project management, which makes the job even more interesting.”

Huge variety

TAUW is a multidisciplinary consulting firm with offices in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Deventer, and Assen. It also operates internationally. Various disciplines collaborate within the company: from geotechnical engineering and structural design to flood control, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. “That combination means we can carry out projects almost entirely in-house.” According to Korterink, what makes working at TAUW so special is the enormous variety. “One moment you’re working on a pumping station, the next on a fish passage, bridge, tunnel, or lock. The role also varies by project. Sometimes, in the early phase, you collaborate with a water board or provincial government to develop a design: what is needed here, and how can we best help the client? In other projects, you work with a contractor to make a design feasible, including phasing and construction details.”

From Bennekom to Vlieland

Korterink is currently working on a new pumping station in Arcen, among other projects, as part of a major dike reinforcement effort. “Here, we developed the design together with the contractor, including considerations for flood safety, phasing, and foundations. I’m also involved in a wastewater treatment plant in Bennekom, a project still in the design phase, and it’s right around the corner from me. That doesn’t happen very often. We’re also working ‘a little further down the road’ on replacing the quay at a marina on Vlieland. You can imagine that the logistics here are a major challenge.” The fish migration river near Kornwerderzand on the Afsluitdijk is also an interesting project for Korterink. “An innovative solution to enable fish migration in a tidal area.”

So there’s plenty of variety in terms of projects and clients. “TAUW is an attractive employer—especially for young people. We offer them an educational and dynamic environment. Within projects, junior staff work closely with experienced designers and structural engineers. They’re involved from the start and learn how projects really work. In addition, there are traineeships, internships, and plenty of opportunities for career advancement. Because we’re somewhere between a small and a large firm in terms of size, as a young professional you’re quickly given responsibility and get to see a project from start to finish rather than just a small part of it. It’s truly your project. That makes the work not only educational, but also incredibly fun and varied.”

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