From The First Step to Engineering Confidence

Starting a professional journey is rarely a straight line. For some, however, the first step becomes the place where curiosity grows into expertise. Progress does not happen overnight, but when effort and support meet, the results speak for themselves.

That is the story of MARINE TECHNOLOGY (BLRT Grupp) 's (MT) Senior Project Engineer Laura Rimgailė .

Surreal Early Moments

Laura joined MT during the final year of her mechanical engineering studies at Klaipeda University . What started as a search for practical experience quickly turned into something more.

"At first, I was simply looking for a place to do my internship," Laura recalls. "I reached out through people I knew, and someone contacted the HR team to ask about opportunities. When I learned that MT was looking for new team members and that I was offered a position almost right away, it felt surreal."

She started as a Junior Project Engineer at the age of 22. Entering a field often still perceived as male-dominated and working alongside experienced professionals could have been intimidating. Instead, it became a valuable learning opportunity.

“You arrive straight from university, where you mostly know things from books, and suddenly you are surrounded by professionals with years of know-how,” she says.

“But very quickly you realise that competence has no age and no gender. If you do your job well, people will respect you and eventually turn to you for advice and solutions.“

 Learning by Doing

The transition from theory to real projects is one of the most defining stages in any career. At the beginning, Laura supported colleagues with drawings, documentation and smaller tasks.

"First, you observe the processes, take notes, and help others," she explains. "Then your manager sees that you are progressing well and begins trusting you with more challenging tasks."

One of the important projects that marked this turning point was an order for a large set of high voltage dynamic cable reels: 42 units with a flange diameter of 4.2 metres, destined for Australia as part of the Jansz-Io Compression project operated by Chevron Australia. Laura handled the 3D modelling and technical documentation for the project, right through to its completion.

“A project like that feels almost like raising a child,” she smiles. “You work on it for months, and finally you see the final result with your own eyes. That moment brings a lot of satisfaction.”

Of course, real projects also mean real challenges. Mistakes happen, sometimes costly ones. Over time, Laura learned to look at them differently. “There were moments when I was very hard on myself,” she admits.

“Now I understand that mistakes are part of the process. The important thing is to draw conclusions and know what you will do differently next time.”

Constantly Growing

Over her five years at MT, Laura has continued to expand her knowledge and skills. Alongside her work, she completed a master’s degree of engineering science, programme Shipping and Port engineering at Klaipėda University and took part in several professional development programmes supported by the company and WESTERN SHIPYARD GROUP .

“I was truly given the chance to learn,” she says. “I completed Project Management Academy, visual inspection VT1 courses, Autodesk Inventor 3D modelling programme. The best part is that all these skills stay with you throughout your career.”

Being part of MT also means working on projects that rarely repeat themselves exactly. “Even with the same client, every project comes with different requirements,” Laura explains. “You need to approach each situation carefully and check every detail.”

It’s this constant variety that makes the work truly engaging. “For me, the most exciting part is the dynamic nature of the job. How much you gain depends on how much you’re willing to explore. If you stay open, every day brings something new to learn and take with you.”

Curiosity as a Driving Force

Recently, Laura has become increasingly involved in the company’s R&D activities. One of the topics she has been exploring is adhesive bonding solutions, which have already been applied in a current project for reels destined for the United States.

“That kind of work really motivates me,” she says. “Generating ideas and seeing how they can be applied in practice is like food for the brain.” In her opinion, curiosity is essential for engineers who want to grow professionally. “Technologies change quickly, standards are updated and new materials appear,” Laura notes.

“If you want to become the best version of yourself as a specialist, curiosity is your strongest tool.”

Today, Laura manages several projects at once and shares her knowledge with colleagues. Looking back, she has no doubts about the decision she made five years ago. “I’m grateful for the warm welcome and support I received – from my main mentor and from every team member. Joining MT was truly the right choice.”

Great to have you with us, Laura! Wishing you all the best in the exciting chapters ahead!