Inside job: Charlotte Arcus

I describe my role to non-engineers as... helping to ensure our water stays healthy and our people stay safe by designing devices that manage the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff.

The part of my job that always surprises people is… that I am an engineer (a career typically associated with men), especially early in my career. It feels good to challenge those stereotypes, and it’s heartening to see the gender balance in our industry is shifting.

The best emoji to sum up me on a typical workday is…

The best thing I’ve introduced at my workplace is… giving stormwater engineering a spotlight through the “Day in the life of” video I created with Engineering New Zealand’s schools programme the Wonder Project. This led to helping to develop and pilot their latest programme, the Water Challenge.

In my role, I always challenge… engineers to grasp fundamental engineering principles and develop their own intuitive numerical “gut feeling”. We are at risk of becoming too reliant on complex calculations or sophisticated software. Equally important is the ability to question results and have a robust understanding of fundamental principles to enable us to vet budding ideas and potential solutions.

At work, I’ve never been afraid to… keep asking questions. Best practice is often changing and evolving, so keeping up with learning is important.

In the past year, I’ve pushed boundaries by… expanding my professional network by actively connecting with local councils and the stormwater industry, keeping myself updated and driving latest trends and best practices.

At school, teachers always described me as… “just needing to apply herself to reach her full potential”.

My luckiest break was… following through on encouragement to apply for the Water New Zealand Young Stormwater Professional of the Year award. It required a journey of introspection and a renewed confidence in my capabilities.

The bravest thing I’ve done to get where I am today… was when my now husband and I set up a civil services consultancy and worked remotely while travelling Southeast Asia for a year and a half. At the time, I thought: we are leaving our dream job, dream flat and flatmates, a great bunch of friends – this is a crazy idea. But it was worth it for the growth we experienced, personally and professionally.

Best career advice I’ve received… came from our Water Discipline Manager, Sam Reed, who shared this gem by Warren Buffett: “Trust is earned in drops and lost in buckets.”

I’d advise other people interested in my type of role to… pursue your passions and say yes to opportunities, even if they scare you.

3 things I love about my job

• E mao ana ki ua, e ua ana ki mao – sometimes it rains, sometimes it shines. I love the variety – each day brings its own unique set of challenges that require innovative engineering solutions, consultancy skills and collaboration.
• The impact of our work – seeing the positive ripple effects from the projects we’ve worked on, and realising I'm helping to enhance people’s lives, connect communities and positively shape the city.
• It offers me meaningful opportunities for growth and purpose.

2 reasons why I chose to study engineering

• My careers advisor convinced me that a love of physics + maths = an awesome career in engineering, and she was not wrong.
• I also have a creative streak and wanted a role that could bring together STEM and creativity. I have since found that using creativity and innovation skills alongside physics and maths will take you a long way in the engineering world.

1 thing I wouldn’t change about my workday

He aha te mea nui o ta ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata! I feel incredibly fortunate to learn and develop alongside talented, passionate people, committed to making the world a better place.

This article was first published in the December 2024 issue of EG magazine.