gtag('config', 'G-6TW216G7W9', { 'user_id': wix.currentUser.id });
top of page

Cameron, Senior Commissioning Engineer at Sindoni Consulting & Management Services, Inc.: Advize Career Interview

A career path to senior commissioning engineering at Sindoni Consulting & Management Services, Inc., began unexpectedly after a political science and psychology degree.

An administrative internship sparked a passion for engineering, leading to a fulfilling career focused on systematically testing building equipment in healthcare projects.

The work is a blend of field work and office-based responsibilities, requiring strong communication, documentation, and mathematical skills, but most importantly, a love for engineering and how buildings function.

The greatest rewards include seeing projects through completion and collaboratively solving complex system issues.

While navigating client needs presents a challenge, the industry's collaborative nature and the opportunity to build strong relationships are highly rewarding.

Internships are the key entry point, offering a chance to explore this exciting field, one that values dedication, a willingness to learn, and strong soft skills developed even outside a traditional engineering curriculum.

A successful career in commissioning engineering emphasizes hard work, continuous learning, and building lasting professional relationships.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Cameron Schunk

Senior Commissioning Engineer

Sindoni Consulting & Management Services, Inc.

University of California, Santa Barbara

N/A

Humanities, Political Science, American Studies, Psychology

Construction

Operations and Project Management

Transfer Student, First Generation College Student

Watch all of this Advizer's videos below

Career Path of a Senior Commissioning Engineer at Sindoni Consulting and Management Services

After initially pursuing psychology and political science at UCSB, a career in local politics followed graduation, but Cameron found "it wasn't necessarily what I wanted to do." An administrative internship at Sindoni Consulting unexpectedly sparked an interest in engineering, leading to a full-time position and over six years of growth within the firm, "falling in love with engineering" and now working as a Senior Commissioning Engineer.

Main Responsibilities Of A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting

Cameron's main responsibilities as a Senior Commissioning Engineer involve "systematic testing of all...equipment" in healthcare projects, acting as a crucial link between design, construction, and the owner to ensure a building functions as intended. This includes significant field work early in career progression shifting toward more office-based responsibilities as the career advances, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and documentation of findings to "make sure that the owner...is getting what they paid for".

A Day In The Life Of A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting And Management

A senior commissioning engineer's work varies between "a day in the field," involving early mornings at construction sites, using instrumentation to "validate findings," and "a day in the office," focusing on project management, client communication, and design reviews. This role demands strong documentation skills and the ability to communicate technical information clearly to diverse audiences.

Most Important Skills For A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting

A Senior Commissioning Engineer requires strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and a solid foundation in math for calculations to "validate things and make sure that we're on the right track". Most importantly, however, a genuine "love for engineering," specifically mechanical and electrical engineering, and a fascination with "the way buildings work" are crucial for enjoying the work.

Favorite Parts Of Being A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting

Cameron, a Senior Commissioning Engineer, finds the greatest satisfaction in "see[ing] a project all the way through from start to finish," gaining a sense of accomplishment. Equally rewarding is the collaborative troubleshooting of complex system issues, resulting in the successful resolution of problems and a strong sense of team accomplishment.

Challenges For A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting

Cameron's biggest challenge as a Senior Commissioning Engineer at Sindoni Consulting & Management Services, Inc. is "navigating the needs of the client," as clients, across various sectors, "are not always super clear on what those needs are," requiring Cameron to help them define their requirements to deliver the best possible service.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Construction and Engineering Industry as a Senior Commissioning Engineer

Cameron, a Senior Commissioning Engineer, appreciates the construction and engineering industry's "singular focus" on building and creating, finding the diverse backgrounds and "great stories" from colleagues—many of whom, like Cameron, unexpectedly found their careers in this field—most enjoyable. The evolution of the industry, as recounted by experienced professionals, adds another layer of fascination to Cameron's work.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Commissioning Engineering Industry, According To A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting

Successful commissioning engineers possess a "hunger to succeed," are self-directed and dedicated, consistently showing up and putting in the hours. The willingness to admit when one doesn't know something and to avoid acting like "the smartest guy in the room" are also key attributes for thriving in this demanding field.

What a Commissioning Engineer at Sindoni Consulting wishes they had known before entering the Construction industry

Cameron, a Senior Commissioning Engineer, humorously notes the early mornings inherent in construction—"get ready to be a morning person"—but more seriously wishes someone had emphasized that a "mathematics wizard" is not required for a successful engineering career. The field welcomes dedicated individuals, even without specialized backgrounds, who demonstrate passion and commitment to thrive.

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Engineers At Sindoni Consulting

Sindoni Consulting & Management Services, Inc. offers internships in Southern and Northern California as "the best way to get your foot in the door," primarily seeking engineering students, but also considering those in tangentially related fields. The internships allow prospective employees to determine if "this is something you actually like."

Career Lesson From A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting

Cameron, a Senior Commissioning Engineer, emphasizes the importance of "never burn a bridge," highlighting that building strong relationships and providing excellent service leads to future opportunities; the snowball effect of this approach is evidenced by their company receiving "90% plus of the work...because they did a good job for someone prior."

College Experiences That Helped A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting And Management Services Succeed

Cameron's undergraduate experience, while unrelated to their current role as a Senior Commissioning Engineer, significantly contributed to career success by fostering crucial soft skills. The development of "communication, clear writing, staying organized," and collaborative teamwork in a "self-directed learning environment" proved invaluable in their professional journey.

bottom of page