Daniel Petkov

What's your job about?

I work in the Network Management Applications team. This team is responsible for 24x7 maintenance and support of Queensland’stransmission network and ongoing development of applications that assist with managing the electricity network. My current responsibilities are in developing and using automation tests to validate the operational requirements of network monitoring scripts. 

To elaborate further, the team supports and maintains the transmission network through a range of tasks, including testing applications and identifying and resolving any faults, validating correct performance of the energy management system features, and handling various other maintenance responsibilities. 

Additionally, there is a large focus on the development of applications that aid in efficiently managing the network. This involves creating automation scripts, performing data analysis, developing web tools for the intranet to access crucial data in a safe and secure manner, creating network monitoring scripts and assessing the impact that network monitoring scripts have on the electricity network, amongst other development work. 

I’ve had the opportunity to gain experience in various areas of the team’s responsibilities, and I’m currently focusing on a more involved project of validating the intended performance of network monitoring scripts using automation testing. 

The network monitoring scripts are designed with stringent operational and safety requirements, as they are used to detect outages in the electricity network and to alleviate them by redirecting power. When changes are made to these monitoring scripts, they must be validated to ensure they still perform to their requirements, which can be an arduous and time-consuming task. The automation tests that I’m assisting in developing, automatically step through the test procedures required to validate the monitoring scripts, ensuring a faster, repeatable and more reliable testing process. 

What's your background?

I’ve grown up and lived in Brisbane, with a handful of extended holidays to America and New Zealand. Growing up in a migrant family as the younger brother with four sisters, I was exposed to a vibrant and collaborative environment, where together we frequently helped our dad with various DIY projects like building tree houses and swings. This created fond memories and developed my curiosity for problem solving skills and hands on activities. My passion for understanding how things work emerged as I enjoyed dismantling and reassembling toys in my childhood.

Throughout school, I was drawn to subjects that required analytical thinking and broadened my understanding of the world, like math, physics, and programming. I saw programming as a creative language for problem-solving. 

I decided to further pursue my interests in programming and mechatronics at university, where the opportunity to design robots, delve into the world of automating things, and gain valuable work experience excited me immensely. 

One significant opportunity came when I worked as a QUT research assistant at the Centre of Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland (CARRSQ), contributing to the development of Australia’s only level 4 fully autonomous vehicle that is legally allowed on public roads. My involvement included contributing to the design of speed and trajectory control logic as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, which further fueled my interest in robotics and programming. 

Upon graduation, I faced a dilemma of pursuing engineering or software development. However, the Powerlink graduate program presented a perfect blend of both, offering me the chance to progress in both fields, and to be a part of the projects that drive Queensland to a brighter energy future. 

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes. Someone without a programming background could still do meaningful work in the Network Management Applications team, as there are many opportunities for on-the-job learning. However, if they’re thinking of joining the team (which involves mainly programming), they should expect to deal with some level of programming on a daily basis, so it is important to have a strong interest in the area and to be willing to put in the time and effort to learn. 

What's the coolest thing about your job?

Powerlink is currently going through quite an exciting time with lots of new projects and work to be done leading towards Queensland’s 2032 renewable energy targets. It feels special to be a part of the projects that impact the future and everyday lives of Queenslanders for the better. It’s also exciting to be around during the early stages of development and to have opportunities to express your creativity and contribute ideas to these projects.  

What are the limitations of your job?

My job has two major limitations. 

Firstly, working in the team mostly involves office work with limited site visits, as the work focus is on programming and doesn’t require physical setup or inspection of systems. The other teams within the Operational Technology stream do, however, have more site visit opportunities. 

Secondly, gaining permissions to access certain environments may take time, inconveniencing remote work. Even so, you will undoubtedly enjoy the benefits of working from the office, thanks to its comfortable office environment, great team culture, and wide array of affordable food options.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

My three pieces of advice all relate to making the most of your time. 

• Three to five years of studies may seem long, but you have so much freedom in choosing how and what to spend your time on while being a student! Spend your time in such a way that you will be proud later!
• Step out of your comfort zone and grow with new experiences. Take up a new hobby, join a university club that sounds interesting, travel over the holidays, try tutoring a subject you enjoy, experience studying abroad—get creative! 
• Make your holidays exciting and worth waiting for! Be sure you know when they’re coming and make some plans in advance.