Christopher O'Brien

At leidos Airborne Solutions Australia, I am part of the airborne-search and rescue team onboard a heavily modified, fast paced Bombardier challenger CL 604 Jet. Part of a small team of five, my role is to help locate our target visually or with electro-optics such as night vision devices and manage communications with those in distress or other assisting assets. I am also the dispatcher, opening a specially modified door on the jet and dispatching specially designed stores containing life saving equipment. I am employed full-time and the working shifts are rotating, morning (7am-1pm), afternoon (1pm -7pm) and nights served from home (7pm-7am). Being a high risk and fast pace environment, professionalism is paramount to the safety of the team and the outcome of the mission. We maintain a high level of skill by consistency training and working together on standby at base.

I have recently returned to RCS Electrical services. I am currently enjoying my time back with the original team at Boeing, working on projects relating to the ATS drone, 787, 777 and 737 max. RCS gave me the opportunity to work casually, in doing so, I was able to secure a full-time position with Leidos Airborne Solutions as part of the search and rescue flight crew onboard the CL604 Jet out of Essendon.

Mobile Automation is a fantastic company which provided me with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and opportunity. I started as an electrician, working my way into project management and estimation. In my time with them I worked in a very wide range of industrial fields. Work ranging from top end automation installations and fault finding to general lighting and power installations, maintenance, and reactive breakdown callouts all over Victoria. I gained valuable experience in projected management, estimating and in maintaining relationships with large companies such as BlueScope Steal, Visy, Mondelez and Boral.

RCS Electrical Services had a large project going at Boeing Aerostructures and was looking for contract workers for 6 weeks, I was on loan from Jacogan Electrical at the time but was offered a full-time position. With RCS, I worked at the Boeing factory completing a wide range of electrical work including large cable pull runs, fitting off large switchboards, substation work and installation, HV switching, fault finding, control wiring, data cabling and fit off, installation testing and certifying. I have worked within a team under direction and supervised my own projects, directing workers under my supervision. Attention to detail in all projects is a must with RCS and I work with some very experienced electricians who I have learnt a lot from.

I worked with Jacogan Electrical services for a brief period which was my introduction into the industrial electrical field, working with Tony the owner, fault finding production line machinery, factory tools and equipment as well as general electrical installations.

TWM Electrical Services gave me the opportunity to work in the commercial industry. Starting as a second year apprentice and finishing as tradesman, start to finish projects of new multi-story apartment buildings, new townhouses, highly renovated houses which included cbus electrical work. TWM only had 6 full time workers, 3 being qualified, required me to learn quickly. I was rewarded with my own projects to run by the end of my time I completed a wide range of work with TWM and gained valuable experience with lighting, power, main switchboards and mains cabling, data, fire systems, security systems, temporary construction wiring and reading electrical plans I maintained electrical supplies and designated jobs while consulting with builders and project managers. TWM went into liquidation which was the end of my time with them.

Bay Air electrical services was a small family business which gave me the opportunity to start my apprenticeship in the domestic field. Work ranging from fault finding, rewires, new installations, renovations, new home projects and air conditioning which also included the pipe connections and gassing on the system. Working within a small domestic team created a good base of electrical knowledge to build on.