Building a career in sustainable railway mobility engineering is a team effort!

Meet Laurence, Director, Systems Engineering, a woman passionate about innovation and public transit. Through her own experiences, she will offer her perspective on managing complex projects and the importance of collaboration in engineering.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your career path?

My name is Laurence Lebel. I'm a mechanical engineer and graduated from Polytechnique Montréal in 2013. I joined AtkinsRéalis at the launch of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project, where I had the privilege of working as Project Engineer, External Interface. My role was to ensure the technical link between the NouvLR and GPMM consortia, facilitating the coordination of 200 stakeholders in over 230 workshops. With only five years in a career, I led the collection of technical information and developed interface requirements essential for designing and operating the network, in a role that needed over 15 years of experience on paper. I have also led cross-disciplinary technical topics, such as evacuation route management and right-of-way access, to ensure passengers' safety in emergency situations.

I'm now Director, Systems Engineering, leading a pan-Canadian team of over 55 people. Passionate about sharing knowledge, I'm committed to promoting engineering and education, convinced that these actions contribute to more sustainable communities. My commitment to innovative projects like the REM demonstrates my willingness to make a difference in mobility in Québec.

You received an award at the 2024 Grands Prix de l'Association Québécoise des Transports, and were nominated in 2024 for the Grands Prix du génie-conseil québécois.

I had the honour of being nominated for the Grands Prix du génie-conseil québécois in the Relève du génie-conseil (Consulting Engineering Rising Star) category, and winning AQTr's Jeune Professionnel.le inspirant.e (Young Inspiring Professional). This is an important recognition of my work in engineering. Teamwork was critical to the success of the REM project and it was an honour to be part of this coordination effort in a high-profile role, managing interfaces. I'm pleased to be able to celebrate this success with my peers, proving there's a place for young women in leadership roles in major infrastructure projects.

Why do you enjoy working at AtkinsRéalis?

What I love most is working with colleagues who are committed, motivating and open-minded. Being a young woman in a position of leadership can be challenging, but I can depend on my colleagues to guide me, offer advice and encourage me without putting restrictions on me. I'm proud to work for an organization that strives to develop the potential of its talents and I'm grateful for the opportunities to engage in the success of the company and our projects.

How do you demonstrate your leadership in managing complex projects like the REM, and what qualities do you feel are essential to inspire your team?

In managing complex projects like the REM, I show my leadership through a collaborative and inclusive approach. I teach the importance of grouping different stakeholders around a common goal, facilitating communication and organizing technical workshops to solve problems together. I believe the essential qualities of a good leader include being a great listener, having intellectual curiosity and excellent organizational skills. These strengths allow me to synthesize complex information and guide my team effectively. My drive and passion for engineering inspire confidence and motivate my team members to do their best. I firmly believe that a project's success depends on a collective commitment and each member's ability to contribute to the overall vision.

What were the main challenges you encountered during your work on the REM project, and how did you overcome them?

I encountered several major challenges while working on the REM project. One of the biggest was the coordination between the different consortia, each with their own objectives and working methods. To overcome this challenge, we set up regular technical workshops where all stakeholders may share their concerns and work together on common solutions. I had to quickly put together an entire team to manage these subjects, because of the amount of information given.

Another challenge was managing complex and sometimes contradictory interface requirements. I defined protocols to ensure clear and structured communication to gather information from different disciplines to create co-signed interface control documents. This required extensive discussions and attention to detail.

Finally, meeting deadlines while maintaining the quality of deliverables was also a challenge. As Head of Discipline – Interfaces, I had to prioritize tasks and measure the performance of the two consortia to produce and approve the required technical interfaces. Through rigorous planning and ongoing monitoring, we were able to proactively and transparently manage project risks at interfaces. These experiences have strengthened my ability to manage complex situations and adapt quickly to unexpected events.

What are your criteria for selecting new team members?

I focus on several key criteria when recruiting. I first look for curious people who have a great sense of logic and critical thinking, enjoy taking on challenges as a team and are able to work well with others. I'm looking for candidates with strong technical skills in engineering, who want to learn more and more about transit systems and sustainable development. I also assess their adaptability to a dynamic environment and their proactive approach to solving complex problems. Finally, I appreciate those who share our culture of innovation, knowledge sharing and commitment to sustainable development.

What would you say to a young graduate who is considering joining AtkinsRéalis?

I'm always amazed every time I have the opportunity to explore the depth and diversity of expertise at AtkinsRéalis, locally and globally. Beyond mechanical, electrical, civil, industrial, computer, nuclear, geological & mining engineering, and others, our teams include experts in project management, environment, hydrology, sustainable development, architects, landscape architects, geotechnical engineers, geologists, human factors, transportation planning, nuclear… the list goes on! It's an incredible privilege to work with all these disciplines on various large and complex projects. You can count on a career at AtkinsRéalis if you want to learn every day and work with extraordinary people from around the world.

Are you inspired by Laurence's journey and projects? Join our teams! Apply for our positions in Canada today!