Asking an Engineer for National Engineers Week: Lucas Marsh
What is your position and Title at SVEC?
I am a Systems Engineer.
What are your roles and responsibilities at SVEC?
I am over a lot of the automation, such as the SCADA system, relay settings, and heading “timing and coordination.” Automation is getting equipment and devices to automatically function a specific, desired, way based on certain conditions. This is achieved through calculating values for those conditions and programming those values into the controllers for the equipment. It’s a cooperative so everyone wears a lot of hats. I also deal with the solar accounts, a lot of customer questions, and power quality questions. And other duties as assigned.
What is your definition of an “engineer” and what they do?
When describing an engineer problem-solver and designer comes to mind. An Engineer is someone who designs projects and is quick to problem-solve and come up with a solution. Someone who helps maintenance dig a little deeper, working with manufactures to debug pieces of equipment.
Where did you go to school?
I went to Bledsoe County High School and then I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
What was your degree and focus?
My degree is in Electrical Engineering and my focus was in power and protective relaying.
Did you always know you wanted to become an engineer?
My dad, he’s an industrial engineer, so I grew up with him has a role model. I have always been good at math and sciences, so whenever I got older, I just knew I wanted to go into engineering. I have always had a fascination for electricity and wanted to know more about it and its functionality, so it led me here.
Why did you choose to become an engineer?
There are many focus areas in electrical engineering, and honestly, I chose to become a power engineer with the hopes of someday coming to SVEC. The Sequatchie Valley is home to me, and I have always wanted to help provide a service to this community that has been so good to me.
What is your favorite part of your job here?
In engineering the projects, a lot of the times, are a very big workload, so in nature it kind of becomes a team sport. All the way from planning to installs to maintenance after the fact, it takes a lot of people. The engineering team we have here are just outstanding people to work with. That would be my favorite part, the team that I work with.
What would be your advice to any kid or young adult who thinks they want to be an engineer or even an engineer working for a cooperative?
I would say just go for it! It can be very challenging at times, but at the end of the day getting to come up with innovative and creative solutions to modern problems is extremely rewarding.