Zakariya Ali
London,United Kingdom
Summary
Motivated and curious Civil Engineering graduate with a passion for creating practical, community focused solutions through teamwork and innovation. Recognised for creativity and leadership in award winning university design projects and real world experiences. Confident communicator with a track record of adaptability, responsibility, and collaboration across both academic and work environments. Brings energy, problem solving mindset, and a strong willingness to learn into every challenge, aiming to grow within a forward thinking engineering team.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Rail Systems Operative
STM Group
London, Islington
2024.10 - 2026.01
- Independently managed station operations, ensuring safe, punctual train movements in line with railway engineering standards and safety systems.
- Built a strong technical understanding of railway infrastructure, signalling principles, and operational procedures to diagnose issues and support rapid resolution during service disruptions.
- Supported fault reporting and basic troubleshooting of station assets such as platform equipment, PA systems and ticketing gates to contribute to improved asset availability and passenger safety.
- Coordinated train arrivals, departures and platform readiness, working closely with control and maintenance teams to minimise delays and maintain system reliability during peak periods.
- Optimised use of station resources and staff deployment to improve operational efficiency and maintain service performance targets.
Quarry Development Fieldwork
City St George's
Devon, Torquay, Torquay
2024.04 - 2024.04
- Participated in a university organised geological field study at multiple active quarry sites in Devon as part of an assessed civil engineering module.
- Conducted in depth analysis of sedimentary rock formations and fossil layers to assess material composition and inform quarry sustainability.
- Collaborated with peers to create development strategies aimed at increasing quarry output while preserving long-term structural integrity.
- Delivered daily presentations on findings and proposed solutions, responded to technical questions from academic staff and peers, simulating real-world client engagement.
- Produced a comprehensive development plan incorporating environmental, structural, and economic considerations.
Ice Rink Operations
PWR Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
London, City of Westminster
2023.11 - 2024.01
- Assisted with daily checks and maintenance of rink infrastructure, including boards, flooring, and access points.
- Recorded key operational data such as ice temperature and equipment status as part of routine monitoring.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
Interior Designer
Garden Barge Project
London, Camden
2022.04 - 2022.05
- Learned the value of precision and attention to detail in project execution.
- Transformed dull spaces into vibrant areas with colour schemes tailored to client preferences.
- Incorporated green building practices into designs, promoting sustainability initiatives within the firm.
- Created PowerPoint presentations and Excel spreadsheets within timeframe constraints, ensuring consistent, high quality standards were maintained.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Civil Engineering
City St George's University of London
London, United Kingdom 2022.10 - 2025.07
BTEC Engineering - A Level Maths
City and Islington Sixth Form College
London, United Kingdom 2020.09 - 2022.08
GCSEs -
Holloway School / Beacon High
London, United Kingdom 2015.09 - 2020.07
Skills
- Innovative Thinking
- Skilled in group dynamics
- Time Management
- Various coding applications
- Adaptability
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- Collaborative team player
Accomplishments
- Applied Technical Software in Academic Projects such as AutoCAD, MATLAB, STAR-CCM+, Proteus, and SolidWorks for engineering design, modelling, and simulation across coursework and design challenges.
- Led a student design team to win the Transport Section of the "Engineering for People Design Challenge" by proposing a cost-effective and sustainable mobility solution for underserved communities.
- Received the Best Presentation Award in a collaborative design project with Garden Barge, where we reimagined urban interior spaces using recycled materials and sustainable concepts.
Certification
- CSCS Green Labourer Card
- CSCS White Card Academically/Professionally Qualified Person (Test Ready)
- Emergency First Aid at Work
- SIA Door Supervision License
Civil Engineering Projects
Dissertation: Wave Reflection By Submerged Breakwaters October 24 - April 25
Conducted a detailed investigation into how different submerged breakwater geometries affect wave reflection and coastal erosion risk. Used wave theory and numerical modelling in StarCCM+ to analyse interactions under varying depths, slopes and wave conditions, evaluating performance against coastal protection criteria. Provided design recommendations to optimise low visual impact coastal defence schemes, supporting sustainable shoreline protection. Developed strong simulation, data analysis and technical reporting skills through continuous iteration and validation of model results.
Celestial Hotel Redevelopment in London April 2025 - June 2025
Worked in a team to engineer a structural redevelopment of a Grade II listed hotel, including façade retention, a new basement and an additional storey. Designed reinforced concrete structural frames, lateral stability systems and basement foundations in line with Eurocodes. Developed façade support using steel needle beams and staged underpinning to safely maintain the historic masonry during excavation. Integrated sustainability systems such as rainwater harvesting, Integrated sustainability systems such as indoor growing planters and solar panels on the roof, contributing to an Outstanding BREEAM rating.
Sustainability Assessment – King’s Mill Hospital, UK October 2024 - December 2024
Assessed environmental, social, and economic impacts of a major hospital redevelopment using BREEAM standards, analysing energy systems, materials selection, waste reduction, and ecological improvements to support sustainable construction outcomes.
Refugee Camp Civil Infrastructure Report January 2024 - April 2024
Collaborated in a group to design a full refugee camp masterplan for 10,000 residents in Turkey including shelter engineering, water supply, sanitation networks, road layout, climate resilience and security provisions, guided by UNHCR standards to ensure safety, accessibility, and long-term functionality.
Interests
- Problem Solving
- Socialising
- Fitness
- Table Tennis
Timeline
Rail Systems Operative
STM Group
2024.10 - 2026.01
Quarry Development Fieldwork
City St George's
2024.04 - 2024.04
Ice Rink Operations
PWR Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
2023.11 - 2024.01
Bachelor's Degree - Civil Engineering
City St George's University of London
2022.10 - 2025.07
Interior Designer
Garden Barge Project
2022.04 - 2022.05
BTEC Engineering - A Level Maths
City and Islington Sixth Form College
2020.09 - 2022.08
GCSEs -
Holloway School / Beacon High
2015.09 - 2020.07