Precision meets purpose in environmental engineering
Rafin Khan’s co-op terms taught him how engineering can blend creativity with precision to solve real-world challenges and create meaningful change.
Across five work terms in energy, construction and water systems, Rafin Khan (he/him), a third-year Environmental Engineering student, learned valuable lessons in innovation, sustainability and design. Co-op opened up his career options and helped him find a passion in bridging technology and sustainable infrastructure.
Rafin's co-op journey
Market forecast and integration student, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
Rafin worked with teams of engineers across Ontario, Quebec and the United States to monitor grid operations and optimized IESO's internal tracking tool. His work improving the tool reduced lookup times by over 20 per cent.
Environmental engineer, William Sale Partnership (WSP)
Rafin's second work term took him out of the office and into the field, where he helped monitor groundwater and surface water quality, conduct air and noise assessments and supervise the installation of groundwater monitoring wells.
Field engineering intern, Kiewit Corporation
Entering the fast-paced world of construction, Rafin worked on the Union Station Enhancement and King-Liberty SmartTrack Station projects in Toronto. He performed topographical surveys, co-ordinated project schedules and built automated Excel tools to support daily workflows.
Contract management student, IESO
When Rafin returned to IESO, he saw an opportunity to improve how the team managed settlement communications. He developed an automation tool using Visual Basics for Applications (VBA) and Outlook integration that created personalized drafts for more than 160 contracts.
Water and wastewater student, WSP
Rafin supports the design of water and wastewater infrastructure projects. His work includes design analysis for pump stations, cost estimating, project co-ordination and preparing building permits.
Q&A with Rafin
What has been the most rewarding thing about co-op?
Seeing how the work I do actually makes a difference. At IESO, I built automation tools that the team used to verify energy contracts. Knowing that something I built continues to help people long after my term ended is incredibly rewarding.
At Kiewit, being on-site and seeing the station we’d been planning start to take shape was a totally different kind of reward. It’s cool to see both sides, the technical and the hands-on.
My work terms have helped me figure out what type of work actually excites me. I started thinking I’d stick with environmental fieldwork, but after doing projects in energy, construction and now water systems, I realized that I really like being in that middle space where design, optimization and sustainability all connect. Co-op helped me find that direction instead of just guessing what I’d enjoy after graduation.
Every term, even the challenging ones, taught me something valuable. Co-op helped me figure out where I can make the most impact.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve done on a work term?
Automating the statement verification process at IESO. It used to take the team over 16 hours to do it manually, so I built a VBA tool that brought it down to about an hour. It wasn’t just about coding, but it was about understanding how people worked and figuring out how to make their jobs easier. Seeing it actually used in real time was one of those moments where I felt like that was what I wanted to keep doing.
What have your co-ops taught you about your industry?
Through my co-ops, I’ve realized that engineering is so much more than just technical work; it’s about collaboration, communication and understanding how every small part contributes to something much bigger. When I worked at Kiewit on the King Liberty SmartTrack Station project, I saw first-hand how much co-ordination it takes between different teams to keep things on track. From field engineers to designers to project managers, everyone played a role, and learning how those pieces fit together changed the way I look at engineering projects.
At IESO, I experienced a completely different side of the industry, one that focused on energy systems, data and automation. That’s where I saw how much impact technology can have behind the scenes. When I built the VBA tool, it made me realize how innovation doesn’t always mean building something physical. Sometimes it’s improving a system that people rely on every day.
Now at WSP, I’ve been able to connect those experiences in a new way. Working in water and wastewater design has shown me how sustainability and infrastructure come together to create long-term impact. Every project I’ve been a part of has taught me something new, and it’s given me a much broader understanding of how diverse and exciting this field really is.
What did you enjoy about your company’s culture?
All of my co-op jobs had really good team environments. At IESO, people were super open to hearing my ideas, even when I was just trying things out. They gave me a lot of trust and space to experiment, which helped me grow.
At WSP, I’ve had the chance to learn from a bunch of experienced engineers who are always willing to teach or explain something. You can tell they really want students to learn, and that kind of culture makes a big difference.
What advice do you have for other co-op students?
My biggest piece of advice is to treat every co-op as a chance to explore, even if the role isn’t exactly how you pictured it. Every experience teaches you something about the industry, about how teams work and about yourself. When I started my first co-op, I was nervous to ask questions or speak up because I didn’t want to seem inexperienced. Once I realized that asking questions is one of the best ways to learn, everything changed.
At Kiewit, I asked a lot of “why” questions, like why certain materials were chosen or how design decisions affected construction. Those conversations gave me insights I never would’ve learned in the classroom. At IESO, I took initiative on a small idea to automate one of our processes and it turned into a tool for the whole team. That experience taught me that even small ideas can make big impact if you’re willing to try.
Take time to connect with people. Your mentors, coworkers and even other co-op students can teach you a lot just by sharing their experiences.
Co-op isn’t just about building your résumé, it’s about figuring out what kind of work actually excites you and what type of environment helps you grow. The more curious and involved you are, the more rewarding each term becomes.
What's next for you?
Looking ahead, I hope to build a career in consulting and energy. I’m interested in creating tools and systems that help organizations work more efficiently and sustainably. Whether through data-driven design, energy optimization or project management, I aim to continue bridging technology and sustainability in infrastructure.