From delivery to legacy: Smita on engineering what matters

Smita’s career is defined by depth, scale, and impact. A Technical Director, GTC Quality at AtkinsRéalis, Chartered Civil Engineer, and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, she has spent over a decade shaping projects, people, and practices across the organization. Before joining GTC in 2013, she built a strong foundation across design, contracts, and construction management on major infrastructure projects in the UK, an experience that continues to inform her approach to delivery and quality today.  

For Smita, engineering has never been only about delivery. It is about legacy. As she puts it, engineering is “a purposeful integrity” that helps solve real societal challenges with empathy, ethics, and innovation.  

Smita also measures time in a way many working parents will recognize. She joined AtkinsRéalis when her children were toddlers, and today, they are at university. In between, she built a career defined by stretch, service, and steady impact.  

A career shaped by purpose 

Smita sees quality as a way to strengthen outcomes for clients, teams, and communities. This is because every project carries consequences beyond the drawing board. Roads, drainage, systems, and services all shape daily life. That is why she brings the same care to every piece of work, large or small. She describes it with striking clarity. “When I am delivering it, I get the feeling that I am autographing that work.” 

From project delivery to wider influence 

Since joining in 2013, Smita has moved across project delivery, technical learning and development, design transformation, and now quality leadership. She did not treat those moves as titles to collect. She treated them as chances to contribute where the business needed her most and where she could add value. 

“I took up every opportunity the organisation gave it to me,” she says. That mindset helped her build a broad view of how engineering excellence happens. Not in isolation, but together. Across disciplines. Across teams.

Making quality matter in real terms

Smita’s current focus is a data-driven approach to quality management. She is working on how AtkinsRéalis can demonstrate “Right First Time” to clients, using insight to improve consistency and anticipate issues before they affect delivery. 

This matters because quality is not only about checking work after the fact. It is about shaping better decisions earlier. Meaning that teams can reduce rework, improve efficiency, and protect value. It also supports a more sustainable approach by helping teams use resources well and solve today’s challenges without losing sight of future generations. For Smita, this is part of a much bigger mission. “We are engineering a better future for people, places and planet.” 

A culture built on trust and care 

Ask Smita what helps people do their best work, and her answer is direct. Flexibility. Collaboration. Support. Trust. Integrity. Care. Engineering leadership. 

She believes people come to work wanting to do their best, and when they need help, the team should help them get there. That belief creates an environment where people can grow with confidence and contribute with honesty. 

Building the future together 

What excites Smita most is the organization’s vision for the next decade. For her, it represents more than growth. It signals ethical, sustainable progress for the greater good. It is a future built by people who want to create lasting value together.

Her message to anyone considering AtkinsRéalis is simple. “You are welcome, please join in.” And her advice reaches even further. Be kind to yourself. Keep learning. Stay open to the impact you can make. 

Explore career opportunities with AtkinsRéalis.