Meet Sarah Virgin, One Eighty’s Senior & Lead Consulting Engineer

At One Eighty Materials Engineering Solutions, we pride ourselves on cultivating and recognizing talent within our dynamic team of engineers. One of our brightest stars, Sarah Virgin, epitomizes the qualities we value—dedication, resourcefulness, and a passion for problem-solving.

Sarah’s journey with One Eighty began during her time as a Vacation Student while completing her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at Stellenbosch University. Identified early as a standout talent, she was offered a position during her third year, working alongside senior engineers. Since joining as a full-time member of the team, Sarah has grown into her role as a Senior Consulting Engineer, contributing to groundbreaking projects and high-profile legal cases.

Sarah’s Impact and Achievements

Sarah has played a pivotal role in several significant court matters, including providing invaluable assistance in a High Court trial and contributing to expert witness reports. Her expertise has been instrumental in international cases and projects, such as the Bark Europa matter and her forthcoming debut as a witness in a case against the City of Cape Town.

Dr. Janet Cotton, Managing Director of One Eighty, praises Sarah as “a highly disciplined, creative, and resourceful engineer” who consistently delivers results. “Sarah has an incredible future ahead and is already making a huge impact on our team. We look forward to her continued contributions as we expand into Africa and bring high-level technology to real-life problems across the continent.”

Q&A with Sarah Virgin

To get to know Sarah better, we asked her a few questions about her journey, inspirations, and experiences at One Eighty.

How long have you been part of the One Eighty team?
I have been with One Eighty for three years, since the start of 2022.

What is your role at One Eighty, and what does your day-to-day work involve?
I am a Senior Consulting Engineer. My day-to-day tasks include liaising with clients, conducting materials and metallurgical testing, and analysing and interpreting laboratory results. The projects I work on range from material selection analyses and root cause failure investigations to expert witness reports for court matters.

What did you study before joining One Eighty?
I obtained a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Stellenbosch.

What do you enjoy most about working at One Eighty?
The variety of work and industries we interact with is incredible. I’ve worked with failed boiler tubes, corroded pipelines, plastic crutches, circuit boards, leg-lengthening implants, and even ceramic tiles. The diversity keeps the work engaging and challenging.

What drives or inspires you in your professional journey?
I’m driven by the desire to constantly learn and develop my problem-solving skills. Engineering is all about tackling problems, and the opportunities to improve are endless. Growth in my field is what inspires me most.

How do you like to spend your free time?
I love spending time with friends and family, listening to music, and engaging in creative projects. My latest obsession is air-dry clay—I’ve even made coasters for my desk at work!

What’s a quote or philosophy that resonates with you?
“The only thing that’s ever stopping me is me.” – Fall Out Boy. This lyric has often encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and pursue my goals.

What’s one interesting thing about your job that most people wouldn’t know?
I’m not just behind a desk all day. I’m involved in testing, on-site work, and even court cases for certain projects.

How has your role at One Eighty helped you grow professionally?
The variety of work has exposed me to an incredible range of projects, allowing me to gain experience and confidence in areas I never expected. I’ve had the opportunity to work on large-scale projects and receive guidance from senior colleagues, which has accelerated my growth and broadened my expertise.

What’s one challenge you’ve overcome in your role, and what did you learn from it?
Initially, I struggled with client communication due to a lack of confidence. Over time, I improved my tactical empathy skills, learning to communicate effectively and understand clients’ needs to help solve their problems.

If you could describe One Eighty in three words, what would they be?
Energetic, Determined, Motivated.

A Bright Future Ahead

Sarah’s journey at One Eighty exemplifies the kind of growth, innovation, and dedication we foster within our team. With her expertise, enthusiasm, and drive, she is helping shape the future of materials engineering and contributing to our mission of delivering real-world solutions to complex problems.