Senior Structural Engineer · Melbourne, Australia
Structural Engineering, Elevated.
Kaan Karabina is a Melbourne-based structural engineer with 8+ years of experience in bridge and infrastructure asset management. He blends hands-on inspection expertise with UAV-based digital inspection technology to help asset owners keep roads, rail and bridges safer, longer-lasting and easier to maintain.
- 8+
- Years of Experience
- 200+
- Inspections Led Annually
- 5
- Australian States Served
- 2024
- Featured Conference Speaker
About
A structural engineer with an eye in the sky
With over eight years in structural and civil engineering, Kaan has built his career around one core idea: infrastructure lasts longer when it's inspected smarter. From leading large-scale Level 2 and Level 3 inspection programs at the Department of Transport Victoria, to heading up Asset Management and Investigations teams at Sterling Infrastructure, and now delivering senior structural engineering at Rockfield Technologies — his work spans the full lifecycle of road and rail infrastructure assessment.
What sets Kaan apart is his hands-on command of unmanned aerial technology. As a licensed drone (UAV) pilot, he pairs traditional engineering judgement with aerial inspection and digital reality modelling — an approach he shared with the industry as a featured speaker at the 2024 Australian Small Bridges Conference. The result is inspection work that is faster, safer and more cost-effective, without compromising on rigour.
- Level 2 & 3 structural inspections across road & rail networks
- Asset management leadership across five Australian states
- UAV-assisted inspection & digital reality modelling
- Licensed drone (UAV) pilot with hands-on flight expertise
Experience
Career Journey
A progression built on inspection leadership, asset management and modern inspection technology.
Sep 2025 — Present
Senior Structural Engineer
Rockfield Technologies · Melbourne, VIC
Delivering senior structural engineering at a technology-driven design services firm focused on creating safer, smarter and more sustainable infrastructure assets — a natural next step in Kaan's mission to modernise how critical infrastructure is inspected, monitored and maintained.
Jan 2023 — Sep 2025
Sterling Infrastructure
Melbourne, VIC · Civil & Structural Engineering
Dec 2024 – Sep 2025
Asset Management Lead
Oversaw the Inspections (Level 2) and Investigations (Level 3) teams, delivering structural assessments for road and rail infrastructure across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia for government and private asset owners.
Apr 2024 – Dec 2024
Investigations Lead
Jan 2023 – Apr 2024
Structural Engineer
Nov 2022 — Jan 2023
Senior Engineer – Structural
Department of Transport, Victoria · Melbourne, VIC
- — Led the annual planning, preparation and execution of 200+ Level 3 Monitor Inspections, finalising inspection reports and updating the asset management database.
- — Delivered targeted Level 3 inspections across rural and metropolitan Victoria, including incident & emergency response, post-flood and post-bushfire assessments, and handover inspections of newly completed structures.
- — Carried out section-loss assessments at Hume Highway culverts and timber pile assessments across the Gippsland region.
- — Developed the benefits management framework for UAV-assisted structural inspections — an early step toward his current focus on drone-based infrastructure assessment.
Expertise
Where Kaan Adds Value
A practical blend of structural engineering discipline and modern inspection technology.
Structural Inspections
Delivering Level 2 and Level 3 structural inspections for bridges, culverts and rail assets in line with Australian infrastructure standards.
Asset Management
Leading inspection and investigation teams to help government and private owners manage the performance, safety and longevity of critical infrastructure.
UAV-Assisted Inspection
Applying drone technology and digital reality models to assess hard-to-reach structures — faster, safer and at a lower cost than traditional methods.
Emergency Response Assessment
Carrying out rapid structural assessments after floods, bushfires and incidents to support the safe reopening of critical infrastructure.
Investigations & Reporting
Producing detailed Level 3 investigations, section-loss analysis and condition reports that inform long-term asset strategy.
Licensed Drone Pilot
Combining hands-on UAV piloting skill with structural engineering expertise — a practical, in-demand edge in modern infrastructure inspection.
Speaking & Recognition
Sharing Knowledge With the Industry
2024 · Gold Coast, Australia
12th Australian Small Bridges Conference
Invited speaker in the Monitoring & Inspection stream, presenting "Integrating Robotic Use & Tactile Methods for Comprehensive Bridge Inspections." The talk explored how UAV technology and digital reality models can promote sustainability, reduce cost and increase safety in bridge asset inspection.
Contact
Let's talk about your next infrastructure project
Whether it's structural inspections, asset management strategy, or UAV-based inspection technology, Kaan is always open to connecting with industry peers, asset owners and collaborators.