Navigating a global career:  an engineer's journey in energy generation

In the United States, most people will switch companies during their professional career at least once. In Japan, the culture is different, and people tend to stay with the same corporation from graduation through retirement. But in multinational corporations, there is an opportunity to travel around the globe to work for different subsidiaries of a parent. Keisuke (Kei) Nakamoto joined IHI Terrasun in 2022 as a project manager for our distributed generation energy storage projects. He spent two years tracking hundreds of details to bring project after project through Commercial Operation Date (COD) and into long term operation. Previously, he worked at another IHI Corporation subsidiary in the United States: IHI Energy Solutions (IES). His career trajectory within the IHI Corporation shows a combination of dedication, expertise, and adaptability.

Recently we had the opportunity to speak with Kei, who shared insights into his professional journey and the valuable experiences he has gained along the way. The journey in his own words:  

What is your background? What are your professional interests?  

"My background is in instrument engineering, specifically Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services for oil and gas plants. I completed both my undergraduate and Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Control Systems Engineering, gaining a solid foundation in these areas of expertise.

My professional journey has taken me across the globe, working on various plant projects in Japan, several other Asian countries, the Middle East, and finally the United States. I have held roles such as Instrument Engineer and Lead Engineer for electrical and instrument components, contributing to the successful development of various projects. In 2018, I was assigned to a natural gas liquefaction project in Georgia, U.S.A. This project was executed by IHI E&C International Corporation, now known as IHI Energy Solutions, headquartered in Houstin, TX. I collaborated with IHI E&C to complete this project successfully and upon its completion, I was transferred there from IHI Corporation in Tokyo.

Throughout my career, I have remained constant, staying dedicated to advancing the field of instrument engineering, striving for nothing but excellence in every project along the way."

Keisuke Nakamoto near a construction site.

You came to IHI Terrasun from another subsidiary of IHI Corporation. Where were you and what was your primary role there?  

"After the natural gas liquefaction project, I was transferred to IHI E&C from IHI Corporation, where I had been working in the Resources, Energy and Environment Business area (which also includes IHI Terrasun Solutions).

During the later stages of the U.S. project, my role shifted from technical contributor to project manager. IHI E&C had several carbon solution projects in development by IHI Corporation. I managed these projects as a member of the product department, promoting collaboration between IHI Corporation, other IHI Group companies and the IHI E&C team."

What was your role at IHI Terrasun? What were the responsibilities of your day-to-day work? 

"During my time at IHI Terrasun Solutions, I was assigned to the Project team and was appointed as the Project Manager, with the mission of managing project execution and meeting (then exceeding) customer requirements. I coordinated with the commissioning and field services teams on a daily basis to ensure the project’s progress and managed supplier delivery and installation. I also regularly worked with the customer team because while we do all the energy storage integration, power plant software and services, the customer’s team is responsible for the EPC, substation and dispatch work, so a great deal of coordination is required between the parties.

I worked on various Distributed Generation (DG) projects, helping many of these reach their COD. We focused deeply on project site safety to maintain a safe environment for our employees and others, ensuring effective communication processes between our staff and our clients, and troubleshooting to ensure all operations run smoothly.

When faced with challenging situations, I worked closely across different IHI Terrasun departments to find solutions, bring new and innovative ideas, while ensuring my team stayed positive along the way. These types of experiences were both exciting and challenging, which is something what is needed in a healthy work environment.

By getting more challenging tasks, I have been able to grow my skillset and build a real collaborative culture, expanding my knowledge along the way. This is what IHI Corporation, and all its subsidiaries, encompass. Providing me with many valuable experiences and helping me build great relationships with the entire team and our clients."

You have left to go to another part of IHI Corporation. Where are you heading and what will you do there? 

"Currently I am with another IHI group, IHI Plant Services Corporation, where we provide EPC and maintenance services for plant projects for petrochemical, power generation, oil & gas and green energy. I manage the instrument engineering team in the Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering department.

I want to continue pursing my passion in contributing to an environmentally friendly energy society through organization and company management, where I am still learning new things every day. My goal at every company within IHI Corporation where I work to grow and improve my technical and management knowledge so I can make a long-lasting impact.

Moving between subsidiaries of a large multinational is not very common in the US job market. Most people move companies when they change their role. What do you like about staying with 1 company overall? What are some of the drawbacks.  

Staying with one company for many years is not rare in Japan. In my case, I have experience with several companies under IHI Corporation’s mission and philosophy. This consistency has allowed me to gain diverse business experiences while maintaining a unified mission. It has given me many more perspectives on IHI’s position in society. However, the drawbacks are that staying with one company might limit exposure to different corporate cultures and practices but for me, the benefits of continuity, stability and a clear sense of purpose have outweighed these.  I am happy to be a part of the IHI team for so long. IHI has helped me expand my knowledge, develop my skills, and grow on a personal and professional level."

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Navigating a global career: an engineer's journey in energy generation

What is your background? What are your professional interests?

You came to IHI Terrasun from another subsidiary of IHI Corporation. Where were you and what was your primary role there?

What was your role at IHI Terrasun? What were the responsibilities of your day-to-day work?

You have left to go to another part of IHI Corporation. Where are you heading and what will you do there?

Moving between subsidiaries of a large multinational is not very common in the US job market. Most people move companies when they change their role. What do you like about staying with 1 company overall? What are some of the drawbacks.

Navigating a global career:  an engineer's journey in energy generation

What is your background? What are your professional interests?  

You came to IHI Terrasun from another subsidiary of IHI Corporation. Where were you and what was your primary role there?  

What was your role at IHI Terrasun? What were the responsibilities of your day-to-day work? 

You have left to go to another part of IHI Corporation. Where are you heading and what will you do there? 

Moving between subsidiaries of a large multinational is not very common in the US job market. Most people move companies when they change their role. What do you like about staying with 1 company overall? What are some of the drawbacks.  