Meet the Team: Additive Manufacturing Engineer – Rachnah Keenoo

From Mauritius to Geelong, and now deep in the world of additive manufacturing, we spoke with Rachnah to learn more about her journey, her goals and why she sees collaboration and continual learning as the backbone of her work.

Tell us about your journey. How did your path bring you to Conflux?

I moved to Geelong from Mauritius about seven years ago to continue my studies. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics at the University of Aerospace Instrumentation in Saint Petersburg and then completed a Master of Engineering (Professional) at Deakin, specialising in Mechanical Design. That’s where I focused on product development, additive manufacturing and some project management too.

I worked at White Graphene for three years before joining Conflux, literally next door. I’d always been curious about what was happening here, especially because I wanted to get back into AM. When I saw the AM Engineer role advertised, I applied straight away.

What does your role as an AM Engineer involve?

As an AM Engineer, I’m involved across the whole production cycle. From data preparation and build set-up to machine turnovers, de-powdering, pressure testing, flushing and generating cleanliness reports . I’m also involved in performing maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment within our scope of training.

I ensure that each part meets quality requirements before it leaves the building. I also get involved in shipping and I spend part of my time working on OH&S across the business. It’s a role that combines technical details with hands-on problem-solving, which I truly enjoy.

You also work in OH&S. What does that look like?

With support from others, I help identify hazards, implement controls and review them. I also run OH&S inductions for new employees and look at how we can keep our policies aligned with current regulations. For example, there’s a new focus on psychosocial hazards, so I’ve been working on how we can implement that at Conflux. I’m currently completing my diploma in OH&S as well.

How does your engineering background shape your approach to safety?

Being involved in production means I really understand what’s happening on the floor. As a result, I can bring engineering thinking into our safety planning, like suggesting and implementing engineering controls or changes to how we interact with machines. It’s one thing to read about safety in theory, but being hands-on is where I feel I can make the most impact.

What is your current focus?

I’m still building my knowledge in data preparation, especially using software to optimise parameters for our laser powder bed fusion process. I’m also trying to understand how we can standardise some of our production steps so that the whole team can work more efficiently, especially on things like cleanliness and surface finish.

Do you have any personal goals you’re working towards?

On the OH&S side, I’d love to align our OH&S system even more closely with ISO 45001. It’s a well-known and rigorous structure. On the engineering side, I aim to learn as much as possible about additive manufacturing continually. Eventually, I’d like to work towards becoming a registered mechanical engineer and support the R&D team in providing input to improve our post processing procedures by reducing manual labour and automating processes while maintaining high quality standards.

What do you find most rewarding about working at Conflux?

Honestly, it’s the people. I genuinely enjoy working with everyone. Just this morning, Michael, our CEO, reminded us to feel proud of what we’re creating. That meant a lot. He’s really present and he listens. That kind of leadership sets the tone.

There’s also a no-blame culture here, where the focus is on improvement and problem-solving. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our final products—they’re stunning—and to know that what we’ve created has real-world impact in high-end applications.

We also have a great culture. There’s always something happening, events, get-togethers, it makes it easy to feel part of the team.

What would be your advice to someone considering applying to Conflux?

If you’re looking for something impactful, in an environment that values innovation and teamwork, and you think your skills could contribute, don’t wait for a job ad. Just send in an expression of interest. There’s a section on the careers page where you can do that.

And for someone just starting?

Talk to everyone. Learn from everyone. People here are really generous with their time and knowledge, and that makes all the difference.

And finally, how would you describe Conflux in three words?

Team. Collaboration. Improvement. Everyone helps each other.