Engineers Week 2023: Celebrating our Visionaries, Thinkers and Doers

Jeffery Dingle – Vice President, Strategic Sales Team Leader and Client Principal

What inspired you to be an engineer? Did you have a mentor or someone you looked up to in the field?

As I grew up, I really didn’t even know what an engineer was until my sophomore year of high school. I was really good at (and enjoyed) math and sciences. Math was my safe space, but I was definitely in the minority in my advanced math classes at my predominantly white high school. A friend of mine in my math class shared with me an engineering magazine (Engineering News-Record) that featured successful Black entrepreneur engineers in Atlanta (H. J. Russell & Company, Williams-Russell & Johnson Inc., and Delon Hampton). Within it, for the first time, I saw people that looked like me who were civil engineers, electrical engineers, that had great careers with other companies and then created their own companies. These men had become (and still are) iconic in the engineering consulting industry in Atlanta.

What excites you about the future of Jacobs?

Our company culture, approach to inclusion and diversity and our focus on a culture of belonging for all are deeply ingrained in our values and how we operate day to day. We’re continuing to mentor our people leaders to lead with culture and supporting them along the way. As a leader, I try to cast a strong shadow as an inclusive leader by being persistent and deliberate about doing my part to maintain a work environment that focuses on common decency within a culture of belonging for all. I’ve been known to say often, “No more jerks at work!"

Eva Chan Hu – Risk Manager and Deputy Commercial Manager

What advice would you give to those considering a STEAM-focused career?

I started as a civil engineer because I wanted to build things, but I quickly learned engineering encompasses so much, even down to planning sewage and drinking water lines. Young professionals should know every single role is important because they play a part in improving people’s lives. Also, by choosing a STEAM career, with so many career options, they will never get bored. I’ve had the opportunity to do many things — from design and planning to risk and commercial management. They shouldn’t be afraid to try something new and to speak up if they’re interested in a new challenge.

What do you enjoy most about being part of Jacobs?

Jacobs gives employees the support they need to do their job. The company also places value on inclusion and diversity. I work in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Jacobs’ culture is very different; many of my colleagues, including in senior roles, are women. I recently had an opportunity to attend an event for the Women Builders Council. Our entire table of ten women were from Jacobs, and there was some really amazing talent. We got to talk about our careers, and I think this is one of the reasons people like to work for — and stay with — Jacobs. The company encourages you to envision what you want to do and supports you to achieve it.

Jhivaun Freeman-Pollard – Senior Director

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEAM?

When I graduated from high school, I was on the track to go to law school. I'd taken science and math courses throughout high school and done well, so while I was attending the University of California (UC) Davis, I signed up for geological engineering and civil engineering courses to round out my pre-law schedule. I found the engineering courses more interesting, and I did well in those courses, which gave me the opportunity to take advanced level engineering courses in my junior year. This led to an internship with a uranium tailings company and an internship to develop a temporal model for light rail project in my senior year. Upon graduating I was accepted to law school but a headhunter contacted me and asked if I would be interested in working in the field of nuclear or geothermal. That's how I entered a career in STEAM.

If you could tell your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be?

Don’t sweat the small stuff, and be open to change! Also, don’t get hung up on what others say (good or bad) about you. Not everything is a crisis and people can change their opinion about you in a blink if you impact their agenda. However, if you’re always giving your best effort and working on improving your abilities in support of meeting your goals and dreams, that will speak volumes!

Carl Widrig – Lead Systems Engineer, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

What inspired you to  pursue a STEAM career?

I have always been interested in NASA. When I was in fourth grade we went on a school field trip to NASA’s Ames Research Center in California. Leading the design and execution of a space satellite and being around the rockets inspires me to push the boundaries of what’s possible for my team, Jacobs and NASA.

What advice would you give to the next generation of engineers – especially those who are interested in space?

Getting your foot in the door is key. It’s also important to choose a company where you can be exposed to different fields and areas of expertise. Once you’re in, new opportunities will come. You’ll get to work with people outside your immediate group and show them you’re capable of great things. Also, if you are a college student, take advantage of internships — they are a great way to get into the field, grow your network and find where you excel.

Lene Bjerregaard – Director of Life Sciences Operations for Denmark

What do you enjoy most about being part of #OurJacobs? 

I’ve been part of the Jacobs team for only a few months, and I already have a huge sense of belonging. It’s all down to my colleagues, who have supported me every step of the way and made sure that I settled into the role. This kindness and inclusiveness are reflective of the culture of caring that is an integral part of #OurJacobs. I have never felt so at home.

Do you think enough is being done to encourage women to join our industry? 

I’m seeing more and more women entering what was traditionally viewed as a male-dominated industry. This is a very positive trend, but obviously more can be done to encourage greater participation by women. Our culture of caring and inclusiveness ensures we deploy diverse teams and bring a wide range of perspectives to bear on each client project. I also passionately believe in the power of role models, and ‘if you can see it, you can be it’. I’m proud to be a woman in charge of our Denmark operation and I hope that my leadership will attract more women to the industry.

Rita Oliva – Associate Director of Tunnel Engineering & Lower Thames Crossing Design & Assurance Manager

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEAM?

The main driver was my passion for getting answers and solving problems. In school I liked all disciplines, but found math and physics to be the most interesting subjects. I enjoy using critical thinking and the best thing about being an engineer is the ability to work in a field where there is always a scientific or technological development to learn and apply to real-life situations.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is to take risks and don’t be afraid to do or go somewhere new. I completely left my comfort zone by leaving a job I liked in Lisbon for the unknown — but exciting — opportunity to work in the U.K. Now, almost seven years later, I’m delighted with my choice, and I wonder where my next risk-taking decision could lead me in my career.

William Chan – Critical Mission Solutions Consultant

You’ve been with Jacobs for less than a year - can you tell us what attracted you to our team and what you’re working on at the moment?

I was attracted to Jacobs for the supportive, diverse and inclusive work culture alongside transformative projects in a diverse range of areas, such as defense and space. I’m currently working on an Australian national security project and hopefully one day I'll be able to support Jacobs’ space exploration work.

But right now, the combination of the U.S. infrastructure stimulus and breakthrough innovation means we have a generational opportunity to futureproof our infrastructure in an affordable and equitable way. It’s a pivotal time for the industry, and I believe it’s truly exciting.

What advice would you give to tech-savvy young professionals thinking of joining Jacobs?

My advice is to consider why and consider what’s possible. At Jacobs, what we do is more than a job, we work every day to make the world better for all. Everything we do — from addressing water scarcity and aging infrastructure to ensuring access to life-saving therapies and protecting against sophisticated cyberattacks — is more than projects outlined in proposal requests. We know we can help our partners make a positive impact on the world. Each of us is united by the drive to dream big.

Jordyn-Marie Dudley – Planetary Geochemist and Project Manager, NASA Johnson Space Center

Tell us what you’re working on these days.

I’m leading a study that compares different techniques to measure hydrogen in minerals of astromaterials, tested with samples of Martian meteorites. This study was funded by a Jacobs innovation grant and will help us determine the most suitable technique for our research looking at the evolution of water in the solar system. These analyses will ultimately be used to estimate interior water contents on Mars!

Proudest career moment?

My proudest career moment was delivering a series of invited presentations to the middle schools in my hometown, which included the middle school that I attended. It was a really cool moment for me to get to talk to students that were sitting in the same classrooms that I once did. Even though I had a strong support system at home, I didn’t know any professionals in STEAM that weren’t my teachers when I was growing up. I’m proud that I can now be a mentor for other students with a similar experience.

Sonya Pemberton – Principal Consultant

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEAM?

My parents always encouraged me to be interested in the world around me and ask questions. When I was a teenager, I read Bill Bryson’s book A Short History of Nearly Everything and found the story of scientific development fascinating. Originally, I was interested in space and pursuing a career in physics since I enjoyed studying math and physics at school. Once at university, I was inspired by two of my professors to study materials science and pursue a scientific career.

What does the future of engineering look like to you?

The future of engineering looks younger and more diverse, with a growth in both nuclear fission and fusion. It’s an exciting time to be working in the resurgent nuclear industry and in a company that has a growing proportion of female scientists, engineers and leaders.

Nigel Stanley – Senior Director of Cybersecurity

Can you tell us a what you’re passionate about?

My passion is all things cybersecurity, especially operational technology (OT) cybersecurity which looks at the risk of physical “things” controlled or monitored by computers. With all the smart systems and projects we work on at Jacobs, there is no shortage of opportunities for us to grow this side of the business.

Can you share some career advice you’ve received that was especially memorable?

I know it’s a cliché but, “Never stop learning.” The cyber domain is in a constant state of flux as new threats and challenges emerge. I often find I go away on holiday and return to a whole new set of urgent cyber issues. I’d also say get a good solid engineering education but then think about softer skills – how you interact with people, persuading them and helping them with addressing cyber risk.