Staff Spotlight: Danny Quirarte, EIT

Danny Quirarte, EIT, is a motivated Staff Engineer at Civiltec Engineering Inc., holding a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Riverside. His professional experience, primarily within Los Angeles, includes hydraulic analysis for pipeline-related engineering design, developing engineering plans and specifications, and a previous internship with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

I would say I pursued engineering because it takes my passion for the sciences and allows me to directly apply towards something actionable. While I’ve considered pursuing research, I recognize that some of the novel technologies and discoveries might not ever be used in the near future due to cost or practicality limitations. As an Engineer I can help directly implement these environmental and water-related solutions as part of a team.

What discipline have you been drawn to in engineering and why? 

I have leaned into the water remediation and distribution discipline since it was what I have learned about with both my formal education and with my previous internship with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.

Can you tell us about a project at Civiltec that you are particularly proud of and why?

I’m quite proud of the work I was able to put in for the a water distribution project for Nasa/JPL. It was essentially my first major project I worked on here and served as a large training ground for my drafting and design skills.

How do you approach solving complex engineering problems in your current role?

I like to approach complex engineering problems by first reading all the available record drawings and reports to understand what potential limitations might be present with the existing as-builts. By matching the information with the available mapping, I can start developing ideas to reach the proposed end goal.

Can you share a memorable moment or learning experience from your internship at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency?

I would say a memorable learning experience from my internship with IEUA would be how the relationship between private companies and public utility owners works in the engineering field. My formal education hardly taught us about drawings, specifications, and other similar design fundamentals, so having that prior experience with them definitely helped establish a solid foundation that I have brought with me to Civiltec.

Can you share an example of a challenging project you’ve worked on and how you overcame the obstacles you faced?

An example would also be with the JPL project I helped with. What I found immediately challenging was my initial lack of AutoCAD knowledge and efficiency, as I had not used it for about two years. I was able to slowly overcome this barrier with the help of Civiltec staff training me to a greater level of proficiency. Now I am far more comfortable with drafting and other design fundamentals, which I can take to other projects.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in engineering?

I would say to get your EIT license as soon as possible if you don’t have it already. It really helped me get more job interviews after I got out of school. Also doing a paid internship and gaining hands-on experience can go a long way.

What is your favorite trail to hike? 

While I haven’t done many new trails recently, I would say the Big Horn Mine trail by Wrightwood is an excellent path for those with good cardio and 3 hours to spare.

Where on your food journey has stuck out to you lately? 

I’ve mainly been searching for more local pop-ups. The Haven City Market in Rancho Cucamonga has plenty of great options from independent owners.

What future goals do you have for your career in engineering, and how do you plan to achieve them?

My primary future goals are to obtain my PE license while I gain more professional engineering experience with Civiltec. I will set time aside to study for the exam while I continue to learn on the job with the intent of obtaining new technical and management skills. I also recognize the importance of using proper terminology and phrasing when creating effective technical reports, presentations, and Master Plans. I will continue to improve on this current weakness as time progresses with each new project.