David Nguyen is a CAD Operator at Civiltec with three years of experience supporting a range of water and civil engineering projects. A recent graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a focus on water resources and land development, David is skilled in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and Total Station surveying. He brings curiosity, energy, and precision to each design task, helping transform field data into construction-ready plans
What originally sparked your interest in engineering?
When I was in high school, there were academic pathways that were available to students who were interested and I chose to enroll in the engineering pathway. This came with coursework that was engineering related, and I grew fond of a class that taught Computer Aided Drafting. I loved learning about how to draw 3-dimensional shapes on paper with an engineering scale and translating that to the computer. I took a real interest in drafting mechanical parts and eventually designing my own house on applications such as AutoCAD. Learning these skills cemented my interest in becoming an engineer and designer.
How did your education at Cal Poly Pomona prepare you for the work you’re doing now at Civiltec?
My education was crucial in understanding how the business works in terms of design and in function. In school, a lot of the material is calculations and problem solving, but it was also research and learning how to manage work, as well as how the design process within engineering occurs. I mainly learned how to design on Civil3D during my time in school, and that has ultimately gotten me a jump start on the work I started to do here at Civiltec.
What was it like transitioning from college into a professional engineering environment?
The transition was certainly new, and not easy at first. I felt as though there was a whole new fountain of knowledge that I had not discovered until I started at Civiltec, and that was surely daunting. Especially with having to learn new rhythms in my personal life to accommodate my professional life. However, Civiltec does a great job at nourishing their interns or new employees into their roles, and I have felt like I was able to learn so much to prepare me for my role.
Is there a project you’ve worked on at Civiltec that you’re especially proud of, or that taught you something new?
My first large project I worked on here, at Civiltec, was a project for the City of Brea. I really got to put my knowledge of skills I had worked on with smaller projects to the test with this one. I got to work on creating basemaps, researching utilities and right-of-ways, designing pipelines and profiles, providing street improvements, and overall, learning a ton more along the way. The completion of this project was surely a great accomplishment for me that I will never forget.
You’re already skilled in AutoCAD and Civil3D — what CAD feature or workflow do you enjoy using most?
What I enjoy most about CAD is putting together all of my work into a set of plans. It’s nice to get to the end of a project milestone and see your work put together neatly. It really highlights all the time you’ve put into the project, and you’re always proud of the work you finish.
What have you learned from working alongside more senior engineers and designers at Civiltec?
I have learned so much from my peers here at Civiltec. They have taught me so much about our culture, how we design here, and have given me a place to grow in our field. I would not have learned as much about design in CAD, industry practices, and how to work within a team if it were not for my peers.
How has your role evolved in your time at Civiltec so far, and what’s something new you’re hoping to learn next?
My role has evolved a lot since being an intern. I was fortunate to work on a lot of structural design back then and am really proud of the work I had done with Sanjay Verma. However, working with David Song has been so educational for me, in the context of pipeline design. I have always wanted to work closely in water engineering, specifically pipelines, so I jumped at the opportunity to learn and grow in this role. I’ve come so far in my ability to work on pipeline projects, with a more improved proficiency than I had a few years ago. I hope to continue my growth in CAD design with newer, bigger projects, and possibly learn some new software and programs to further build my repertoire and be of more service to Civiltec!
What’s a personal interest or hobby that helps you recharge or stay creative outside of work?
Something I love to do outside of work to recharge is to sing and play guitar! I love playing and listening to music, and I would consider it my other passion besides engineering. I also love being active and outdoors, whether that’s playing golf, snowboarding, going to the beach, camping, etc.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Civiltec team?
What I enjoy most about being a part of Civiltec are the people! My peers are so helpful and supportive in helping me reach my goals but also won’t hesitate to have some fun now and then. I appreciate that they make work fun and engaging, and a way to make the day go by pleasantly.
