Staff Spotlight: Jesse Cabral, PE

Jesse Cabral, PE, brings over seven years of comprehensive civil engineering experience, with a strong focus on infrastructure projects, commercial and multi-family developments, and public agency collaborations. He has been a member of our Prescott team for almost a year, assisting in large-scale civil, drainage, water, and transportation projects across the Coconino, Yavapai, and Mohave counties. Welcome to the Prescott team!

Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a civil engineer and what inspired you to pursue this career?

I chose civil engineering in high school because of my family in construction and engineering. My grandfather inspired me to pursue engineering after taking me on a tour of some local colleges in my hometown. After experiencing it myself I ended up loving the field. My first internship sealed my desire to work as an engineer after college; the rest is history. 

What do you enjoy most about working at Civiltec and being part of the Prescott team?

Civiltec is a firm that aims to be the local experts for each region we serve. The Prescott team is a knowledgeable and fun group, and I enjoy working with them. 

Can you share a recent project you enjoyed working on and why it sticks out in your mind? Were there any challenges in particular, and what solutions did the team come up with?

We have an ongoing project with an agency here in Northern Arizona, where we are providing remedial drainage design in one of their neighborhoods. Mitigating the drainage problems has required some unique solutions. The most important factor in the success of that project has been listening to both our client and their impacted residents to ensure everyone is satisfied.

What skills/tools/advice have been most valuable to you in your engineering career so far?

If you are available and willing, say yes to opportunities where you can learn under a seasoned industry expert. They will not only teach you the skills necessary to complete tasks, but they will also advise you on potential project pitfalls to watch out for. They typically have some entertaining stories as well!

What advice would you give to aspiring civil engineers looking to enter the industry?

Be prepared for a fulfilling career full of challenges, hard work, and sacrifices along the way.

How do you balance your work responsibilities with your personal life and hobbies?

Family comes first, so I do my best to plan my work/studying/personal goals in a way that lets me be there for my wife and kids. Take full advantage when work is slow because there will be seasons where extended pushes are needed for work/studying.

Can you describe a particularly rewarding moment or accomplishment in your career?

I got my PE license first in California. Not only are there extra testing requirements in California that are not required in other states, but the best feeling was knowing the sacrifices I made to study while working full-time and having a family paid off.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in civil engineering today?

I think the biggest challenge in our industry is a lack of licensed professionals in both civil engineering and land survey. There are a significant number of those who graduate with an engineering degree and never pursue licensure. Additionally, not everyone who studies and takes the PE exams obtains their license because of strict testing requirements.

With that being said, that provides a huge opportunity for those who desire to pursue either land survey or civil engineering as a career. It takes a lot of hard work, but if you are up for the challenge it can be a very rewarding career path!

After living in California then moving to Phoenix and now Prescott you have traveled a bit. What has been your favorite place to live and where would you recommend visiting while there? 

I loved living in Morro Bay. I grew up 10 minutes from the beach in San Diego, so all of my hobbies all revolve around the ocean or being outside. It’s a great spot for fishing, surfing, and seafood. There are also a large number of hiking and biking trails within an hour of Morro Bay, so if you enjoy being outside it is a great place to visit!