Q&A with Pamela Aybar, Civil Engineer

By February 26, 2019 Engineering News

Pamela Aybar, Civil Engineer

Q: What were you doing prior to joining DiPrete Engineering?

A: Before joining DiPrete, I was working at an engineering firm in Pawtucket for three years as a civil designer. Prior to that, I was working as an onsite field engineer in the Dominican Republic (DR).

 

Q: How did you decide to become a Civil Engineer?

A: It’s funny because as a little girl I wanted to be a lawyer which could not be more different from engineering. My family has always been involved in construction; my dad was a general contractor, my mom an inspector years ago, and they also owned a company selling construction materials in Punta Cana, DR. One day my uncle, who is a Civil Engineer in DR, brought me to a few of his project sites including the construction of a resort in Punta Cana. I was fascinated that a person could design something that would be built to exist a lifetime and so I started studying and learning the importance of the materials my dad sold. Everything finally clicked and made sense to me. My love and passion for engineering started there.

 

Q: What does a typical work day look like for you?

A: I typically get involved in a project once it completes the pre-application phase and I then begin the engineering design. My primary task is to come up with a cost-effective engineering design that best fits the site’s condition. It is also my responsibility to complete all documents necessary to satisfy city and state requirements and eventually prepare construction documents.

 

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: I love figuring out how things work and how processes can be improved. Every project is different and you will never have the same site conditions. It keeps you on your toes.

 

Q: How do you enjoy spending your time outside of work?

A: I’m very family-oriented so I am always trying to figure out what we can do next to spend more time together as a family whether it’s having a barbecue out in the yard or planning a weekend trip to visit my brother in Florida. As a mother, it’s extremely important to me that my son, Liam, knows the value of family so we also try to fly back home (DR) as much as we can so he can spend time with his grandparents, aunts, and uncles there. The best days of my life have been around my family and I don’t take that for granted.