At Schnabel, we’re proud to celebrate National Engineers Week by highlighting the talented engineers who drive innovation in our field. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Libby Hayden, one of our creative R&D Engineers. Libby plays a key role in advancing our construction methods and design processes, constantly exploring new ways to improve and innovate.
What Inspired Libby to Become a Civil Engineer?
Libby knew she wanted a career that offered both field experience and data analysis, and she found civil engineering to be the perfect blend. “I figured out I wanted a career that combined spending time in the field and data analysis and chased a career that would do that.”
Libby’s Favorite Project
While Libby enjoys all aspects of her work, she finds it difficult to pick just one favorite project. She loves the variety and the constant challenge. “I can’t choose just one—it feels like picking favorites. What I love most about this job is the incredible variety of tasks. Whether it’s drawing up plans, fabricating prototypes, coding complex spreadsheets, teaching internal classes, graphing monitoring data, or mixing experimental grouts, there’s always something new to keep me on my toes.”
Key Skills for a Civil Engineer
Libby emphasizes three essential skills for any aspiring civil engineer:
- Communication: The ability to understand and address the difficulties faced by others.
- Ingenuity: Creative problem-solving within the constraints of existing processes.
- Data Analysis: Knowing when and how to leverage data to solve problems or explain complex phenomena.
If Libby Weren’t a Civil Engineer…
If Libby weren’t in civil engineering, she would pursue a career as a flight medic.
Advice for Future Engineers
Libby shares a piece of advice that has guided her throughout her career: “The piece of advice I got as an engineer entering the field is: Find a mentor that’s excited to share their knowledge to work for.”
Join Us in Celebrating Engineers Like Libby
At Schnabel, we are proud to have talented engineers like Libby Hayden who continuously push the boundaries of innovation. Her contributions reflect the passion and creativity that drive our team’s success.
If you are an aspiring civil engineer and looking for a career that will allow you to help others and make a meaningful impact on your community, visit our careers page to check out all our civil engineering positions.
