Bridging Dreams: How a Trip to the Philippines Sparked a Career in Civil Engineering

Jay-R’s fascination with buildings initially sparked a dream to become an architect, but his expertise in science and math steered him towards civil engineering. 

His passion for bridge design came about on a trip to the Philippines where he encountered bridges in poor conditions. This ignited a desire to understand their design and construction, shaping his career in improving the integrity of these essential structures.  

Today, Jay-R applies the hands-on knowledge he gained in the field to lead our projects with insight and innovation. His story is a testament to the power of curiosity and the impact of real-world experiences in shaping a successful career in civil engineering.  

“As construction engineers we need to work with a lot of different teams so having communication and coordination skills are key,” said Jay-R Salgado. 

For our budding engineers, he’s a mentor who eases them into the craft with tasks like form designs, gradually advancing to complex challenges like crane rigging and lift design. His mantra? There’s always a solution, and we have the resources to find it.  

What truly excites him is the synergy of working alongside industry experts, leading and learning in an environment that’s at the forefront of the field. We’re proud to have some of the best minds in the business, including him, driving us toward excellence. 

Currently, he supports projects in the Northwest division including the California High Speed Rail, I-405 Widening & Express Toll Lanes, US-50, Anderson Dam Tunnel, Orinda Water Treatment Plant and the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Upper San Leandro Water Treatment Plant. 

The Construction Engineering Group at Flatiron focuses on the “how” when it comes to building the project. This team has extensive experience in designing and constructing various temporary works, including:  

• Solutions for construction sequencing  

• Structural modeling 

• Critical lift planning 

• Falsework and formwork design  

• Thermal analysis for mass concrete  

• Safety systems engineering 

• Support of Excavation  

• Custom Rigging Design 

Interested in joining CEG? Check out our current opportunities.