Jack Marchant - Civil Engineer
Meet Mr. Jack Marchant! Mr. Marchant is a civil aviation engineer at Kimley-Horn. He spends a significant amount of time using AutoCAD to design airport projects and is responsible for creating plan sets, reviewing the work of others, and monitoring project progress, budgets, and schedules. Additionally, he assists in preparing analysis reports to support airport planning, design, and construction. His role also involves managing project tasks, overseeing design and permitting, coordinating construction, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to ensure the successful completion of each project. At the moment, Mr. Marchant is working on the Sacramento International Airport New Pedestrian Walkway and Concourse B Expansion as well as the Mather Airport Rehabilitation.
Mr. Marchant chose to pursue a career in civil engineering after narrowing down his interests to math and science. In high school, Mr. Marchant applied to several schools for civil and mechanical engineering and ultimately attended the California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, where he majored in civil engineering.
In high school, Mr. Marchant took accelerated math and science courses. In college, in addition to regular coursework, he performed an internship at Kimley-Horn, a company specializing in engineering planning and design consultancy. During his internship at Kimley-Horn that lasted for two summers, he worked in development services, which he describes as a niche part of engineering. This internship involved examining the various construction aspects of apartment complexes, including access to utilities, the storm drain, the sewage system, and the water system. After interning for Kimley-Horn, Mr. Marchant was offered a job on a team at Kimley-Horn that specializes in aviation projects. As a consultant specializing in civil aviation engineering for Kimley-Horn, Mr. Marchant wins and coordinates projects.
As a specialist in civil aviation engineering, Mr. Marchant deals with the logistics relating to infrastructure, the design of utilities, the grading or leveling of the earth, and permitting. He is also involved in the politics related to the process of beginning with money granted for a project and signing off a project well done. Mr. Marchant states that, once a project’s construction is finished, involvement with the project can continue through maintenance coordination.
Mr. Marchant points out that an airport functions like a small city, and many different parts must be coordinated when an airport is being repaired, rehabilitated, or expanded. Several rules must be adhered to, including that the pavement used must be of a certain strength. Planning the different phases of construction can be complex, as one must organize the construction schedule in such a way that the airport loses as little money as possible. Several elements must be taken into consideration when planning an airport, including fuel access, parking structures, roadways, and drainage facilities.
A typical day for Mr. Marchant involves using the Computer Aided Design application AutoCAD to design structures and creating viewports and sheets for clients. AutoCAD has in large part replaced drawing designs by hand. Mr. Marchant gives the designs he has created to the contractor, who in turn builds it. Further work Mr. Marchant performs includes speaking with landscape architects, electrical engineers, and other civil engineers. Mr. Marchant also takes part in weekly meetings with the client to ensure that the project’s time frame is being adhered to and incorporates feedback from the client into his work. He frequently visits the construction site when a project of his is being built.
Mr. Marchant enjoys several aspects of civil engineering. He appreciates that it is tangible and that he can design a plan that he can see in action. He also appreciates that it does not only involve performing calculations for the entire day. He views civil engineering as a meaningful combination of science and art and values that numbers can back up the designs he has made.
Mr. Marchant points out that work as a civil engineer can also involve certain inconveniences. He references week-long time spans where he must sit at his desk performing work on his computer using AutoCAD and points out that civil engineering can involve large amounts of office work. Requesting additional money when additional materials are needed or when a project takes longer than originally planned can also be necessary.
Several elements are essential to being a successful engineer. Mr. Marchant describes that understanding how to learn and how to have conversations with others is incredibly important. He encourages those interested in engineering to attend career fairs and other events in college and to be social. He also recommends performing multiple internships but highlights that one can still find a job without internships. He further states that one should try to place oneself in uncomfortable situations and should actively try to meet new people.
Artificial Intelligence has brought about many changes in the workplace already, according to Mr. Marchant. While he believes that it will not fully replace civil engineers, he appreciates that AI can allow him to work more efficiently and with greater productivity, and he values that it will augment his capacity to design. He believes that Ai will make the design process smoother but points out that civil engineering is a hands-on job that ultimately requires human interaction
As a civil engineering consultant, Mr. Marchant describes that the hours he has worked on a specific project are a measure of the value of a project, requiring him to track the hours he has worked on each project. Furthermore, he must diligently manage the money provided. He is given a certain amount of money for the project, instead of a blank check.
Mr. Marchant greatly enjoys his work as a civil engineering consultant at Kimley-Horn and appreciates the various careers of those he interacts with in the workplace, including individuals who specialize in structural engineering, environmental engineering, graphic design, and Human Resources.
Mr. Marchant appreciates that consulting allows him to have a project overview. He appreciates being able to see the big picture that involves finances and meeting clients in addition to engineering and design and enjoys being involved in projects until their ultimate completion.
Mr. Marchant offers several key takeaways. He believes that everyone has the potential to find a career that they enjoy and recommends walking through life appreciating the decisions one has made, instead of regretting them. Having a positive attitude with regard to learning and working is crucial. He also highlights that working for a company that puts effort into making employees happy is very important.