Every year, Davids Engineering welcomes a group of college students to work alongside our team members on various projects. This provides the students with hands on experience and provides DE support and fresh ideas. We want to take some time to highlight this year’s interns.
Alan Hernandez is a senior at California State University, Chico studying Civil Engineering. His responsibilities as an intern with DE has included assisting with data processing and analysis, updating and organizing monitoring datasets such as stage and discharge records, and developing scripts to support data workflows from platforms included USGS, CDEC, WDL, OneRain, and CalSIP.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
I grew up in Ensenada, Mexico and moved to San Diego when I was 12 years old. I am currently a senior civil engineering student at CSU Chico. In my free time, I enjoy hands-on work, traveling, and visiting new places, especially when I get the chance to return to Ensenada to spend time with my family.
I also work as a bike mechanic at the Chico State Bike Hub, where what started as a job quickly become a hobby. I enjoy working alongside friends and being apart of a community that shares similar interests.
WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
My career goals are to gain experience working with great engineers so I can become a well-rounded professional. While my academic focus has been in water resources and environmental engineering, I also want to gain experience in infrastructure projects. By building a broad technical foundation, I hope to contribute across different types of projects and give back to communities through sustainable and reliable engineering solutions.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO INTERN AT DE?
I chose to intern at Davids Engineering because of the firm’s strong focus on water resources, environmental engineering, and projects that directly support communities. The work Davids Engineering does aligns closely with my academic interests and long-term career goals, particularly in sustainable water management and infrastructure.
I was also drawn to the firm’s collaborative, family-like environment. From the beginning, it was clear that Davids Engineering values teamwork, mentorship, and building strong relationships within the company. The opportunity to work alongside experienced engineers in a supportive setting, while contributing to meaningful projects, made Davids Engineering an ideal place for my professional growth.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH/LEARN AS AN INTERN?
As an intern, I hope to gain hands-on experience working on real engineering projects and learn from experienced engineers in a professional setting. I want to strengthen my technical skills in data analysis, water resources, and infrastructure while better understanding how engineering decisions are made from project planning through implementation.
I also hope to continue developing soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, and to learn how engineering work supports communities and clients. Overall, my goal is to leave the internship with a broader perspective on the civil engineering field and a stronger foundation to grow as a well-rounded engineer.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GET UP AND GO TO SCHOOL/WORK?
What motivates me to get up and go to school and work is the opportunity to keep learning and improving, both academically and professionally. I enjoy being challenged and applying what I learn in the classroom to real-world problems, especially when the work has a positive impact on communities.
I’m also motivated by hands-on work and the people I work with. Whether it’s digging into a technical task, organizing equipment, or getting outside for a bike ride after a long day, I enjoy staying active and engaged. Cycling has taught me discipline, problem-solving, and perseverance, and those same qualities carry over into how I approach school and work. Being part of a supportive team and doing work I genuinely enjoy makes it easy to stay motivated.
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is to be an active participant and not be afraid to learn something new. Getting involved and staying curious has helped me grow through hands-on experiences and take advantage of every opportunity to learn.
