One major project shaped her growth from field engineering to project leadership.
“Your growth should always stay one step ahead of your title.”
For Juliana Beauchamp, senior marine project engineer, that mindset has shaped a career built through curiosity, preparation and a willingness to take on new challenges.
Her interest in engineering started early. With a father who was a civil engineer, she grew up drawn to math, science and problem-solving. In college, the American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE Concrete Canoe competition introduced her to the construction side of engineering and showed her how ideas, planning and teamwork could become something tangible.
“From that point on, I knew I wanted to be involved in building complex projects,” Juliana said.
Learning and Growing Through Challenges
That path led her to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel expansion project, where she joined the team in 2020 as a senior field engineer. At the time, the project was working through significant design changes. What could have been an obstacle became an opportunity to gain early exposure to design optimization, constructability reviews, subcontractor engagement and marine construction.
“I took every opportunity to learn from some of the best marine engineers in the industry,” she said.
That experience helped prepare her for a role she had been working toward since entering construction: superintendent.
Transitioning from Field Work to a Leadership Role
For Juliana, becoming a superintendent in 2022 was a defining chapter. The role placed her at the intersection of planning, execution and people, and the most meaningful lessons came from leading in the field.
“It wasn’t until I became a superintendent that I truly realized construction is fundamentally a people business,” she said. “Yes, we build impressive infrastructure, but project success ultimately depends on relationships, trust, communication and teamwork.”
As a 28-year-old woman leading field operations, Juliana knew trust would not be automatic. She earned credibility by leading with humility, listening to the crews and focusing on removing obstacles so the work could move forward.
Her growth on the project continued. After serving as superintendent, she became deputy construction manager in 2023 and later transitioned into her current role as senior marine project engineer. Each role gave her a new perspective on project delivery, leadership and business.
For others building careers in engineering and construction, Juliana’s advice is to start preparing before the opportunity appears.
“Seek out new responsibilities, learn beyond your current role, and be intentional about building the skills you may need in the future,” she said. “Then, when an opportunity arises, you are already prepared to step into it.”
And when those opportunities come, she said, the next step is to deliver.
“Consistently doing good work builds trust, and trust often leads to the next opportunity.”
Juliana’s story is a reminder that one major project can hold many opportunities. With curiosity, preparation and follow-through, each role can become a foundation for what comes next.
Learn about career opportunities and read more stories about engineering career growth at FlatironDragados on our Careers Page.