Photo: Aaron hooks a lingcod while fishing on the Oregon Coast.
Yuba Water Agency's associate engineer, Aaron Taylor, is part of the team that helps take care of projects, both big and small, to ensure the agency's facilities continue to work safely and properly. Scroll to learn more about Aaron, his career path and some of the hobbies he enjoys when not at work.
What is your background/formal education that led to where you are in your career today?
I was born and raised in the Oroville/Chico area and attended California State University, Chico, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
How did you get involved in your current career path?
From a young age, I enjoyed taking things apart around the house to understand how they worked. Chico High School offered engineering design classes, which ultimately motivated me to pursue engineering. Although I earned my degree in mechanical engineering, I chose a career path that would allow me to obtain a professional engineering license in civil engineering.
Photo: Aaron and his wife, Addie, pose for a photo on their wedding day.
What does your average day look like? Or what are some of your essential duties?
My days vary quite a bit depending on the phases of projects I am working on. Typically, I am working with consultants and contractors to manage projects throughout the planning, design and construction phases. This provides a nice balance between office work and time in the field.
Do your duties differ throughout the year? And if so, how?
Although this is not always the case, during the summer months I typically oversee construction projects, while the winter months are generally focused on project planning and design. Projects involving our powerhouses can generally be executed year round or during our annual maintenance outages.
What do you enjoy most about working for Yuba Water? I enjoy working on a variety of challenging, yet rewarding projects alongside an excellent team.
Tell us something about yourself that most of us don’t know.
I served as the resident engineer for three bridge replacement projects and five bridge rehabilitation projects in Yuba County.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy just about anything outdoors, but I especially like hunting, fishing and golfing.