Insights from an Evolving Engineering Career

Maria Yesenia Trejo Hughes Shares Early Career Advice with STEM Workforce Diversity Magazine

Like many professionals, Maria Yesenia Trejo Hughes has taken a somewhat winding path to her current role. Now assisting HDR’s clients as a project controls specialist, she previously worked as a structural engineer specializing in bridges and before that did research on the development of geopolymer concrete.

Trejo Hughes shared a look at her career with STEM Workforce Diversity magazine for their Fall 2024 edition. The magazine is aimed at providing students and recent graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields a glimpse of career options from those working in STEM industries. 

Trejo Hughes discussed the turns her career has taken and what drew her to HDR nearly a decade ago, including a culture of mentorship that encourages professional growth. As she told the magazine, “at HDR, everyone is encouraged to explore career paths” and find a role that fits their own interests and abilities. 

“When I was first exploring new roles beyond bridge engineering, some of the best advice I received was that you can always go back to what you were doing previously because you’re not losing a skill set by changing career paths,” Trejo Hughes said. 

Read the whole article, “Hughes Keeps Large-Scale Highway Projects On Track at HDR,” in the Fall 2024 issue of STEM Workforce Diversity magazine.