Rebecca Ng Career Profile
Meet Rebecca Ng, PE, PMP, DBIA, AAAE (CM)
We are pleased to introduce Rebecca Ng, PE, TYLin Senior Associate and Senior Aviation Project Manager.
Rebecca is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® with the Project Management Institute (PMI), a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and a certified Design-Build Professional® with the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).
What inspired you to become an engineer?
My passion for construction. To create a design and see it built gives me the most rewarding and satisfying feeling.
What's one thing the engineering industry can do to encourage more women into its ranks?
I believe mentor support is very important. A company that provides a mentoring program can certainly help encourage more women to step into a project management role.
What technical skills have helped you advance in your career?
The engineering design knowledge from my college education is fundamental. Other knowledge, such as design and permit standards and the government contracting process, are also important in my career. I also believe that building a relationship of trust with colleagues and clients is vital to career advancement.
What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in this position?
I believe that keeping your focus on the “big picture” of the project is one of the key elements to being a successful project manager. There are daily distractions, but making decisions that fit the big picture usually generates positive outcomes.
Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?
Intissar Durham, PE, former TYLin Vice President and West Region Aviation Director, has been my biggest support in my career. The first time I worked on a project with Intissar was in 2009. She always provides guidance and thoughtful insight when I have questions, whether they are related to technical issues, project management challenges, or career advice.
What are two of the most memorable projects you have worked on?
Los Angeles World Airports' (LAWA) Utility and Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) Enabling Project (LULEP) was a USD 300 million project at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). LULEP consisted of many small independent projects related to different elements of the USD 8 billion LAMP program.
TYLin was the lead designer on LULEP, and I was the Deputy Project Manager. It was challenging to develop our design to accommodate the upcoming LAMP program, which is still in development.
Our team worked with multiple airport stakeholders, city agencies, and the contractor to develop the design and construct the projects in time for the client. Navigating through many obstacles and meeting the schedule milestone were both rewarding and memorable. In 2021, LULEP was awarded Aviation Project of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation.
The Southwest Airlines/ Majestic Terminal Services Cargo Relocation at Ontario International Airport relocated two cargo facilities on an aggressive schedule at one of the largest cargo hubs in California. TYLin developed both the bid package and design drawings for this project.
To meet the project schedule, certain elements of the design were procured as design-build packages, with TYLin completing the design for all other elements. This hybrid approach helped the client meet the project milestones.
Fun fact: About 75% of the packages processed through one of these cargo facilities are for Amazon. One side of the cargo building faces airside, and the other side is a loading dock where packages are loaded directly off the plane to Amazon trucks and sent to their distribution center.
What advice would you give to young engineers interested in a position such as yours?
Be proactive! Take the initiative to learn project management skills. For example, sign up for PMI training courses. Also, pick up knowledge on other design disciplines. A project manager needs to understand all design disciplines.