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When people think about engineering, they often picture calculations, plans, and technical drawings. For Paige Rushing, engineering is just as much about problem-solving as it is about helping bring ideas to life.

Whether she’s supporting airport improvements, affordable housing developments, or public infrastructure projects, Paige’s work focuses on something essential: helping make sites function safely, efficiently, and sustainably for the people who use them every day.

Recently, she reached a major milestone in her career by earning her California Professional Engineer license, a credential that represents years of experience, perseverance, and dedication to her profession.

Finding Her Place in Engineering

Paige’s path into engineering began at the University of Alabama, where she earned her degree in civil engineering. Like many students entering the field, she wasn’t entirely sure which discipline would be the right fit.

That changed during a cooperative education program, when she had the opportunity to work in land development before graduating.

What stood out immediately was the variety.

No two sites were exactly alike. Every project came with its own set of constraints, challenges, and opportunities. One day might involve a housing development, while the next focused on drainage improvements or utility coordination.

“Early in my career, I worked with great engineers who encouraged me to ask questions, think through problems, and understand why we were making certain design decisions, not just how to do them. That helped shape the way I approach engineering today.”

Turning Plans Into Places

Today, Paige works as a Project Engineer within C&S’s Aviation Group, where she applies her site and civil engineering background to airport infrastructure and development projects.

Her work includes site layout, grading and drainage design, utility coordination, permitting, stormwater management, and agency coordination. In many ways, she serves as the bridge between planning and construction.

Engineering is a role that requires constant collaboration. Engineers, planners, surveyors, architects, contractors, and permitting agencies all have involvement in moving a project forward, and bringing those pieces together is often just as important as the design itself.

One of the biggest surprises of her career has been how much learning happens outside traditional engineering.

“You end up learning about project management, contracts, permitting, budgeting, and even a little bit of law and business. It’s one of the things I enjoy most because you’re constantly learning.”

The Road to California Licensure

One of the most significant achievements of Paige’s career came last year, when she earned her California Professional Engineer license.

For civil engineers, professional licensure is a major career milestone. Beyond demonstrating technical competency, it represents the responsibility of making engineering decisions that directly affect public safety.

In California, the process includes additional challenges beyond the national licensing exams.

Paige was required to pass both the California Seismic Principles Exam and the California Engineering Surveying Exam, two specialized tests unique to the state.

For someone who attended school in Alabama, seismic engineering represented an entirely new area of study.

“Since I went to school in Alabama, seismic engineering wasn’t something we spent much time on, so there was definitely a learning curve after moving to California.”

Balancing exam preparation with a full-time engineering career wasn’t easy.

There were evenings spent studying after work, weekends dedicated to review materials, and moments when the finish line felt far away.

But those challenges became part of what made the accomplishment meaningful.

“It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.”

Lessons Learned Along the Way

For Paige, earning her license was about more than passing tests.

It was a lesson in persistence.

“If there’s one thing the PE process taught me, it’s that consistency beats perfection.”

Like many engineers pursuing licensure, she encountered setbacks and difficult moments along the way. Looking back, she believes those challenges ultimately became some of the most valuable parts of the process.

They taught her resilience. They taught her patience. And perhaps most importantly, they taught her that progress doesn’t have to be perfect to be successful.

“I learned the importance of giving myself grace, staying persistent, and understanding that setbacks don’t determine the outcome.”

She credits much of her success to the support system around her, including coworkers, mentors, family, and her fiancé, Daniel.

Having people who encouraged her through the process made a lasting difference.

Because of those experiences, she hopes future engineers understand that their path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

“Stay consistent, keep showing up, and remember that everyone struggles at some point.”

Looking Ahead

While earning her California PE was a significant milestone, Paige sees it as the beginning of a new chapter rather than the end of a journey.

Today, she’s excited to continue growing within aviation, take on greater responsibility, and continue expanding both her technical expertise and leadership skills.

She’s also looking forward to helping younger engineers navigate the profession, just as mentors once helped guide her.

One thing she knows for certain is that engineering will never stop presenting new opportunities to learn.

Whether she’s helping shape airport infrastructure, supporting community development, or mentoring the next generation of engineers, Paige approaches each challenge with curiosity, determination, and a commitment to continuous growth.