SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – July 22, 2025
This summer, PASE welcomes a group of interns to gain hands-on experience and explore the day-to-day of structural engineering. This year, Jakob Lee, a rising senior at Sacramento State, joined our San Jose office to take part in that journey. With a strong interest in architectural design and a passion for learning, Jakob has spent the summer rotating through design teams and contributing to a range of projects, from concrete anchorage details to residential expansions.
When he’s not in the office, Jakob enjoys hiking, gaming, and watching anime. Below, he reflects on his internship experience and what he’s learned so far.
What drew you to major in civil or structural engineering?
“I majored in civil engineering because it was a versatile degree that could offer me several different career paths. I am taking structural design classes because architecture and building design has always been interesting to me, and I think that it’s cool to be a part of that process.”
What projects or tasks have you been assigned so far?
“Several of the projects that I have been assigned involved anchoring equipment to concrete, but I have also worked on a house expansion and an apartment complex. Besides that I have also reviewed shop drawings and created drafts to be completed by the BIM team.”
What new skills or concepts have you picked up since starting here?
“I’ve learned many new skills at PASE, especially since I haven’t taken any design classes yet, so I have learned about steel, masonry and wood design as well as concrete anchorage. I have also learned about several programs such as Revit, RISA and several others.”
What has been the biggest technical challenge you’ve tackled during the internship?
“I think that the biggest technical challenge has been learning how to properly interpret the code. It can be very difficult to understand at times, as you often need a greater understanding of some of the concepts in the code, which it doesn’t provide by itself. However, the team members at PASE have been very helpful in explaining things to me and helping me learn how to read the code.”
How has this experience shaped your career interests or long-term goals?
“Since this was my first internship, I wasn’t sure with which area of civil engineering I wanted to go into, but this summer at PASE has shown me that structural engineering is a fun and engaging career path. I definitely would like to specialize in structural engineering, and I have started to think about continuing my education in the field after getting my bachelor’s degree.”
As Jakob continues his internship with PASE, we look forward to seeing how he builds on what he’s learned so far and continues contributing to our ongoing projects. We’re glad to have him on the team this summer and excited to support his growth as he moves toward a future in structural engineering!
About PASE
PASE is a premier structural engineering firm specializing in mission-critical, multi-family/residential, and mixed-use structures. Our team is dedicated to delivering innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable engineering solutions tailored to the needs of our clients.
For more information on PASE and our completed projects, click here!
Media Contact:
Azlan Ezaddin, S.E.
Email: aezaddin@pase.com
Direct: 408-957-9228
