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Meet Dan Robillard

Sacramento, California, U.S.

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Dan Robillard

Using his mechanical engineering background, Project Manager and Senior Technologist Dan Robillard delivers water projects with an eye toward community impact. Whether designing wastewater technology or delivering a treatment plant, Dan enjoys making positive waves wherever he goes. 

After enlisting in the United States Air Force for three years, Dan Robillard attended and received his mechanical engineering degree from University of California - Davis and later landed at Jacobs in 2001. Two decades later, he’s still using his 23 years of water experience to work with federal clients like the National Park Service (NPS), delivering critical wastewater projects across the country. Dan’s career spans a wide range of water-related fields, from HVAC systems and plumbing work to wastewater solids residual treatment. As a project manager, Dan enjoys using his deep treatment process knowledge to mentor others. Dan’s favorite part of his role, though, is leaving an impact. For him, the best part of working with clients like the NPS is working on projects that improve the environment and communities.

“It’s critical to do these projects because not only are they our national treasures, but there is an enormous impact if we don't do it and we do it right. ”

Dan Robillard

Dan Robillard

Project Manager and Senior Technologist, Jacobs

Get to know Dan

What sparked your passion for working in water?

I only know a few people who go into this business and think, 'I want to do wastewater.' Those people get advanced degrees, but most of us follow the opportunities. I did many water projects early in my career, and as the market developed, there were more wastewater projects than water. Over time, I developed more niche skills and was able to dig into the details. Eventually, I started to become an expert and my career continues to evolve. 

While it wasn't where I expected to go, I enjoyed being able to use my mechanical engineering skills in my work. Mechanical engineering is different from the typical path for someone at our firm, and I get to be a bridge with other disciplines and work on some of the more technical aspects of a wastewater project, such as hydraulics and thermodynamics. 

What's your favorite part of working with the NPS?

I've worked on dozens of projects, and the best people to work with are at the parks. They are incredibly welcoming and excited about our help. Our team and the employees are engaged throughout the process, making working together to accomplish a goal easy. 

Alongside the people is the impact. For example, at our work in Tuolumne Meadows at Yosemite National Park, the wastewater treatment plant is on the south side of the river, and the disposal treatment area is on the north side. Connecting these two key areas is a pipeline that goes through the meadow and under the river. If something were to happen to the pipeline, there would be consequences to a sensitive natural area and for the City of San Francisco which draws its water from the Tuolumne River.

Everyone gets excited about national parks, but it's also exciting because our work is extremely valuable to the environment and surrounding communities.

Can you share an interesting project story?

I have two stories to share. The first is from my recent project in Hawaii. We just started construction, and as part of the groundbreaking, I attended a traditional Hawaiian blessing. They brought in a religious figure, but the ceremony focused more on coming together to celebrate the improvement this wastewater treatment plant will bring to the community. The ceremony had many traditional cultural aspects, and it illustrated the value these types of projects bring to a region. 

Similarly, in my work at Tuolumne Meadows, we think about the impact on the community and environment throughout our projects. For generations, Indigenous people previously occupied the valley we work in, so it's essential to think about the land and the artifacts present when you are planning and executing the work. During a walk with an archeologist, he would bend down and find an artifact right where we were standing. In both cases, it was great to connect with communities and traditions besides my own and learn about their impact on our world.  

Can you share one piece of advice?

It's good to learn how to say, 'no’, especially when you are early in your career, and excited to take on as many things as possible. If you do that, you will commit to more work than you can accomplish. While you want to do everything—it's impossible. Doing a few things very well is better than everything with a half-measure. 

What do you enjoy most about #OurJacobs?    

I enjoy my coworkers. I spent half my career in Denver and the other half in Sacramento. Over time, I've gotten to know people from all over the Western portions of the U.S. While I've enjoyed working with other consultants, I have experienced that Jacobs is by far the best team. We have an excellent company culture and care for each other to get the job done. A company is a company, but the people are why you stay.