Employee Spotlight: Carmen Lepsch
Designing Safer Dams and Supporting Stronger Communities
Meet Carmen Lepsch
As a Project Engineer on Schnabel Dams and Levees team, Carmen Lepsch has built her career around one central goal: designing safer, more resilient infrastructure that protects communities downstream. With nine years of experience and a focus on hydrology and hydraulics, Carmen brings both technical expertise and creative problem-solving to every dam rehabilitation project she touches.
A Clear Path to Civil Engineering
Carmen’s path to engineering was inspired by family. “Both of my grandfathers and both of my parents are engineers,” she shared. “My mom was a civil engineer, and she exposed me to water resource infrastructure projects from a young age. When I was younger, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but after a middle school geometry class, I decided I wanted to be an engineer instead.”
That decision stuck. A field visit to a major dam rehabilitation project the summer before college solidified her interest in water resources. “Once I saw that project, a future dam engineer was born,” Carmen said. “After that, I was laser-focused on working in dams once I graduated from Colorado State University.”
Carmen (left) with her family on a tour of a mine in Colorado.
Finding Her Place at Schnabel
Carmen joined Schnabel in 2018, drawn by the opportunity to specialize in dam design and continue her career on the East Coast. “I came to Schnabel with limited experience in what I currently do, but with a lot of enthusiasm around dams,” she said. “It’s been a great home. Schnabel really is a work family—we look out for each other and are invested in each other’s success.”
Over the years, she’s grown from a design-focused engineer into a well-rounded technical professional taking on project management responsibilities. “My managers and leadership at Schnabel support my growth at every turn,” she explained. “From helping me on exciting projects to explaining design fundamentals and giving me exposure to different project stages, I feel supported to grow and thrive both technically and in management.”
Carmen also extends her passion for dams beyond Schnabel through her active involvement in the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), where she has written papers, presented at national conferences, and served on committees—all with strong support from her Schnabel colleagues.
Carmen performing an annual dam inspection for an embankment dam in northern Pennsylvania.
Carmen and her coworkers at a Phillies game.
Carmen presenting at the ASDSO National Dam Safety conference.
The Joy of Design and the Impact of Safer Dams
When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Carmen doesn’t hesitate: “Designing dam rehabilitation projects. Every dam is unique, and even when there are similarities, there are always new challenges and creative solutions to find within the site constraints.”
That work, she explained, has a tangible, if often unseen, impact. “The communities that live downstream of dams are safer because of the rehabilitation and inspection work we do. They may never know the details of those improvements, but their safety and peace of mind depend on this work.”
Supporting the Next Generation
For those considering a career in civil engineering, Carmen’s advice is simple: “Go for it! Civil engineering is great — you’ll always have something to talk about on road trips because you can explain the infrastructure you drive by to everyone else in the car.”
Off The Clock: Outdoor Adventures, Climbing Walls…and More Dams
Carmen’s enthusiasm for dams doesn’t stop when the workday ends. “Something most people know about me is that I drag my family to see dams any chance I get—and then provide technical observations to anyone who will listen,” she laughed.
Outside of engineering, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, whether hiking, camping, skiing, or climbing. “My husband and I met through rock climbing, and it’s still one of our favorite activities,” she said. “We even designed and built a climbing wall in our basement—it was a lot of fun to build and even more fun to climb on. We made three sections at different inclines to keep it challenging and fun for everyone.”
For Carmen, engineering isn’t just about structures—it’s about people, safety, and the stories behind every project. Her passion for dams runs deep, shaping a career built on care, creativity, and purpose.
