Current Role
Buckner Heavy Lift
Exposure to heavy-lift field operations, technical coordination, safety-focused execution, and large-scale equipment environments beginning in May 2026.
Engineering portfolio
Juan D. Parra
Engineer | Sustainable Technology | Electrical Design | Innovation
Early-career engineer focused on resilient electrical systems, sustainable technology, and practical design work that turns technical ideas into reliable real-world solutions.
About
A practical engineer shaped by movement, curiosity, and hands-on work.
Juan D. Parra was born in Bogota, Colombia, raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and is currently based in McLeansville, North Carolina. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a minor in Spanish.
His engineering path has been built through direct experimentation, technical coursework, field-oriented design work, and a sustained interest in systems that connect electrical performance, safety, and sustainability. Juan approaches engineering as a discipline of careful analysis, clear communication, and steady iteration.
From academic design projects to power distribution engineering, his work reflects a preference for tangible problem solving: understanding constraints, building from evidence, and improving systems so they are safer, more efficient, and easier to deploy.
Location over time
From Colombia to North Carolina, with engineering study, international experience, and early-career field work.
2001-2008
Bogota, Colombia
Early life and cultural foundation.
2008-2023
Winston-Salem, NC
Education, engineering training, and Wake Forest project work.
First half of 2023
Salamanca, Spain
International academic and cultural experience while continuing Spanish-language development.
2024-2025
Jamestown, NC
Based in Jamestown while working in Greensboro for Quanta Services as a Distribution Engineer.
2025-Now
McLeansville, NC
Current North Carolina base for continued professional growth and engineering work.
May 2026-Now
Buckner Heavy Lift
Began working with Buckner Heavy Lift in May 2026.
Resume
Professional Profile
Download Resume
Previous Role
Quanta Services
Distribution engineering work supporting resilient overhead and underground power systems, utility design workflows, permitting, standards, and field-ready project delivery.
Experience
Distribution Engineer
Quanta Services, Greensboro, NC | 2024-2025
- Supported overhead and underground power distribution design for resilient utility infrastructure.
- Worked with geospatial modeling, utility design tools, permitting processes, field standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Contributed to project delivery with attention to safety, constructability, and long-term system reliability.
Buckner Heavy Lift
Based in McLeansville, NC | May 2026-Present
- Began working with Buckner Heavy Lift in May 2026.
- Continuing early-career engineering growth with an emphasis on technical problem solving, field awareness, safety, and project execution.
Engineering Electric Lead, Electric Boat Project
Wake Forest University Department of Engineering | 2023-2024
- Led electrical design for a senior capstone electric propulsion project competing through the American Society of Naval Engineers.
- Integrated LiFePO4 battery systems, battery management, motor control, relays, fuses, bus bars, and waterproof power enclosure design.
- Used 3D scanning and CAD workflows to improve fit, layout, and manufacturability.
Education
Wake Forest University
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Minor in Spanish
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Professional Development
Pursuing continued professional development toward engineering licensure, with interest in power systems, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable engineering practice.
Technical Skills
Design + Modeling
Creo Parametric, SolidWorks, Revit, Autodesk Utility Design, AutoCAD Map 3D, 3D rendering
Power + Electrical
Distribution design, voltage drop and flicker, device coordination, fault analysis, protection concepts, DER integration
Spatial + Field Tools
GIS, ArcGIS, SPIDACALC, ZEISS laser scanning, digital diagnostic tools
Project Delivery
SAP, Quickbase, SmartSheets, Bluebeam, bill of materials, QA/QC, permitting support, Gantt scheduling
Fabrication + Testing
CNC machining, aluminum extrusion systems, 3D printing, prototype validation, electrical testing
Communication
Technical writing, cross-functional collaboration, mentorship, English and Spanish professional proficiency
Projects
Selected Engineering Work
Project summaries designed to support future images, reports, and downloadable documentation.
Featured Capstone
Electric Boat Electrical Design
Senior capstone project focused on the electrical architecture for a high-performance electric boat, including energy storage, motor control, waterproofing, and safe high-current power distribution.
- Role
- Engineering Electric Lead
- Tools + Systems
- LiFePO4 batteries, BMS, relays, fuses, three-phase AC motor, motor controller, copper bus bars, Creo, ZEISS laser scanning
- Outcome
- Improved understanding of electric propulsion, high-current safety, spatial design, fabrication, budgeting, and team coordination.
01
Energy Storage
LiFePO4 battery system planning, BMS integration, and cell balancing considerations.
02
Power Delivery
High-current bus bars, fusing, relays, motor controller integration, and enclosure layout.
03
Fabrication
Waterproof enclosure design, aluminum extrusion systems, CNC-machined copper, and CAD fit checks.
Long Drive Site Analysis
Sustainability-oriented assessment of campus infrastructure, safety, soil, air, and water conditions with recommendations for green space, mobility, erosion control, and water quality.
Role: Engineering student contributor
Methods: Site analysis, sustainability criteria, environmental testing, design recommendations
Power Module Study
Technical learning module explaining generation, transmission, transformers, insulators, rectification, and core power grid concepts.
Role: Research, synthesis, and technical communication
Methods: Power systems fundamentals, explanatory diagrams, written analysis
Biomedical Signal Work
Academic electronics work documenting ECG concepts and signal-oriented engineering practice through coursework and technical exploration.
Role: Student engineer
Methods: Circuit concepts, instrumentation, analysis, documentation
Future Technical Builds
Reserved space for ongoing Arduino, energy, electric vehicle, sustainability, fabrication, and applied electrical design projects.
Role: Designer and builder
Methods: Prototyping, testing, documentation, iteration
Sustainability + Innovation
Grounded interest in technology that performs well and uses resources wisely.
Juan’s professional interests sit at the intersection of power, mobility, infrastructure, and sustainable design. He is especially drawn to systems where engineering choices have practical consequences: safer distribution networks, more efficient energy use, stronger electrified transportation, and technologies that can be maintained in real operating environments.
His approach to innovation is intentionally grounded. The goal is not novelty for its own sake, but thoughtful technical improvement: better materials, clearer designs, reliable controls, sound documentation, and solutions that respect people, cost, safety, and the environment.
Portfolio / Bibliography
Archive of Work
A structured bibliography for academic projects, technical reports, presentations, and future publications.
Electric Boat Electrical Design Capstone
Design documentation and build work for a senior engineering capstone involving batteries, motor control, waterproof enclosure design, and fabrication.
Long Drive Sustainability Site Analysis
Campus infrastructure and sustainability report addressing safety, soil quality, air quality, water quality, and design recommendations.
Power Module
Academic technical communication project covering grid generation, transformers, transmission, insulators, and rectification.
ECG and Electronics Coursework
Course documentation related to biomedical signal concepts, circuits, and engineering analysis.
Publications, Reports, and Presentations
Reserved for final PDFs, presentations, research summaries, and design documents as they become ready for public sharing.
Reference Site Archive
Direct image hotlinking from Google Sites can fail after deployment. This archive keeps the original project references accessible without showing broken image boxes.
Contact
Open to engineering opportunities, collaborations, and sustainability-focused technical work.
Reach out for professional opportunities, project collaboration, technical discussions, or work related to electrical design, resilient infrastructure, electric mobility, and sustainable systems.