Dam Safety Engineer

Bernie Auld remembers vacationing near Inks Lake in Texas as a young boy.

“It was pretty laid back,” Auld said. “We just ran around and played.”

Now that he’s an engineer, Auld realizes his family’s vacation spot was created by a hydroelectric dam built in the 1930s.

“As a little kid, you don’t see the dam. You don’t think of the dam.”

These days, Auld constantly thinks about dams. He is part of a 50-person team that makes sure TVA’s dams are safe for the public.

“It’s our job to protect the public,” Auld said. “As an engineer, there are design standards that you go by, but your main focus is still the protection of the public.”

A Day in the Life

TVA’s dam safety team is responsible for 90 dams on about 30 rivers and creeks. That includes the 29 hydroelectric dams and 19 non-power dams designed for flood control. The rest are things like dikes and saddle dams on the edge of reservoirs.

The dams are all different. Some are made of concrete. Some are made from dirt.

But they all have to be inspected.

Every dam is inspected monthly by the staff at the dam. Dam safety specialists like Auld perform more extensive inspections every 15 months.

And every five years, every dam is reviewed from top to bottom. This review brings together structural engineers, geological engineers, geotechnical engineers, river management staff, emergency response staff and more.

“What we’re looking for predominantly is change,” Auld said of these comprehensive inspections. “Are there any changes that have occurred over time?”

Becoming an Engineer

Auld majored in civil engineering and earned a master’s degree focusing on water resources. His research helped persuade Tennessee to change its dam safety requirements.

He owned a small engineering firm before coming to work for TVA.

“I saw an opportunity and thought, ‘Yeah, you know, I’d like to get back into what I really enjoy,’” Auld said.

Becoming an engineer requires a college degree in engineering. You’ll study math, engineering and design. You’ll develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking and reading comprehension.

TVA offers an internship program for college students. These paid opportunities can last a semester or longer. Interns work with TVA’s employees on critical projects across the region.

TVA hires many different types of engineers, including:

• Electrical engineering 
• Civil engineering 
• Nuclear engineering 
• Mechanical engineering 
• Environmental engineering 

Starting pay for an engineer is about $75,000 a year.