Decades before Colby Rochelle Wong became an engineer at Southern California Edison, she was a 6-year-old at her grandparents’ house, piecing together a chair from scrap wood using one of her grandmother’s shoes in place of a hammer.
“I’ve always been surrounded by the do-it-yourself, problem-solving mindset,” Wong said. “My mom is a math and science teacher, and my dad is an engineer. So, when it was time to choose a career, I thought, ‘Well, looks like engineering is the way to go.’”
A handmade childhood chair is a reminder for SCE engineer Colby Rochelle Wong of where her builder’s mindset began.
She started studying civil engineering at Cal Poly Pomona in 2017 and interned at SCE in 2019. After graduating in 2021, Wong joined SCE’s Geotechnical Engineering and Inspections team.
Part of her team’s job is to investigate what lies below ground so SCE can safely build or upgrade sites like substations, transmission equipment including towers and poles, and surrounding areas such as access roads. Their findings help guide the engineering teams that oversee design and construction.
“Everyone needs power and everyone wants power,” Wong said. “If at any moment the soil beneath our sites or equipment begins to shift or lose strength, that can make an impact. It’s our job to get ahead of those possibilities.”
When Wong isn’t in the office reviewing geotechnical data, she’s out in the field, sometimes working with contractors to collect soil samples and test subsurface conditions with massive drills.
Colby Rochelle Wong sprays a handful of soil with water to better understand the soil’s texture and plasticity.
Years after debuting at SCE as an intern, Wong now sees one of the most meaningful parts of her work in helping newer engineers find their footing.
“Being able to actually mentor them and see them learn is special,” Wong said. “I’m really glad that I’m able to pass the baton and watch people grow.”
That support has made a difference for newer engineers like Noelle Banh, who first met Wong as an intern last summer and joined SCE full time after graduating from Cal Poly Pomona. Since Banh’s first day, Wong has helped her get settled and quickly became a trusted source of support.
“Colby has always been there to give really good feedback that built my confidence to work independently,” said Banh. “Entering engineering as a young woman can feel intimidating sometimes, but having a mentor who understands that made a huge difference.”
For Wong, mentorship moments add an even deeper sense of purpose to the technical work she does daily — especially on International Women in Engineering Day.
“Knowing that my work makes an impact on the safety of the public is so rewarding,” said Wong. “I’m grateful that now I can guide others in doing the same.”
For more information on careers at SCE, visit edisoncareers.com.
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