National Engineer Week: Jacqueline Unzueta on Turning Engineering Fundamentals into Real-World Impact at Kuraray America
When Jacqueline Unzueta, Project Engineer at Kuraray America, Inc.'s Bayport Plant, built her first water tank, she expected a straightforward project. Instead, it became a crash course in everything from confined-space permitting, weld inspections, sandblasting, and environmental compliance, proof that even “simple” projects demand coordination, rigor and the right execution.
This #EngineersWeek, as we celebrate the theme #TransformYourFuture, Jacqueline shows how engineering fundamentals turn into real-world results.
Drawn to Complexity
Growing up in heavy industry, Jacqueline saw firsthand how engineering could turn ideas into real-world impact. It wasn’t just a theory, it was equipment running, systems working, and problems getting solved. That’s what originally drew her to engineering.
After earning her degree in chemical engineering, she began her career in consulting, where she built a strong technical foundation. Over time, she realized she wanted to be closer to the action, to see decisions turn into builds, and plans turn into reality. That pull toward tangible results led her into a project engineering role where she could stay hands-on and follow projects from early planning all the way to execution in the field.
Safer Operations, Less Waste
Today, Jacqueline is a Project Engineer at Kuraray America, Inc., where no two days look the same. Her work sits at the intersection of engineering and teamwork, blending engineering fundamentals with people skills, working alongside field crews, managing budgets, and keeping projects on schedule.
Her projects span everything from improving scrubber performance to installing new equipment that reduces steam and raw material use, directly supporting Kuraray America’s operational sustainability goals.
“Even if people don’t see the details, they benefit from safer operations, greater efficiency, and reduced waste.” Jacqueline says.
Safety as the Foundation
For Jacqueline, “Safety isn’t an option; it’s the foundation,” she says. “We live by the mindset that safety is the cornerstone of everything we do, and every project reflects that responsibility.”
That mindset is core to how Kuraray America operates, where safety and sustainability aren’t checkboxes at the end of a project, but the starting point from day one.
Raising the Bar
What excites Jacqueline most is the opportunity to take on larger, more complex projects and deliver them with even greater efficiency and safety.
“As tools, data, and collaboration improve, we can deliver better results while raising the performance bar.” she says.
Her advice for anyone curious about engineering is simple and practical: “Reach out to university professors and engineering students. Talking to people actively learning and practicing engineering provides honest insight into what the field is really like.”