Menzer Pehlivan, Ph.D., P.E.
President
Menzer is the President of MPERA, where she sets the firm's vision and direction and leads its client relationships across the water, transportation, energy, and vertical construction sectors. Under her leadership, MPERA has built a reputation for technical depth, responsiveness, and a fresh, forward-thinking approach to complex challenges.
Menzer founded MPERA after more than a decade in the industry, most recently leading a team of 45 engineers at Jacobs. MPERA's clients include Sound Transit, King County, Seattle City Light, and international owners, on projects ranging from rail facilities and flood-control systems to a 65-story tower in Baku. She serves on the GEER Advisory Board and has taken part in post-earthquake reconnaissance in Nepal, Mexico, and Türkiye.
Menzer is one of the engineers featured in Dream Big: Engineering Our World, the IMAX film that has brought engineering to theaters and classrooms around the world and inspired a new generation to see themselves in the profession. She is also the only woman to be featured on the cover of Civil Engineering, ASCE's flagship magazine. She has been named one of ENR's Top 20 Under 40, received the ASCE President's Medal, and contributed to the UN Global Compact SDG Innovators Program. She is a committed advocate for women in engineering and for teams as diverse as the communities they serve.
Education
Ph.D., Geotechnical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2013
M.Sc., Geotechnical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Türkiye, 2009
B.Sc., Civil Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Türkiye, 2007
Awards & Honors
National Top 20 Under 40, Engineering News-Record (ENR), 2020
Northwest Top Young Professionals, ENR, 2020
Recognition Award, Middle East Technical University, 2019
Notable Women in STEM, Washington STEM, 2018
President’s Medal, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2017
New Face of Civil Engineering, ASCE, 2016
ISSMGE Foundation Award, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2013
Select Projects
Operations & Maintenance Facility South (OMF South) | Sound Transit, Federal Way, WA (MPERA)
Principal geotechnical engineer supporting lead designer Arup on Sound Transit’s first progressive design-build project, a 70-acre light rail operations and maintenance base. Characterizing geologic hazards and subsurface conditions for guideway foundations, track support, retaining walls, and facility structures, and supporting the Geotechnical Site Investigation Plan and project risk register.
Sea Breeze Cipriani Tower | Nardaran Invest, Baku, Azerbaijan (MPERA)
Principal-in-charge and lead geotechnical earthquake engineer for the site-specific probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) and site-specific ground response analysis (SGRA) of a 65-story, approximately 323-meter residential tower, delivering design spectra and ground-motion suites at three hazard levels for nonlinear response history analysis under IBC 2024 and LATBSDC 2024.
Black River Pump Station Improvements | King County, Renton, WA
Lead geotechnical engineer for upgrades to critical flood-control infrastructure. Planned and interpreted a staged exploration program, built 3D subsurface models, and delivered design parameters for deep foundations, secant-pile walls, cofferdams, and fish-passage structures in an operational, environmentally sensitive setting.
Speaking & Publications