
About Me
Joseph L. Castaneda, PE
Joe Castaneda brings over 28 years of civil engineering expertise in flood control, municipal projects, transportation, land development, and construction engineering.
Since founding JLC Engineering in 2006, he has dedicated his career to delivering innovative, practical solutions to complex environmental and engineering challenges in both the public and private sectors. With a strong focus on flood control engineering and watershed management, Mr. Castaneda has developed significant expertise in hydrology, hydraulics, and sediment transport. His experience spans regional and site-specific hydrology studies using advanced numerical and computer modeling tools. He is proficient in river modeling, storm drain systems, sediment transport analysis, and natural channel design.
In addition to his work in flood control, Mr. Castaneda’s experience extends across multiple aspects of civil engineering design.
His hydraulic engineering expertise includes:
- Preliminary drainage design
- FEMA floodplain mapping and processing
- Master Drainage Plans and Value Engineering Studies
- River and stream analyses
- Scour mitigation and environmental solutions
His Civil Engineering Design expertise includes:
- Land Planning and Entitlement
- Preliminary Drainage Studies and Grading Analyses
- Due Diligence and Value Engineering
- Final Engineering Plan Preparation and Processing
Joe Castaneda understands the dynamic nature of environmental and water quality regulations, as well as the need for engineers to stay ahead of evolving guidelines. At JLC Engineering, he is committed to developing practical, forward-thinking solutions to address the most challenging environmental, water quality, and hydraulic engineering issues.
Meet the team

Joe Castaneda, PE
B.S. Civil Engineering, Cal State LA (1996)
Joe Castaneda is a seasoned civil engineer with over 28 years of experience, specializing in flood control, hydrology, and hydraulics, while also possessing extensive expertise across other areas of civil engineering. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structures and Hydraulics from Cal State LA in 1996 and pursued graduate studies at Cal State Long Beach, focusing on Hydraulics.
Since founding JLC Engineering in 2006, Joe has been dedicated to providing innovative, practical solutions to complex engineering challenges in both public and private sectors. His wide-ranging skills include hydrology studies, river modeling, FEMA floodplain mapping, and master drainage plans, solidifying his reputation as a trusted leader in the field.

Jacob Castaneda, MS, EIT
B.S. Civil Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona (2018)
M.S. Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Stanford University (2021)
Jacob Castaneda is an engineer with a strong foundation in civil and environmental engineering. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, where he was honored as the valedictorian of his class. Jacob went on to earn a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University in 2021, specializing in Environmental Fluid Mechanics. In 2022, Jacob joined JLC Engineering after working as a data scientist at a tech startup, where he developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills. He specializes in hydrology and hydraulic modeling, applying his expertise to tackle complex challenges in water resources and environmental engineering.
In addition to his work at JLC Engineering, Jacob occasionally lectures in Water Resources Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, sharing his knowledge and fostering the growth of future engineers.

Jason Glass
Jason Glass brings over 20 years of industry experience to JLC Engineering, with a strong background in land development and the production of improvement plans. His extensive hands-on experience has given him a keen intuition for how things are constructed, allowing him to produce high-quality, well-coordinated plan sets that align with real-world construction practices. Beyond his technical expertise, Jason plays a vital role as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams, ensuring smooth collaboration and clear communication across projects. When he’s not at work, Jason enjoys spending time with his family, often taking trips to the outdoors for camping and exploring.

Emmanuel Perez, EIT
B.S. Civil Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona (2024)
Emmanuel Perez is a dedicated civil engineer specializing in hydrology and hydraulic modeling for land development projects. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2024 at the top of his class, excelling in all aspects of his coursework. Throughout his undergraduate studies, Emmanuel gained hands-on experience in general civil engineering and land surveying, further refining his technical skills.
He joined JLC Engineering in September 2024, where he applies his strong analytical background and problem-solving abilities to deliver practical and effective engineering solutions. Outside of work, Emmanuel enjoys hiking and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, combining his passion for the outdoors with a disciplined approach to continuous learning and improvement.
Brent Wiltzen
B.S. Civil Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona (2012)
Brent Wiltzen is a highly skilled civil engineer with over a decade of experience specializing in hydraulic design and the production of improvement plans. Since joining JLC Engineering in 2012, he has contributed to countless projects, applying his expertise in design and problem-solving to deliver efficient and practical engineering solutions. His deep understanding of engineering principles, combined with a meticulous approach to detail, has made him a key asset to the team. Beyond his professional work, he has a passion for hands-on engineering, often retrofitting old bikes and cars in his spare time. His creativity and mechanical intuition extend far beyond the workplace, reflecting his natural ability to understand how things work and optimize their function.