Brady Darrough, 28
Automation Engineer
Huffman Engineering
Lincoln, NE, United States
What Makes Brady an Engineering Leader
Brady is recognized as a rising star in the water and wastewater (W/WW) industry, combining his expertise in control systems with operational knowledge of both large and small utility systems. His experience extends far beyond what is typical for his age, including leading programming for a retention treatment basin, lift station replacement, W/WW PLC upgrades, a Missouri River digester project, and SCADA upgrades.
He has also programmed for industrial projects such as pallet-loading machinery, a water reverse osmosis and demineralization system, and a conveyor belt system expansion. Brady’s technical expertise is matched by his humility, genuine care for people, and commitment to embodying HEI’s core values, including “Do the Right Thing.”
Achievements, Advancements & Career-related Industry Contributions
Brady’s work spans both utility and industrial applications, and he has quickly become a go-to expert for conversions and upgrades of legacy Schneider Electric PLC hardware. His fast learning style allows him to reason through and solve complex instrument configuration challenges efficiently.
His first project involved recovery efforts for a City of Omaha wastewater treatment plant following a major flood. Since then, he has implemented SCADA system upgrades using Ignition, Rockwell, and Schneider Electric software. Brady is experienced in Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Control Expert, is Ignition Gold certified in system design and implementation, and is proficient in Rockwell’s Studio 5000 and Opto 22.
Non-work-related Activities & Hobbies
Brady serves as a deacon in his church and as a cross-country running coach for a local high school, while also training for various marathons himself. His dedication to serving others is reflected in his engineering work, where he approaches each project with care, attention to detail, and a focus on achieving strong results.
Interesting Details
Before entering his engineering career, Brady worked as an agricultural drone pilot for Bayer Crop Science, imaging fields and collecting samples for analysis. He also served as an accounting assistant at College View Academy and worked as a physics and accounting tutor during college.
Why Brady Chose This Career
Brady values the opportunity to see projects through from design to programming to installation, watching ideas come to life. He takes pride in tackling complex programming challenges, which he compares to solving a difficult logic puzzle—sometimes frustrating at the start, but rewarding when a workable solution emerges. He enjoys the creative problem-solving process, especially when it requires thinking outside the box.
