Our Firm

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Shobe Engineering is a California-based consulting firm with offices in Eureka and Auburn, offering engineering services across water, environmental, and commercial sectors. Founded by engineers Justin Shobe, Chrissy Backman, and Philip L’Amoreaux, our firm integrates complementary expertise in civil, mechanical, and environmental disciplines to deliver practical, resilient, and sustainable solutions.

Our leadership team brings decades of experience in water infrastructure, master planning, treatment facilities, pipelines, and building systems. Having worked together for over ten years, Justin Shobe and Philip L’Amoreaux provide deep technical knowledge, real-world construction insight, and a collaborative approach that ensures projects are efficient, cost-effective, and buildable.

We are committed to working seamlessly with client staff, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver designs and services that not only meet regulatory and technical requirements, but also support long-term operational success and community resilience.

Our Team

  • A man with a beard smiling outdoors, with a background of trees and a partly cloudy sky.

    Justin Shobe, P.E. - Principal

    Justin Shobe is a Civil Engineer and principal partner at Shobe Engineering with 20 years of experience in water and wastewater infrastructure, building design, and community planning. He brings extensive expertise in the planning, design, and construction of public water systems, including water treatment plants, pump stations, pipelines, storage facilities, and regulatory compliance analyses. Justin has worked closely with public agencies throughout California, developing long-term solutions that support sustainable, resilient, and efficient water systems. His repeat clients, such as the City of Santa Cruz and Town of Discovery Bay, continue to rely on his guidance and technical expertise.

    In addition to system planning and infrastructure design, Justin has gained considerable expertise in water treatment technologies for the removal of constituents such as iron, manganese, arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and PFAS. He has applied and evaluated a range of treatment technologies—from conventional sand, anthracite, and greensand filtration, to ion exchange, adsorptive media, granular activated carbon, and nanofiltration—through pilot studies and full-scale design implementations.

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    Chrissy Backman, P.E. - Principal

    Chrissy Backman is a licensed Mechanical Engineer and founding partner of Shobe Engineering. She brings extensive experience in building technology, energy systems, HVAC design, alternative building materials, and sustainable construction. Chrissy also holds a contractor’s license and has led projects through design, permitting, and construction, including innovative prefabricated hempcrete homes. Her expertise spans residential, commercial, and community-focused projects, integrating energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate-conscious strategies.

    In addition to her engineering work, Chrissy has a strong background in community engagement and education. She has developed and delivered energy efficiency workshops, conducted building energy analyses, and supported climate action initiatives, empowering communities to implement sustainable solutions. Previously, she served in the U.S. Air Force in broadband communications, a role that honed her technical problem-solving skills and disciplined approach to complex systems.

  • A man smiling outdoors with a body of water and cliffs in the background, wearing a maroon cap.

    Philip L'Amoreaux, P.E. - Senior

    Philip L’Amoreaux is a Civil Engineer and senior partner at Shobe Engineering with 15 years of experience in complex water infrastructure. He is a recognized expert in pump station design, hydraulic modeling, water system evaluation, and construction management. Philip has led large-scale assessments of public water systems, identifying critical issues such as source and storage deficiencies, water quality concerns, fire flow limitations, and failing infrastructure.

    Philip has a long-standing collaborative partnership with Justin Shobe, with whom he has worked closely for over a decade. Their combined experience and complementary skillsets allow them to efficiently solve challenging water system problems, provide long-term planning solutions, and deliver practical, resilient designs for public agencies across California.