Meet Ariella Halevi, Engineering Project Manager, whose structure, focus, and technical leadership help keep Aquagga’s engineering operations moving forward. Recently named the first recipient of Aquagga’s Impact Award, Ariella has played a key role in planning, organizing, and delivering complex projects, from field logistics to strengthening internal processes. We caught up with Ariella to learn more about her path to Aquagga, what motivates her work, and what she’s most excited about in the year ahead.
Q: What brought you to Aquagga?
Ariella: Aquagga's mission brought me here, and working alongside like-minded people keeps me here. I enjoy working with people who share similar goals in making a positive impact in the world. Working on the Product Development team, I actually get to design, build, and manage the timelines for our products. Each system we build and deploy advances our mission to keep PFAS out of people and the planet.
Q: What were you doing before you joined, and how has your career changed since then?
Ariella: I had left a “cool” engineering job to do an environmentally focused AmeriCorps service term, and afterward I felt a little stuck. I wanted both purpose and impact in my work. I tried working at a defense company and even started a mechanical engineering Master’s program to see if anything stuck. Aquagga popped up on my radar after nearly two years of searching for an environmentally focused company that still needed mechanical engineers. During the interview process, it was clear that a lot of people were in a similar place, wanting their work to feel more meaningful. We all shared the same mindset of wanting to make a more positive impact in the world.
Q: Can you share a moment that shows what Aquagga’s culture is like?
Ariella: On our first deployment in Alaska, ten of us stayed in one giant Airbnb. We cooked for each other, chased the Northern Lights together, and even played Super Smash Bros. While it is unlikely a scenario like that will ever happen again, the care expressed for others hasn’t stopped and we all try our best to support each other in whatever ways we can.
Q: What does a day in your role really look like?
Ariella: It changes day to day, which is part of what I love. I spend a lot of time coordinating across engineering and Product Development, aligning timelines, tracking build progress, removing blockers, and ensuring the right people have what they need. Some days I’m deep in planning and scheduling, other days I’m on the floor helping move a build forward, and occasionally I’m the one handling the small but important tasks that keep everything running smoothly.
Q: What’s a project or problem you’ve worked on that you’re really proud of?
Ariella: I was given the opportunity to step into management by leading the build of our second Steed system, Aurora. Even though it was quite stressful and touch and go at times, we completed the build on time, and it was really rewarding to see that system out in the field during a demonstration project.
Q: Have you learned anything unexpected about yourself while working here?
Ariella: I’ve learned that I really enjoy taking initiative and building structure where it helps the team move faster. I didn’t expect to love the project management side as much as I do, but it’s been rewarding to help connect the dots across people, timelines, and real hardware.
Q: How do you like to unwind after a busy day or on the weekend?
Ariella: During the winter, I love making a good meal and watching Great British Bake Off with my fiancé. In the summer, I’m usually planning a hike or backpacking trip for the weekend, so while weeknights are supposed to be my “restful” moments, they usually end up being filled with all the chores I neglect from the previous weekend (oops!). I also regularly take art classes to try out different mediums and expand my artistic abilities.
Q: What’s something your coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
Ariella: The only time I’ve had a Seattle dog was during a demonstration in Illinois, when one of my coworkers made one for me. I’ve lived in Seattle for eight years and I’m originally from Chicago, so I found that pretty ironic.
Q: What are you excited about in the next year at Aquagga?
Ariella: I’m excited to work on the next generation of our systems. It’s fun to have a clean slate to build from, while still knowing what it should look like and how it should function.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering joining the team?
Ariella: This is a company where taking initiative is encouraged, and you can really shape your role into what you want it to be. You’re free to wear many hats and forge your own path.
Ariella’s structure, focus, and technical leadership reflect the collaborative spirit that drives Aquagga forward. As the backbone of our engineering operations, she helps plan, organize, and execute the work that turns designs into real systems, strengthening how our team builds, tests, and supports our technology in the field. We’re grateful for the lasting impact she’s made on our team, and we’re excited to see what she helps build next!
