Canada National Engineering Month 2025: Paul Rydberg

Like a lot of kids, Paul Rydberg grew up building with Lego pieces. He didn’t think of it as “engineering” at the time, but looking back on it, he considers this his first foray into the field.

He also credits his father with planting a seed of interest in engineering. As a kid, he was always intrigued by the stories his father would tell him about how things worked at the paper mill where he was employed.

As he approached graduation, Paul wasn’t quite sure which direction to go after high school. With encouragement from his parents, he chose mechanical engineering because, as Paul put it, “It was general enough I could start down that path and figure something out later.”

Following the advice of his parents turned out to be a good decision. He got his degree and got out into the field to gain hands-on experience, which is his advice for anyone pursuing engineering as a career.

“Be hands-on as much as possible,” Paul said. “Seeing the problems first-hand — experiencing the problems first-hand — is the best way to finding the solutions. It also helps you understand the people you’re working with in the field. That understanding builds greater teamwork.”

During the past decade as an engineer — the last seven at Koch Fertilizer Canada — Paul’s career has evolved non-stop. He’s been in several different engineering roles, from design and operating to process and projects. No matter the role, the reward has been the same.

“The most fulfilling part of my job is seeing long-lasting problems disappear,” Paul said.

In particular, he recalls a recurring issue with a heater at the plant that resulted in extra work for operators and occasionally caused disruptions at the plant.

“The problem was there for as long as anyone remembers,” Paul said. “It was a long-term headache we ended up fixing with five feet of one-inch piping to equalize the pressure and prevent it from locking up — almost no cost, just brainpower.”

In his current role as chief power engineer, if it has to do with utilities at the plant, it’s Paul’s job to keep things up and running properly. With that responsibility comes a lot of freedom and encouragement to keep learning and trying new things, something he counts as unique to working at Koch.

“In my role there’s a lot of trust and learning opportunities,” Paul said. “Building knowledge is key. I like to learn, and the people here have given me tons of knowledge. When I have questions or am seeking to understand something better, I’m never turned away.”

Paul’s journey from building Lego sets to solving engineering problems is a testament to being hands-on, embracing challenges, and continuously learning. Through his efforts at Koch Fertilizer Canada, he’s working each day to build something better — a pursuit he continues with passion and purpose.