Industry: Commercial/Private aviation
Specialization: Structural Design, Wing Leading Edge, Slat high lift devices, Fuselage Structure
Experience: 8 Years
Highest Degree: BSAE
Country: USA
• “What inspired you to become an Aerospace Engineer?”
“As a kid I was always fascinated with airplanes, everything to do with them. My grandfather had
his private pilot’s license and I uh- grew up with a mom who seemingly was always after it,
although ended up a couple of cross countries too short. I grew up around airplanes and just
thought they were the bees knees. As I grew older I enjoyed tinkering with everything and I just
took it for matter of fact that I would grow up to be an airplane mechanic. Working out at the
airport fixing, repairing, and maybe, building airplanes. As a teenager I discovered Rhinoceros
3D, a 3d modeling program. I was constantly on it, I always loved to draw and paint and and this
took it to another level. I would try to design anything and everything I could, especially paintball
guns. I discovered I had a passion for it, and as my skills grew and college grew near there was
no question I want to be 3D modeling airplanes as my career.”
• “Why did you choose your field and/or specialization?”
“I knew I wanted to be a designer, as it satisfied my artistic inclination (my back up plan was
Architecture if Aero Engineering didn’t work out). I knew I wanted to work with airplanes, putting
these together it was clear that Aerospace Engineering was the logical avenue to pursue in
order to guarantee having the career I knew I wanted.”
• “What’s a normal day like at work for you? Can you describe your daily tasks?”
The career has looked very different over the years, despite having only worked for 1 company.
Currently I am putting together work packages for modifications to aircraft for flight test
instrumentation. Applying cost/schedule/design hours/needed stress analysis to various detail
parts. I work your typical 9-5, with occasional meetings to discuss problems and issues and ask
our customer for clarification on any gray areas. Our current customer is in Brazil, and I’ve had
the opportunity to travel there many times over the past couple of years, an opportunity I loved
to have and took advantage of.
• ”What’s your favorite project you worked on in college or during your career?”
“I’ll focus on the career part here. The job has afforded me the opportunity to work for
Bombardier, Embraer, Boeing, and Cessna. For the bombardier program I had the opportunity
to live in Montreal for a couple years. I was a lead designer on the leading edge high lift device.
The necessary problem solving, 3d modeling, and relational design prowess provided the day to
day challenge and rewards that I couldn’t ever dream as a young adult. All of that along with
getting to explore and adventure in a world class city was nothing short of a life changing
experience.”
• “If you could do it all over again, would you do anything differently?”
“If its not too late, learn how to learn in High School. High School was easy for me, and it
handicapped me going into college as I didn’t learn how to study, and I uhm- actually teach
myself how to learn properly. When I got to college I was not accustomed to having to actually
crack a book, and strategize on how to understand things on a level that is required of this sort
of collegiate degree.”
• “Do you have any advice for someone who's just getting started in engineering
school/work?”
“It’s uhh- difficult, at least it was for me (math is difficult for me, dammit). There were many
semesters where I thought I would have to give up, I was near breaking on more than one
occasion. But if you persevere you will be rewarded. Vary your interests, be involved in
extracurricular programs that pertain to your major, and always be on the look out for intern or
co-op opportunities. Network with people, I cannot stress that enough.”
