Investing in STEM: Internship Program

What is your role and some of your responsibilities at Leonardo?

I spend a lot of time shadowing a Product Development Engineer. He showed me how to do a lot of the tests he does in the clean room such as LIV and CS testing. I’ve also been learning how to code in Python to automate one of the data sheets they use.

What do you study in school? What are some specific areas of study you are interested in?

I am about to go into my Senior year at the University of Arizona, and I study Electrical and Computer Engineering. I’m specifically interested in circuit design, and I’ve had interests in lasers and working in the clean room here at Leonardo.

How did you find out about the internship with Leonardo? What was the process of applying?

At first, I was just looking for all kinds of internships. I looked online on websites like Indeed which is where I found the original internship posting. From there, I applied directly on the website. After I applied, I was called in to meet with the Recruiter and then interviewed with the Director of Engineering and the Product Engineering Manager. It was really intimidating at first.

What is your favorite part about being an intern at Leonardo?

I’d say community. I really like working with others at Leonardo. Everyone here is very smart and it’s nice to have someone to rely on when I don’t know something, especially being an intern.

What are some challenges you’ve faced and overcome during your internship?

I’d say the most challenging part has been learning to code since I didn’t have very much experience with that before.

What are some of your future goals?

After graduating in December, I want to stay in Arizona and find a position in either Tucson or Phoenix. I’m keeping it open when it comes to jobs, but I’d like to find a position in electrical engineering for sure.

Any advice for future interns?

I’d say the number one thing is don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek out help from others. I actually got that advice from someone else who did an internship here and is now working a full-time position at Leonardo. For example, when I have questions about coding, I have a source here who I can ask for help. Internships are really a learning experience, so it’s important to ask for assistance when you need it.  

Most students struggle to see how STEM comes alive in the real world; can you identify how you use it in your day-to-day?

I feel like having a STEM mindset is really important. We’re always thinking about how to go the extra mile to take shortcuts and make things more efficient. Engineers know how to find those shortcuts and make processes easier.

What is your role and some of your responsibilities at Leonardo?

Right now, I’m working on a project in Python programming that analyzes data collected from experiments. I also help in the labs with cleaning and soldering, putting glues to electronic equipment, and so on. There are other times that I get to visit the clean rooms. Those are fun because I get to watch them carry out experiments!

What do you currently study in school?

I go to the University of Arizona. This Fall, I will be going into my Senior year as an electrical engineering student. Right now, I’m considering working with circuit boards or something with electronics and circuit boards.

Why did you decide to join Leonardo for your internship?

I found the internship through my college. There’s a program at the University of Arizona that helps students apply for internships. They had a list of different companies they work with, and Leonardo was one of the companies that joined. Finding a position that was specifically for electrical engineering was great because I get to put into practice what I’ve learned in college which is exciting.

What projects have you worked on so far?

The first week I came here, I had to learn how to use different software like LTspice, Altium Design, and so on. These are software used for designing and carrying out experiments on electrical circuits. The rest of the weeks I’ve been here, I’ve mostly been working on python projects. Once I’m done with that, I’ll be working on designing a PCP that’s an electrical circuit board.

What are some of your future goals?

My goal is to first complete my undergraduate degree and then go straight into the workforce. Once I’ve had some experience and time, I might consider going back to grad school. For now, I want to stay in Arizona because my family is here, but in the future, I might consider moving.

Do you have any advice for future interns?

I would say the things you learn in college are actually important if you pay attention. Sometimes, as students, we only study for the exams and forget everything afterwards. There is some stuff that will be helpful for you in your future career. You just need to know how to find that information when you need it.

What do you do outside of your internship?

Sometimes I like to play the piano and guitar. I’m self-taught, so it takes a while to get myself motivated. I also spend time with my four younger siblings. We watch documentaries together like history, nature, and philosophical ones.

Most students struggle to see how STEM comes alive in the real world; can you identify how you use it in your day-to-day?

I use STEM in my projects I’m working on right now. Once I started doing the internship here, I realized that some of the things I learned in school were actually very important and helped me solve problems. Also, I learned how to use programming languages in college and now I’m using it in my internship.

What do you currently study in school?

I’m going to the University of Arizona, and I’m going to be a Senior this Fall. I’m majoring in Mechanical Engineering as well as getting my minor in Aerospace Engineering. I really like what I’m doing here at Leonardo as what I’m interested in is design engineering, using my creative side and figuring out solutions to problems. All the projects I’ve done here incorporate design work. I’ve been using a software called Solidworks to 3D model and bring my ideas to life.

What inspired you to pursue an internship?

From a young age, I’ve known that internships are great steppingstone to getting your first job. I know how important they are because, without real-world experience, companies are just taking a shot in the dark with you. It’s important to get real-world experience under your belt because schools don’t really teach that. They teach the theories and concepts behind everything, but there’s a lot of things you don’t see coming until you are at a company and get to see all the behind the scenes work.

How did you find out about the internship with Leonardo?

It’s actually a funny story! My landlord ended up telling me about how he works at Leonardo and how there’s a great mechanical engineering team and internship opportunity. I connected with him to learn more about it, and it ended up being exactly what I wanted. I applied, interviewed, and got the job!

What are some challenges you’ve faced and overcome during your internship?

The first challenge I noticed was adapting to this company. I’d only been a lifeguard previous to this job, and it’s a totally different environment.

Also, on the manufacturing side of things, it’s a lot easier to think of an idea than to implement it. I had a concept design review, and I 3D-modeled this design expecting it to be made, but you really have to go into it and think of how you plan on making it, the most cost-effective method, and all of that.

What are some of your future goals?

Ultimately, I want to do something where I can make a difference. I enjoy working in the defense sector. I’ve always had a goal of making my own product, so this design work has helped me see the real-world problems I might run into.

What related activities are you involved with outside your specific job role?

I joined the F1 formula team at the University of Arizona to meet people and get the real-world building aspect through a club. I got a grasp of how everything was coming together. All these different programs came together to make the product. That’s kind of how it is here at Leonardo; you have the engineers, business side, production side, and everyone’s working together to make these lasers and sell them.

Most students struggle to see how STEM comes alive in the real world; can you identify how you use it in your day-to-day?

I would say SolidWorks, the 3D modeling software, really takes an idea, models it in the system, and brings it to life. It has an assembly feature where you can connect different parts and see how they cooperate together. Like a life-size model through the software.

Outside of work, it’s cool to see all the engineering and science behind everything we do day-to-day, from the bridges we cross to the cars we drive. Everything is thought out and well-made through engineering. That’s eye-opening to see how we humans have made all of this work.

What is your role and some of your responsibilities at Leonardo?

I have 3 main projects. One of them is a Solder Tacking System, so it’s going to be an Electric Arc to tack a piece of solder in place. Second, I’m designing a parts library to organize diagrams of different parts, specifically electrical connectors and wires. Finally, I’m helping design a system to test different kinds of water filters to be used in laser cooling.

What do you currently study in school?

I will be going to the University of Arizona in the Fall. I will be a Freshman, but I have already done some classes at Pima Community College. My major is going to be Mechanical Engineering, and I will likely have a minor in Aerospace and Defense or I might just take classes on the topic.

What do you enjoy most about your internship?

I think getting to work at an engineering facility and get that experience to see how it all works. I get to see what I would be doing before I even officially start school. Leonardo gives me opportunities to work on actual projects that are important and will be useful, not just paperwork. I think it’s closer to what I would actually be doing once I graduate.

What do you do for fun?

I do Jiu Jitsu, work on cars, go to the gym, play guitar, and game.

What are some of your future goals?

Some of my goals include finishing my degree, getting a job, and then possibly going to flight school and becoming a pilot or an engineer. I haven’t really decided which one yet.

Would you recommend an internship and why?

Yes, because it’s a good way to get some experience and start working while you’re still in school. I would recommend an internship at Leonardo specifically because there are a lot of opportunities to get to work on projects here.

Being the youngest intern, is there anyone you would like to thank or that you’d say has been the biggest influence on your success?

I would like to thank my parents. I was homeschooled, so they taught me in that way, and they also helped me get enrolled in Pima and start taking those classes. They gave me an educational boost.

Most students struggle to see how STEM comes alive in the real world; can you identify how you use it in your day-to-day?

I think I’ve been using a lot of my physics/electricity and magnetism kind of classes to design the solder tacker. I did a few classes at Pima through dual enrollment. Through those classes, I did some writing and reading, physics, math, and chemistry courses, mainly gen-ed classes and some of the first STEM classes, too. I’ve been using all the stuff I learned about circuits in electricity and magnetism class to design the circuit for my projects.

What is your role and some of your responsibilities at Leonardo?

I help a lot in the Incoming department, just taking regular measurements of parts and making sure they’re up to specifications. More related to quality and processing, I’m working with my boss on deviations which are changes in the way something is being made. We are analyzing those deviations, and, if the tests are successful, we aim to move those processes in the experiment to the actual production process. The overarching project is reducing scrap in the most common part numbers or top-level finished products.

What do you currently study in school?

I am attending the University of Arizona, and I will be a Junior this Fall. My major is Systems Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering. Since I recently switched to Systems Engineering, I would say I’m most interested in the management side of things, and those classes related to how the business purpose ties into the engineering process. Also, I like the idea of systems thinking and how to coordinate the engineering process itself to deliver a product.

What does a typical day and week look like for you?

Usually, I’ll start off the day, for a couple hours, in Incoming, helping get some measurements done. Then, I will either head into a meeting with my boss or work on the projects I’ve been assigned. That will usually go for the rest of the day unless someone requires my help, or they want to show me something new. My main project is finding which steps of the assembly process are causing the most scrap and examining exactly which steps or what variables are playing a role in such a high scrap amount. Whether it be equipment that needs to be maintained or the way the laser is being manufactured, the ultimate goal is less scrap.

As for my typical week, it’s usually the same every day except I usually do more measurements at the beginning of the week, and one-on-one meetings with my boss related to my projects or giving him support as needed towards the end of the week.

Has anything happened during your internship that has surprised you?

I haven’t been taken aback by anything. I guess the amount of detail is surprising with how meticulous the process is which only adds to the complexity of the manufacturing. There’s a lot more than meets the eye. Overall, though, it is pretty similar to what I expected. I expected a lot of optimizations and improving things along the way, so I think it’s in line with that.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to enter your field?

I think one of the most important things is to have a workable attitude and to always seek to learn. I’m a big believer that grades aren’t everything, and, although they are important to a point to show how far you’ve come and what you may have knowledge on, I think having that workable attitude and willingness to learn pays off a lot more. By being able to foster those things, you will be able to pick up more technical skills. Your technical skills will only shine more if you’re able to work well with others and work to your strengths while complementing other’s strengths.

What are some of your future goals?

In terms of my career, there are two potential paths. I have a huge passion for aviation, so I would eventually like to work as a systems engineer for an aerospace company in the development or in the industrial line of manufacturing commercial airplanes. I would either do that or maybe become a pilot, but we’ll see.

What do you do with your free time?

I’m kind of all over the place. I take flight lessons whenever possible. Other times, I’m just in the gym playing sports like soccer, basketball, and pickleball, recently. I also just spend time with friends and family.

Most students struggle to see how STEM comes alive in the real world; can you identify how you use it in your day-to-day?

I would say it comes alive depending on what a customer needs from us. Depending on what they need, it’s easier to see how STEM contributes to the development of a product because you need engineering and science to accomplish what the customer needs to be done via this product. Customers will never get a quality product from anyone unless those principles are present.

Outside of work, I’m a very technical person. For example, in areas like sports, the longer you can play, the better you get at it. Of course, there are things like endurance or your individual skill, but I think developing that skill requires science to do that as optimally as possible because, otherwise, you’d just be wasting your time.

Another area would be video games. There are a lot of games with time restrictions and needing to know what moves or plays you need to make. Based on the ability of that character in the game, there is a lot of math tied in that may be in the back of your mind. I think that plays a big role because that is what wins or loses you games.