Anna Kelley | Engineering Intern

Business Unit: Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
University: Ohio University
Degree Program: Mechanical Engineering

What Boeing product(s) or service(s) do you work on?
I work on the F-15 forward fuselage as a design and structures intern.

What's been the most rewarding project you've worked on as a Boeing intern?
I’m contributing to the design of the forward fuselage for the F-15. Every part of this project is rewarding because I’m creating a product that will be used by pilots all over the world to defend and serve our nation. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that I’m contributing to something greater than myself. Every day, I’m faced with challenges like “What’s the best way to design this?” or “How will this affect the structural capabilities?” I’m learning how every small detail matters. From brackets to large bulkheads, each of them has a purpose, and they have to be able to come together in the end to ensure that the quality, safety and function of the jet are exceptional.

How will your internship experience at Boeing influence your future career?
My internship showed me that my options are endless and there are so many different paths I could take with my career. Whether it’s commercial aircraft, fighter jets, spacecraft or rockets, this experience has shown me that I want to be able to look at a product one day and say, “I designed that, I analyzed that, I contributed to that.”

What have you learned as an intern that you wouldn’t learn from your coursework?
As an intern, you are given hands-on, real engineering work that teaches problem-solving skills that couldn’t be taught in a classroom. Every meeting I sit in, I’m learning more about the F-15 program and how Boeing as a company works. I see the company culture and the workplace dynamics, and I learn the expectations for the team. I also went through the same training as all new hires.

What's something you wish you knew before you started your internship?
Don’t be scared to ask for what you want. When you work at a big company, it’s easy to reach out to people and find connections that align with your interests. Take advantage of this and make connections across the entire company, not just at your site. It may be intimidating, but people here are friendly and willing to talk to you.

What about Boeing's mission and the work we do inspires you?
I’m inspired by Boeing’s mission to break the boundaries of what’s possible. Boeing is working to take us places faster, safer and farther than we’ve ever gone before. I’m inspired by the technology being created and implemented for products that are addressing and fixing the emerging issues in our world today. Every day I work here, I know I’m working to connect, protect and explore the world through innovation in the aerospace industry.