Business Unit: Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Location: Everett, WA
University: Purdue University
Degree Program: Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics

What program and team do you work on?

I work in Boeing Commercial Airplane’s Product Development organization supporting our Precision Assembly team. The team helps make sure that all pieces in our airplane fit together. If we understand the whole space of possibility in how we assemble our airplanes, we can deliver higher quality products faster.

Why did you decide to apply at Boeing, and what about Boeing's mission and the work we do inspires you?

I wanted to work somewhere where I was solving big problems that had big effects. It’s incredible to me how far we’ve come when I compare the 767 to the 787 Dreamliner, but what inspires me most is where we can go next. The problems we solve today develop the technologies we need tomorrow to reduce our impact on the climate and drive exciting new innovations.

What kind of skills are you building during your internship?

I am focusing on learning and applying technical knowledge to enhance how we build airplanes. The next big challenge is building aerospace quality at the production efficiency the automotive industry is known for.

What has been your proudest moment as a Boeing intern?

I worked with a team last summer towards mitigating imperfections in composite materials known as “wrinkles." We took what the 787 program had learned during production and chased an even more comprehensive process. It was a great feeling to sign off as an inventor on that patent filing.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in interning at Boeing?

Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone but always know the limitations of your tools. The best problems are the ones that haven’t been solved before. Often it’s best to start with the first-order physics and go from there.

When you look back at this experience in five years, what do you think will be your greatest learning as a Boeing intern?

I think my greatest learning has been in how to collaborate with engineering teams. We work best in a problem-solution format, but it’s not immediately obvious what the problems are when we start a new project. In my time here, I have learned how to figure out what we want to do, gain agreement and then go execute the plan.