Life as a Recent Graduate: Entry-Level Engineering

Jessica Teachworth

December 11, 2006

Why Did I Choose Engineering?

Make a Difference in the World Engineers have Cool Projects Skills to Pursue any Career Path

San Chapelle in Paris, FrancePolaris A3,

NAWC China Lake, CA

Ryan X-13 Verti-jet

Voyager 1

Educational Background

B.S. Mechanical Engineering (2004)• University of California, Berkeley

• 5-year graduate

Master of Systems Engineering (2008)• San José State University

Master of Business Administration (2008)• San José State University

Experience

Lockheed Martin, Mechanical Engineer• Research, Development, Test & Evaluation

• Advanced Solid Propulsion (Yes, it is Rocket Science)

• Six Sigma Green Belt (Process Engineering)

NASA Ames, Education Associate• Test Stand Applications (Angles of Attack)

• Rotorcraft Division (Helicopters), 8’ x 10’ Wind Tunnel

UPS, Industrial Engineering Intern• Oakland Airport Processing Facility

Other Random Facts

CA Certified Engineer-In-Training Presidential Volunteer Service Award

• Gold Level for more than 250 hours (2006)

• Bronze Level for more than 100 hours (2005)

Society of Women Engineers• Advisor to SJSU Collegiate Section

Non-Visible Disability

Studying Mechanical Engineering

General Math & Science• Calculus, Matrix Algebra, Physics, Chemistry

General Engineering• Statics, Dynamics, Material Properties

Mechanical Engineering Breadth• Fluid Dynamics

• Thermodynamics

• Structural Design

• Technical Communications

Studying Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Depth• Heat Transfer

• Combustion

• Mechanical Behavior of Materials Electives

• Engineering Perspectives

• Product Development

• Bio-Astronautics

• Non-Engineering Courses• World Folklore, Astronomy, Stagecraft, Marketing

Graduation Day

Hooray I’m done! Uh-oh . . . . What comes next?

• Find a Job

• Graduate School

Other issues• Financial Independence

• Living Situation

• Geographic Location

Catch-22 for any New Graduate

You want to gain experience. Employers are looking for experience. You need experience to gain experience.

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22 . . . Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.

– Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I’ve taken some classes . . .

Coursework = Experience• Classes are learned knowledge

• Jobs are applied knowledge

Disliking a course ≠ Disliking the job Internships allow you to:

• Combine information from different courses

• Experience a company’s culture

• Find out what you like or do not like to do

Becoming an Engineer . . . .

School teaches how to solve small problems

Work teaches how to define the problem and then divide it into smaller problems

Multiple solutions to every problem• Not every solution is feasible

Almost everything is done as a team You never stop learning

Solid Rocket Propulsion

All types of engineers involved• Chemical, Mechanical, Materials,

Manufacturing, Systems, Aerospace What do engineers work on?

• Design

• Propellant formulation

• Material composition

• Computer Modeling

• Testing

• Transportation

• Safety

• Manufacturing

• Systems Integration

• Risk Analysis

• Technical Papers

• Presentations

Research & Development

Create an idea/concept See if the idea/concept is viable Future-Oriented - Long-term activities Part of nearly every company or

organization Potential for high risk of failure US spends approx $330 Billion/year

Test & Evaluation

Further development of idea/concept into a product

Clearly defined matrix of tests Helps define concept maturity Failure analysis Pre-Production run Beta testing

Engineering Courses I Use

Technical Communications Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer Combustion Structural Design Mechanical Properties of Materials Computer Aided Design (CAD) Statistics Physics / Linear Algebra

Solid Rocket Propulsion: So How Does it Work?

Controlled Burn from the Inside Out

http://science.howstuffworks.com/rocket.htm

Star Grain

Solid Rocket Propulsion: So How Does it Work?

Cross-Section of a Rocket Motor

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/propulsion/q0246.shtml

Solid Rocket Propulsion: So How Does it Work?

Cross-Section of a Hellfire Missile Motor

The Hellfire Air-to-Ground Missile System (AGMS) provides heavy anti-armor capability for attack helicopters.

Space Shuttle Solid Boosters

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1p52.htm

150ft long

Fleet Ballistic Missile / Trident II D5

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ssgn-726-pics.htm

Fleet Ballistic Missile / Trident II D5

Strategic Weapons Facility – Atlantic

(SWFLANT), GA

Naval Submarine

Fleet Ballistic Missile (SLBM)Approximate Launch Sequence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman

What I’ve learned about being an Engineer

Projects are long-term (months to years) The solution is rarely known in advance Engineering is more than technical ability

• Lots of teamwork, presentations, reports

• Customers, Suppliers, Contracts

Work isn’t like school• You don’t take it home with you!

Trident II D5 First Flight Test

What I’ve learned about being an Engineer

Communication skills are important• Written and Oral

You can never know everything• Experts just know more than most people

Find a Mentor• MentorNet (online program)

Trust your instincts

Trident II D5 117 Consecutive Flight Tests

Questions?

Email: Jessica.Teachworth@SWE.org