I spent three rotations with Gulfstream Aerospace working on the G500/G600 Systems Integration, G700 Final Line, and G500 Completions departments as an Operations Engineer. As a co-op, I got hands on experience working on the aircraft during my floor rotation, observed the build process from start to finish, and really got to expand my problem solving capabilities. My day-to-day activities consisted of receiving feedback from the shop floor about ongoing issues in the build cycle, researching engineering documentation, and developing solutions including process improvement, work reallocation, engineering changes, and new tool design and prototyping. I grew a lot of personal relationships with the aircraft mechanics and engineers in my department and got a really broad view of the company. My most exciting time as a co-op was definitely getting to ride in the jump-seat for a G500 test flight. Nothing beats that view!

My favorite thing about the co-op was that I got to rotate through several different departments within the company. Each department offered a new window into a different part of the manufacturing process, a new set of problems to tackle, and a new group of friendly faces to meet. It diversified my abilities as an engineer, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me to expand my network.

My time with Gulfstream gave me a lot of exposure into the manufacturing process and the copious considerations that must go into the design process in terms of ease of assembly, maintenance capabilities, and impact of subsystems on overall design. As I move into my Master’s program at Georgia Tech, I plan on leveraging this manufacturing background in a more design-oriented role. I am extremely grateful for my time with Gulfstream for the development it gave me as an engineer, the professional skills it grew, and the people I met who helped push me out of my comfort zone and supported me along the way.