Life as a Recent Graduate: Entry-Level Engineering

1. Life as a Recent Graduate: Entry-Level Engineering Jessica Teachworth December 11, 2006

2. Why Did I Choose Engineering? • Make a Difference in the World • Engineers have Cool Projects • Skills to Pursue any Career Path Ryan X-13 Verti-jet Voyager 1 Polaris A3, NAWC China Lake, CA San Chapelle in Paris, France

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Graduation Day • Hooray I’m done! • Uh-oh . . . . What comes next? • Find a Job • Graduate School • Other issues • Financial Independence • Living Situation • Geographic Location

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Engineering Courses I Use • Technical Communications • Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer • Combustion • Structural Design • Mechanical Properties of Materials • Computer Aided Design (CAD) • Statistics • Physics / Linear Algebra

16. Solid Rocket Propulsion: So How Does it Work? • Controlled Burn from the Inside Out Star Grain http://science.howstuffworks.com/rocket.htm

17. Solid Rocket Propulsion: So How Does it Work? • Cross-Section of a Rocket Motor http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/propulsion/q0246.shtml

18. 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.

19. Space Shuttle Solid Boosters 150ft long http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1p52.htm

20. Fleet Ballistic Missile / Trident II D5 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ssgn-726-pics.htm

21. Fleet Ballistic Missile / Trident II D5 Strategic Weapons Facility – Atlantic (SWFLANT), GA Naval Submarine

22. Fleet Ballistic Missile (SLBM)Approximate Launch Sequence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman

23. 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

24. 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

25. Questions? • Email: Jessica.Teachworth@SWE.org