Aurora Flight Sciences offered a great formal program for all interns across the company.
Name: Siloe Selebangue
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Employer: Aurora Fligh Sciences, A Boeing Company
Location: Manassas, VA
How did you find the internship/co-op? What was the interview process like? I was able to find the internship at Aurora Flight Sciences through LinkedIn. The interview process consisted of a general screening with HR and an interview with the hiring manager. With the hiring manager, we went through my resume and I explained my experiences. A week later, they followed up with the job offer.
What have been the most interesting aspects of your internship? One of the most interesting aspects of interning at Aurora Flight Sciences was being able to see what engineering looks like outside of the classroom. Instead of learning what planes could do on paper, I got to work with them in real life. Apart from the technical work, I had the opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds working on a singular goal; to advance the future of flight.
What campus activities or courses do you think helped you, or would have helped you, with this internship? One campus activity that helped me with this internship is participating in the Vertically Integrated Projects program. I am currently supporting the "Go with the Flow!" project with Dr. Kenneth Kiger, and it definitely has prepared me with a lot of the expectations and experiences that are needed for an internship. Skills such as time management, teamwork and the engineering design processes were some critical skills I was able to pick up. Along with this, enrolling in EDCP108i was very helpful in gaining the insight on the correct approach to obtaining an internship.
Was there a formal program for all interns at the company? Was peer support available throughout the internship? Aurora Flight Sciences offered a great formal program for all interns across the company. With it being a Boeing subsidiary company, there were also opportunities to connect with Boeing interns. This program involved mentorship, an intern travel week, and weekly coffee chats.
How have your career or academic goals changed as a result of this internship experience? As a manufacturing engineering intern, I was shocked at how rare I had to use math or a physics equation. It definitely shifted my paradigm in regards to what engineering actually looks like in the real world, from using abstract equations to sometimes using none at all. Due to this, my academic goals have now shifted to start considering how engineering principles can be used in the real world instead of at face value.
What advice would you give other UMD engineering students seeking an internship or co-op position? Connect with people in your desired industry! Who you know absolutely matters in today's world. Interfaces such as LinkedIn and Handshake are great opportunities to connect with recruiters, employees, and other interns. Take advantage of the many wonderful opportunities that Engineering Career Services has to offer. Apply early and remember not to put all your eggs in one basket.
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