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‍What team are you a part of and what kind of work are you doing?

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I work on both the systems and safety teams doing safety analysis and supporting both teams wherever help is required. I have taken on a wide variety of projects and have been able to deliver to more than just my direct supervisor. 

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What excited you the most about Skyryse’s mission and in what ways is your team making real-world impact?

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I am a private pilot myself, and was super excited to join the safety and systems teams as we are the ones ensuring the other engineering teams are producing a cohesive product. General aviation safety has been stagnant for too long, and I am proud to be on a dedicated team that is working directly to change that.

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What has been your favorite experience so far?

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I have loved being on systems because I get to interact with every facet of the aircraft, and work with nearly all of the engineering teams. It has been very rewarding to have gained a holistic view of the aircraft from a safety perspective, especially as safety is Skyryse’s mission.

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How did you hear about Skyryse’s Internship Program?

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I found the listing on LinkedIn as I was looking for summer internships in aerospace!

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In what ways do you feel supported?

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I have had frequent check-ins with everyone I work with regularly, am in daily stand up meetings with both of the teams I’m on, and everyone is incredibly eager to help. If I am stuck on something, I never have to search for hours to find a solution, I just go talk to the subject matter expert in person. Everyone is primarily mission-driven, and that leads to a very collaborative environment.

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How has your internship at Skyryse shaped your educational and career goals?

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As an aerospace student, especially one who is much more interested in “air” than “space,” I always thought that I was pretty limited to the defense industry after graduation. I was unaware that there was even a job market in general aviation. I now am primarily interested in making aviation safer using technology that exists today, which is exactly what we are doing at Skyryse.

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

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Commit to your academics, but also try to find something that you are passionate about in STEM outside of your classes. I feel that my experience as a pilot enhances my skillset as an engineer, and vice versa. I think that everyone should find their “thing” in parallel to engineering, and use that to expand your toolbox as an engineer.