HOT CAREERS
Embry-Riddle Graduates Talk about Engineering
 Curt Kienast -- Vice President of Life Sciences, TEKsystems
Inc., an IT staffing and services firm.
Embry-Riddle degree: BS, Computer
Engineering, 2001
What I do: I manage more than 900 quality assurance professionals.
A lot of our projects (for pharmaceutical companies) deal with software and
equipment used in labs to identify proper drug content and stability of a product.
These systems require some knowledge of chemistry, but all the labs are controlled
by software applications.
A memorable project: At Abbott Laboratories, I was involved
with a consent decree, the worst regulatory action that can be sanctioned upon
a Food and Drug Administration-regulated company. After 100 consultants and
18 months of work, the FDA lifted the decree. At the time over 20 companies
had entered into a consent decree and only two companies had successfully remediated.
What I like best: My engineering degree and background enable
me to communicate effectively with other engineers and understand the issues
that arise on projects. Engineers and quality assurance professionals consult
my advice because they know I understand their environment.
Words of advice: Engineering is not the easiest college
degree, but you will earn the respect of your colleagues and learn to think
things through in a disciplined manner.
The Embry-Riddle advantage: Embry-Riddle’s reputation for
software engineering helps tremendously when I’m presenting new ideas for improving
a client’s Software Development Life Cycle. Presenting risk-based testing approaches
to safety-critical applications is a sensitive subject, even with good education
credentials.
How I help people: Because it’s related to the verification
and validation of computer systems used for drug discovery and manufacturing,
our work ensures the safety and efficacy of the products that affect the entire
population – from vitamins and toothpaste to prescription drugs and cold medicine.
 Tierney Young -- Self-employed contractor based in Basel,
Switzerland
Embry-Riddle degree: BS, Civil Engineering, 2001
What I do: I design modifications on primary and secondary
structures and design and approve new interior structures for large bodied
aircraft.
Memorable projects: Most are for private customers. A lot
of our customers buy new Boeings or Airbuses and want to turn them into a personal
aircraft. When the interiors are completed, I would live very comfortably on
any of these aircrafts if I could.
What I like best: All the different people from around the
world – Irish, English, Kiwis, Australians, Germans, French – that I work with
and all the different places I get to live and work in. We maintain Formula
1 racer Michael Schumacher’s plane in our hangar when he’s in Europe.
Words of advice: My path is not for everyone. I started
very young as a contractor and kind of fell into it. I feel very fortunate,
but I have also worked hard to maintain where I am. I have moved four times
in the past two years, twice transatlantic. It can be very lonely, but the
upside of contracting can be like a fairy tale.
The Embry-Riddle advantage. Originally, the name was a great
advantage, but it’s the education that now carries me through. My education
was one of the best.
 Tim Farley -- Director of Project Engineering, Gulfstream Aerospace
Embry-Riddle degrees: BS, Aeronautical Engineering, 1986;
MS Technical Management, 2002.
What I do: I help run the engineering organization -- from
our efforts to build our current production aircraft, the G550 and G450 --
to our research and development of future products. Every day is a different
challenge. Some days I am called upon to handle management stuff, like deciding
budgets and facilities questions, and then other days I get to help guide the
team on technical aspects, such as which projects we should be doing or how
to handle a issue affecting our customers and the fleet.
Memorable projects: The C-17 project was my first job out
of college, and seeing something I designed fly for the first time will always
stay with me. I began my career with Gulfstream on the GV product development
team and was responsible for the engine development. This had me working with
Rolls-Royce as they developed the BR710 engine. The Gulfstream GV won the Robert
J. Collier Trophy, as did the Gulfstream G550, for which I was the project
engineer.
What I like best: Engineering is a very dynamic field. At
Gulfstream, I get to see a lot of the industry technologies being developed.
I also enjoy working closely with our customers and supporting Gulfstream aircraft
in the field.
Words of advice: I would strongly recommend an internship
or co-op program, to get a good understanding of the career you have chosen
and give you some experience before you graduate.
The Embry-Riddle advantage: The school’s great reputation
in the industry helped me get my first job, at McDonnell-Douglas. Embry-Riddle
is one of the engineering schools we are forming a partnership with, due to
the school’s reputation, the many Embry-Riddle graduates here at Gulfstream,
and the great work they are doing. As you work in aerospace, you will always
run into fellow Embry-Riddle alumni, which helps build a common bond fast.
How my work helps people: The Gulfstream GIV-SP jet is part
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hurricane surveillance
fleet. The accuracy of hurricane forecasting is greatly improved due to the
work of the GIV.
 Gary Landes -- Vice-President and Chief Engineer, Airglas Inc.
Embry-Riddle degree: BS, Aeronautical Engineering, 1991.
What I do: We design and build skis for light aircraft and
helicopters.
Memorable project: When I graduated from Embry-Riddle, I
was fortunate to design a hinged ski for our UH-60 Blackhawk line. I shared
the patent with my father. So far, helicopters with Airglas skis have saved
more than 500 lives. We just certified skis made of thermoplastic for the Cessna
185-180 aircraft, the first skis ever certified with this new material. We
started from scratch, found new material, and figured out the design in 3-D.
It took four years.
What I like best: I like to design something new and solve
the problems that come with breaking new ground, with doing what no one else
has ever done.
Words of advice: Engineering is challenging, but rewarding.
A working engineer typically has many projects going on. Figuring out time
skills and learning to say no are both very important.
The Embry-Riddle advantage: I researched schools, and the
reputation of the school kept coming up. After asking around, I recognized
the value of a degree from Embry-Riddle.
How I help people: People’s lives are at stake, and you
don’t want any error. I enjoy supporting the military.
 Nadean Carson -- Project Engineer, Geotechnical Engineering/Construction
Materials Testing Division, ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC
Embry-Riddle degree: BS, Civil Engineering, 2000
What I do: I determine how many soil borings we need to
get a good profile of the soil under a proposed construction site. When I receive
all the data from the tests, I write a report about whether or not the soil
will support the proposed construction. I also determine seismic class
and the pavement design required for the area. In another part of my job,
I send technicians to building sites to test aspects of the construction such
as soil compaction, concrete, and steel. I review the results to determine
if the client is achieving the required strength and results.
Previously, I was project engineer for a heavy highway construction company.
I also worked in the civil engineering squadron of the U.S. Air Force for five
years. I performed engineering, environmental, and construction work at
Altus AFB in Oklahoma, Andrews AFB in Maryland, and the International Zone
in Baghdad, Iraq.
Memorable projects: In Baghdad, I was responsible for the
construction and re-construction of the Iraqi armed forces’ bases in that country.
I traveled to each military base, assessed what was needed – eating facilities,
dorms, latrines, training areas – to make it a viable base, proposed budgets,
and worked with contractors to rebuild bases.
What I like best: My engineering degree is versatile and
I can pursue many different paths. I have done environmental work, traffic
work, construction work, and now more traditional engineering work. It
has allowed me to have knowledge of many different aspects of the construction
industry and made me more valuable in my current position.
The Embry-Riddle advantage: When I tell people where I obtained
my degree, they either say “Oooh, that is a very prestigious university,” or
“Where?” In the military, everyone was familiar with Embry-Riddle and
its courses. In the civilian sector, it has been a little harder for people
to know the university, particularly in civil engineering. But when my
company ever has anything to do with an airport, I am usually the first person
they roll out.
How I help people: My work helps people to know whether
or not to construct on a particular piece of land. I tell them how much
the building will settle, and whether there will be mass rock excavation in
the area. I also assess the possibility of sinkhole development.
 Robert Santucci -- Senior Design Engineer, Intel
Embry-Riddle degrees: BS, Electrical Engineering, BS, Computer
Science, 2000
What I do: I design chips and modules for WiMAX, the next
generation of mobile broadband service.
Memorable project: I worked on a transceiver for cellular
phones in Intel’s new business incubator. Being on this small team -- operated
as a startup -- allowed me to assume control on large portions of the design
and assume responsibilities that wouldn’t have been otherwise available to
me at that early point in my career. I completed two patent submissions and
got great exposure to how the business development environment combines with
engineering.
What I like best about engineering: Being presented with
tough design challenges and being allowed the freedom to develop innovative
new solutions.
Words of advice: High school students entering an engineering
program should get actively involved in projects outside of class, either research
or design teams. This hands-on experience designing things, building them,
and seeing how they work is an integral part of learning. When I was at Embry-Riddle
(Prescott campus), the electric race car team gave me this experience.
The Embry-Riddle advantage: Embry-Riddle’s small size, great
student-to-professor ratio, and focus on undergraduate education. Professors
get to know each student well and develop special projects to challenge students.
This concentration on undergraduate education ensures that students have a
full understanding of the basics.
How my work helps people: I’m now working on a project that
will enable people to have high-speed internet access on their laptops and
smaller devices, regardless of location, very similar to the cellular phone
today.
|
