Cal Poly Update | March 2007 | National Engineers Week Activities at Raytheon

Cal Poly Students Shadow Engineers at Raytheon

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Cal Poly engineering students recently shadowed Raytheon engineers for a Society of Women Engineers event.

On Friday, Feb. 23, Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems concluded their participation in National Engineer’s Week by hosting 25 engineering students from eight California universities to shadow company engineers.

Students experienced a typical day as an engineer, learning to put their theories to practice.

Cal Poly students Ashley Evants, Jerad Ellenberger, Jeannie Goodson, Skyler Lassman, Gregory Attmann, Jeff Wheeler, and Abagail Liddle participated in the event.

Roberta Gotfried kicked off the El Segundo event with comments about her career as an engineering fellow and manager in Raytheon’s Performance Analysis Department. “I never anticipated that I would have a 27-year career at Raytheon…Make sure you take full advantage of today to network and learn,” Gotfried said.

Cal Poly student Ashley Evants (right) shadowed Raytheon Engineer Michelle Styczynski
for the day

After opening remarks, students hit the labs to get a backstage glance into specific areas of engineering. Systems Engineer Katie Borrud explained the company's Enterprise Architecture Modeling and Simulation. Borrud demonstrated how Raytheon uses videogame-like technology in tracking radar.

Students then regrouped as Teri Ryan, director of the Product Engineering Center, mediated a panel discussion of Raytheon engineers. Raytheon's Ryan completed the day by conducting the following Q&A session with panel members Ruthie Hamely, Michelle Yi, Mirabel Carandang and Katie Wolodkiewicz.

Cal Poly student Jerad Ellenberger (right) shadowed Raytheon Engineer Jing Stafsudd

Q: What is the most exciting thing that you have worked on in your career at Raytheon?

Michelle Yi, Classified Systems Engineer: I enjoy working with the customer to get real-time feedback. It gives me a better understanding of how I can improve our products, and that is the exciting part.

Q: What skills did you develop in college and have put to use in the professional atmosphere?

Ruthie Hambley, Systems Engineer: While most technical skills that you use professionally are learned on the job, basic skills learned in college, such as networking and practicing a strong work ethic, are all valuable as you enter the workforce.

Q: What is the most difficult aspect of transitioning from college to a career?

Katie Wolodkiewicz, Systems Engineer: It is all about being able to adapt to change. When you enter the workforce, you need to be able to adapt to a new culture and a new system of ideas.

- Submitted by Danielle DeSantis, Raytheon

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