Bronco Spotlight: Jared Winters
Design Engineer at Parker Aerospace
I work on the Research & Development team at the Parker Aerospace Hydraulic Systems Division, creating next generation hydraulic components for the commercial and military aerospace industry. I work along side engineering technical staff to make their ideas become a reality. Based on performance calculations and customer requirements, I use Catia V5 to generate models and drawings of the proposed parts. I also do a lot of research on old designs and calculations that aid in the design process.
If you had a campus job or internship, how did they impact your career development?
Before graduating, I held an internship position with the same company for two years. This experience opened the door for me to join Parker Aerospace full-time upon graduation. Additionally, having an internship really opened my eyes to what the aerospace industry is like, and I was able to apply a lot of the skills I learned in the classroom
What activities, resources, or people helped you prepare for your career?
Taking advantage of the resume building seminars and other career services that college of engineering and applied sciences has to offer has helped me prepare for my career in a tremendous way. Being qualified is one thing, but having a solid resume and good interviewing skills helped to separate me from everyone else.
Which of your skills had the biggest impact on your success?
Developing a lot of soft skills had a profound impact on my success. Skills like leadership and communication are vital both in the classroom and in the workplace. Other intangibles such as the ability to overcome adversity and work through stressful situations has served me well too. Being highly skilled with CAD software was also a huge advantage.
What experiences impacted the choice of your career path?
I was very interested in science classes growing up, and excelled in all of my math classes. After going on flights for various family trips, I became very curious about airplanes and how they work. Putting those two things together lead me to pursuing my studies in aerospace engineering.
What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours?
My advice is to stay driven, focused, and hopeful. All engineering programs are very challenging, and will require a lot of work and sacrifices. It is important to maintain a positive mindset and know that all of your hard work is going to pay off. Prioritizing your studies will only improve your performance in the classroom and your chances of landing your dream job after graduation.