Insitu, Inc.

Engineering Support Specialist 3

January 2017 • Hood River, OR

What I liked

I got to work developing the most advanced drone platform this company is working on. I got to help others in a servant leadership role.

What I wish was different

I wish our funding had not been interrupted.

Advice

Keep your project managers accountable.

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Mechanical Engineering Intern

May - August 2019 • Hood River, OR

What I liked

The work was engaging and challenging. I was given a large variety of tasks and well-integrated into the team. My colleagues were fun to work with and my manager cared about the work and his people. Most of the work was hands-on, I had a range of experiences working in the advanced development department (including designing, building, and testing), and I was given several independent projects.

What I wish was different

The company is going through a lot of transitions right now, which has included management re-works and lay-offs, so the overall company culture was one of uncertainty (this does not seem to be the norm, I was just there at the wrong time). When the project I was working on received a work-stop because of budget issues, I was not transitioned very well or very quickly to a new project, so I had a lot of down-time for a couple weeks.

Advice

Try to get a good understanding of the range of work the company does; I didn't have a very clear idea how the company as a whole operated, and it limited how I was able to contribute as I struggled to understand the lingo and standard operating procedures.

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Electrical Engineering Intern

June - September 2018 • Hood River, OR

What I liked

I learned many new skills not taught at UW!

What I wish was different

Advice

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Mechanical Engineering Intern

June - August 2017 • Hood River, OR

What I liked

Everything about this company was amazing. It is quite clear that they care about their employees as well as the work they do. I worked on a 9/80 schedule, meaning that I had every other Friday off, and the company was very good about flexible scheduling. The work is also incredibly meaningful. Because it is a small company, everything done has an impact. As an intern, I worked on prototyping parts for advanced development that were integral to the future of the company. There is always an adequate amount of work to be done, and the employees are more than willing to answer questions. The CEO is engaged and transparent with company goals and makes a point to personally meet each employee. The area is also amazing. The town of Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge are incredible, as well as the surrounding areas. There are always things to do and people to meet.

What I wish was different

Communication could have been a bit better. A lot of people work remotely or in different buildings, so it can sometimes be hard to get in contact to get things done.

Advice

Take advantage of active Fridays. You'll do fun things and meet a lot of cool people. The folks out West are a lot more laid back that on the East Coast, so don't be afraid to get to know your coworkers and the other interns.

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