When people think about the Month of May in Indiana, they usually think about fast cars, race day traditions and the excitement of the Indy 500.

But behind every lap is an entire team of people working across Indiana’s advanced industries to develop and test the technology, make and move things around the country (and the world), analyze data and make decisions that bring race day to life.

Modern racing depends on advanced industries — and many of the careers that help power race day are the same careers helping shape Indiana’s future every day.

Whether you’re interested in hands-on work, problem-solving, creativity or technology, there are many ways to be part of industries like these right here in Indiana.

Engineering

From designing vehicle systems to improving performance and safety, engineers help turn ideas into reality. Engineers across disciplines use creativity, problem-solving, and technology to design, test, and improve systems people rely on not just on race day, but every day.

Some careers in this field include:

Engineers often work with advanced technology, testing systems, solving problems, and helping improve performance and safety in fast-paced environments.

 

Advanced Manufacturing

Careers in advanced manufacturing combine hands-on work with advanced technologies and precisions tools that help drive innovation across Indiana’s economy. Advanced manufacturing professionals help build the parts, materials and systems used across industries including transportation, life sciences, aerospace and motorsports.

Some careers in this field include:

Indiana is a national leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics, with companies across the state helping design, produce and move products around the world.

 

Technology + Data

Technology plays a major role as its own sector as well as across Indiana’s advanced industries, from software development and cybersecurity to data analytics and artificial intelligence. In the context of racing, teams rely on software, analytics and real-time data to make decisions quickly and improve performance.

Some careers in this field include:

 

TechPoint’s Careers in Tech platform helps you uncover some of the top career paths and opportunities across Indiana’s technology sector. Visit techpoint.org/careersintech to learn more!

 

Logistics

Getting materials, tools and equipment where they need to go takes planning, coordination and teamwork.  Logistics and operations professionals help coordinate the movement of products, materials, and equipment across complex systems and supply chains.

Some careers in this field include:

Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries play a major role in moving products and materials across the country and around the world.

 

Media + Communications

Race day also depends on creative professionals who help tell stories and connect with fans. Photographers, videographers, marketers and communications teams help bring events to life both in person and online.

Some careers in this field include:

These careers combine creativity, storytelling and technology — and opportunities exist across Indiana’s advanced industries.

 

Finding Your Path

There’s no single path into advanced industries careers. Explore more opportunities at SeeYourselfIN.com.

Whether your interests are in technology, engineering, manufacturing, logistics or creative work, Indiana’s advanced industries offer opportunities to explore careers that help power innovation every day — on and off the track.

We’ve all heard those stories about engineers who started out as little junior engineers. When they were kids, they were always building things with Legos or tinkering with machines.

Braxton Bragg says that wasn’t him.

The future Product Innovation Engineer with Evansville’s Berry Global was more into sports.

As he got older, though, the foundation for a career in engineering took shape. At New Albany High School, along with participating in athletics, Braxton found that chemistry, physics and math interested him, and that he wasn’t half bad at those subjects. His junior and senior years, he took a job working on a farm and discovered that the mechanics of the tractors and other equipment fascinated him. As these factors pulled together, he recognized where his path was leading. When he headed off to college at the University of Southern Indiana, he majored in engineering.

And when an opportunity for an internship at Berry Global came up during his sophomore year, Braxton jumped on it. He was familiar with the plastic container and product company, but didn’t know much about its operations. What he learned hooked him in a hurry.

“I was blown away by how much goes into making a plastic drinking cup or plastic lid or the container that holds your products in the grocery,” Braxton says. “The kind of technical crew it takes to pull off efficient production of something like that, it took me for a shock.”

Hired on as a full-time employee in 2019 and promoted to his current position in 2020, Braxton says he enjoys being a part of the company’s global headquarters because that gives him a front-row seat to everything from product ideation to seeing items he worked on come off the production line. He currently has five or six projects on which he serves as project manager, he says, all in different stages. He enjoys the variety of the work and the fact that every day can be a little different. 

He also enjoys the constant drive to make better products more efficiently. “Coming up with a better way to make a better widget that nobody else can make, that’s always the process,” Braxton says. “Innovation as a whole is consistent on the product and process side.”

And he’s delighted to have landed a job with all those features just a short drive from his hometown. Married to his high school sweetheart, Braxton enjoys staying in touch with friends and family and taking advantage of Southern Indiana’s hunting and fishing options. And while engineering ultimately took up a larger part of his life than the sports that he focused on as a kid, he hasn’t given up athletics completely. He’s taken up running, and he’s preparing to run his second marathon.

Find even more stories like Braxton’s on the See Yourself IN Resources Page!

 

This article was originally published by Field Atlas. Click here to read the original article.

Mallika Swaminathan, an IU Indianapolis student pursuing her master’s degree in analytical chemistry, has been taking full advantage of student opportunities and experiences in agbioscience as she rounds out the last semester of her MS program.

Until her experience at the Field Atlas Agbioscience Company Tours in May of 2025, Mallika hadn’t been exposed to the agbioscience industry or the role that chemistry plays in this field. After meeting with industry leaders during the networking portion of the program and then visiting Beck’s Hybrids and Eurofins, Mallika had a whole new understanding of agbioscience and a peaked interest in pursuing a career in the industry.

With an interest and motivation to learn more about the role chemistry plays in agriculture, Mallika continued seeking opportunities to learn more about the field and meet with professionals in the space. This ultimately led her to attending Grow Your Future Day at Corteva Agriscience – a dynamic, full-day experience designed to inspire and connect the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Mallika recently shared more about her experience at Corteva’s Grow Your Future Day:

“I learned so much about Corteva and the incredible role agricultural industries play today. The way they explained the company’s mission really stood out — with the population increasing day by day and land space reducing, it’s so important for AgBioScience companies like Corteva to address these global challenges effectively. And they’re definitely doing so, moving forward strongly by fostering new talent through events like Grow Your Future Day.

The event itself was exceptional — from the personalized resume and mock interview rounds to the opportunity to practice in a real corporate setting. No matter how much we prepare for interviews, the actual environment often brings a different kind of nervousness, so getting to experience that firsthand was invaluable.

I also had the chance to connect with professionals from my area of interest — the analytical labs — and realized how crucial networking truly is. I learned about various contract-based opportunities that are perfect for fresh graduates transitioning from school to industry, and which are not always listed publicly. Hearing this directly from an analytical scientist was a great insight and something that definitely motivates me further.

Overall, the hospitality, warm welcome, and inspiring closing remarks made the day memorable. The scale and diversity of the labs — from biotechnology and chemistry to plant pathology — were truly beyond imagination. It was amazing to see how professionals from so many disciplines come together to drive the agbiosciences industry forward.”

We love seeing students and young professionals take advantage of opportunities to engage with and learn more about the agbioscience industry. Join the Field Atlas mailing list to learn more about professional development opportunities for students interested in this industry!

 

 

Field Atlas Company Tours are a great way to explore the leading agbioscience companies throughout our state. If you are a college student interested in attending an upcoming company tour, click here to learn more and apply!

Julia Hatfield didn’t always know she’d become an engineer designing custom implants that change lives. What she did know was that she loved problem-solving, math, and science—and that curiosity led her to a career in one of Indiana’s fastest-growing advanced industries. 

In this conversation, Julia shares how she found her path, why Indiana is the ideal place to build a future, and offers advice for Gen Z students starting to think about their own careers. 

 

Julia, take us back. How did your interest in life sciences and engineering begin?

In high school, I took an anatomy class and discovered how much I loved learning about the human body. At the same time, I already knew I enjoyed math and science, and I’ve always loved problem-solving. Putting all of that together, biomedical engineering felt like the right direction; it allowed me to innovate in ways that could truly help people.

 

What made you choose the University of Toledo for college? 

 Their bioengineering program required three co-ops. That was huge for me because it gave me the chance to get into the field, not just sit in a classroom. I wanted to see how engineering worked in real life, and those internships had a significant impact on my career. 

 

How did you first connect with Zimmer Biomet? 

 I actually met them at a career fair in Toledo. I ended up doing two internships with them here in Indiana—one focused on shoulder implants, and the other on research using advanced microscopes to study how materials fail. Those experiences showed me how broad and exciting this work could be. 

 

Tell us about your current role. 

 I’m a development engineer on the Patient-Matched Implants team at Zimmer Biomet. That means I design implants that are custom-made for individual patients, usually for shoulders. A patient undergoes a CT scan, and we turn it into a 3D model. Then, I design an implant that fits their exact needs. It’s highly specialized, and every case is unique. 

Currently, I’m working on approximately 60 different cases simultaneously, making for a fast-paced environment. However, it’s incredible to know that something I design could alleviate someone’s pain and restore their mobility. 

 

What excites you about your work? 

For me, it’s seeing the direct impact on patients. I’ve been able to attend surgeries and watch implants I designed being used. It’s surreal. And it’s not just local — some of the implants I’ve worked on have gone to patients as far away as Japan. Knowing my work reaches people all over the world is really motivating. 

 

Looking back, did you always know you’d be on this path? 

Not at all. In high school, I didn’t have a detailed plan. I just followed my interests, took advantage of opportunities like internships, and let things fall into place. That’s something I’d want Gen Z students to know: you don’t have to have it all figured out. What matters is trying things, learning what excites you, and being open to change. 

 

What advice would you give to students exploring Indiana’s advanced industries? 

Surround yourself with goal-oriented people—they’ll motivate you. Don’t be afraid of mistakes. They’re inevitable, but they help you grow. Finally, get hands-on experience through internships, co-ops, or shadowing. Even if you don’t love it, you’ll learn what direction you do want to take. 

 

Why Indiana? What keeps you here? 

 Indiana is the hub for advanced industries — especially life sciences. Warsaw is the orthopedic capital of the world. For someone like me who wants to innovate, collaborate with surgeons, and make a real impact, this is the place to be. 

 

Watch Julia’s full video conversation here!

 

Julia Hatfield’s story shows that pathways into Indiana’s advanced industries don’t require a perfect plan—just curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to try. Her story is also an important reminder that you can build a career that matters right here in Indiana. Explore opportunities and discover your path through See Yourself IN! 

Ashley Jeffirs didn’t start college knowing exactly where she wanted to end up. But through curiosity, adaptability, and hands-on experience, she found her passion in Indiana’s advanced industries. Today, she’s a manufacturing engineer at Zimmer Biomet, working in a foundry where molten metal becomes life-saving implants.

Here’s her story in her own words.

 

Ashley, did you always know you wanted to be an engineer? 

Not at all. In high school, I knew I loved math and science, but I wasn’t sure how that would translate into a career. I initially tried biomedical engineering, but I quickly realized the medical side wasn’t for me. That’s when I shifted to mechanical engineering—and that’s where everything clicked.

 

How did you connect with Zimmer Biomet? 

I first learned about them through a career fair at Trine University. I ended up landing an internship in extremities manufacturing. That experience provided me with hands-on exposure to what engineering looks like in the real world, and it really helped me figure out what I wanted to do after graduation.

 

What do you do today? 

I’m a manufacturing engineer in Zimmer Biomet’s foundry. Essentially, we create wax patterns, build ceramic molds, and then pour molten metal at approximately 3,000 degrees to produce implants. Instead of producing one part at a time, we can make 20 in a single pour. It’s fast, intense, and really rewarding to see the process from start to finish.

 

What is the coolest part of your job? 

Honestly, I never thought I’d fall in love with the foundry. But the first time I worked with metal, I knew this was where I belonged. Now, I get to transform raw materials into implants that restore mobility and improve lives. That’s an incredible feeling.

 

You’ve already made some impressive contributions. Can you share one? 

One of the biggest was redesigning a tool so it lasted a full year instead of just three weeks. That was huge for efficiency. I also led a scrap reduction project that saved the company about $383,000. But honestly, what excites me most isn’t just the numbers, it’s collaborating with operators on the floor.

 

You were recently named to the Conexus Indiana Rising 30 class. What does that recognition mean to you? 

It was an incredible honor. To me, it’s not just about the award, it’s about showing what’s possible when you pursue opportunities in Indiana’s advanced industries. Being recognized alongside so many talented young professionals reminds me that young people, especially young women, have the power to shape the future of these industries. It motivates me to keep pushing, innovating, and supporting the next generation that will come after me.

 

You shared that you’re incredibly passionate about mentorship, specifically supporting other women and interns at Zimmer Biomet. Why is this so important to you? 

Mentorship is huge. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people who guided me, challenged me, and helped me see what I was capable of. That’s why I’m passionate about paying it forward. Advanced industries can feel intimidating, especially for women, but I want to be the kind of mentor who says, “You belong here, and your voice matters.” For me, it’s about opening doors, building confidence, and making sure the next generation of women feels supported and empowered to lead.

 

What advice would you give to others who are trying to figure out their futures? 

Don’t stress if you don’t have it all figured out right now. I didn’t either. Be adaptable, because your path will change, and sometimes those detours lead to the best opportunities. Find balance and make space for yourself outside of school or work, because you can’t pour from an empty cup. And don’t be afraid to use your voice. Even if you’re the youngest in the room, your perspective is valuable and can spark real change.

 

What makes Indiana the right place to launch and grow your career?

You don’t have to leave Indiana to do meaningful work. There are opportunities here to innovate, solve real-world problems, and build careers that positively impact lives. That’s what keeps me here—and why I’m excited about the future.

 

Watch Ashley’s full video conversation here!

 

Ashley Jeffirs’ journey shows Gen Z that you don’t have to have everything figured out right away. Sometimes, the right pathway reveals itself when you’re willing to try, adapt, and discover where you truly belong—and Indiana’s advanced industries are the perfect place to start. Explore opportunities and discover your path through See Yourself IN! 

When Julia Hatfield signed up for high school anatomy, she thought it would just be another science class. Instead, it sparked a journey that led her to a career designing life-saving implants at one of Indiana’s most innovative companies.

Today, Julia works as a development engineer at Zimmer Biomet in Warsaw, Indiana—known worldwide as the orthopedic capital of the world. Her job? Designing patient-matched implants that restore mobility and reduce pain for people facing cancer, fractures, and other conditions that standard implants can’t fix.

“For me, it’s never just about the engineering. It’s about giving someone the ability to hug their kids, return to work, or simply live without pain. That’s what makes this career so meaningful,” Julia says.

Her path wasn’t straight or obvious — and that’s exactly why her story matters to Gen Z students who may be wondering how to find their own careers in Indiana’s advanced industries.

 

Discovering a Passion for Innovation

Julia grew up in Newport, Michigan, in a family where no one worked in the engineering field. Her dad was a firefighter, her mom a teacher, and most relatives worked blue-collar jobs. Still, she was drawn to math, science, and problem-solving.

When she chose to study bioengineering at the University of Toledo, it wasn’t just the classes that excited her; it was the required co-ops. Those internships provided her with real-world experience in designing implants and conducting research, demonstrating that engineering isn’t just about equations—it’s about making an impact.

“Internships completely shifted my perspective,” Julia says. “They helped me discover my passion, test out real-world problem-solving, and see firsthand how advanced industries shape people’s lives.”

 

From College to Career in Indiana’s Advanced Industries

After two internships with Zimmer Biomet, Julia knew Indiana was where she wanted to launch her career. Now, as part of the Patient-Matched Implants team, she collaborates directly with surgeons to design custom solutions for patients worldwide.

Unlike traditional engineers who may spend years on a single product, Julia’s work is fast-paced and highly personalized. She currently manages more than 60 active cases simultaneously—each requiring critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication.

“No two projects are ever the same,” Julia says. “From CT scans to 3D models to custom implants, every case pushes me to think differently. The moment I see one of those implants used in surgery, it’s this powerful reminder that my work is changing lives.”

 

Advice for Others: Creating your Own Pathway

Julia knows many high school students don’t have it all figured out, and that’s okay. She didn’t either. What mattered most was surrounding herself with the right people, staying curious, and being willing to try new things.

Her advice for others considering a future in Indiana’s advanced industries:

  1. Find your circle. Surround yourself with goal-driven individuals who challenge and inspire you to grow.
  2. Embrace mistakes. Every error is a lesson that makes you stronger.
  3. Get hands-on. Internships, shadowing, or even short-term experiences can help you discover what excites you — and what doesn’t.

 

Why Indiana is the Place to Build Your Future 

Indiana is a national leader in advanced industries, including life sciences, agbiosciences, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and technology. These fields are growing, global, and in need of innovators ready to bring new ideas and perspectives.

“Life sciences isn’t just for doctors,” Julia says. “If you love creating, innovating, and solving problems, there’s a place for you. Indiana offers incredible opportunities to turn those skills into a meaningful career.”

 

For those still shaping their path, Julia’s story shows that curiosity is often the spark—and with persistence, it can ignite a career that transforms lives. Start exploring Indiana’s pathways today!

When Ashley Jeffirs walked onto her college campus, she wasn’t sure what career path she wanted to follow. She knew she loved math and science, but she also knew that biomedical engineering wasn’t the right fit for her.

Instead, Ashley leaned into what she loved most: solving problems, working with her hands, and creating things that matter. That decision set her on a journey to Indiana’s advanced industries, where today she’s making sparks fly—literally.

As a manufacturing engineer in Zimmer Biomet’s foundry, Ashley works in an environment where molten metal at 3,000 degrees is shaped into implants that restore movement and change lives.

“I didn’t picture myself in the foundry, but the moment I worked with metal, I knew it was where I belonged,” Ashley says. “It’s incredible to know the work I do here helps create implants that make a real difference for people everywhere.”

 

From Small-Town Roots to Big Impact 

Ashley grew up in northern Indiana and wanted a college experience that felt personal and close-knit, so she chose Trine University. There, she stumbled across metallurgy and foundry sciences through her minor, and everything clicked.

She first connected with Zimmer Biomet at a career fair, landing an internship that gave her hands-on experience in extremities manufacturing. That taste of real-world engineering gave her the confidence to pursue a full-time career after graduation.

 

Innovation in Action

Ashley isn’t just working in the foundry; she’s already leaving her mark. She helps oversee the process of investment casting, where wax patterns are transformed into ceramic molds, molten metal is poured, and multiple implants are created simultaneously.

Her contributions have already saved the company time and money. She redesigned a tool to last a full year instead of just three weeks and spearheaded a project that reduced scrap material, saving $383,000.

But for Ashley, success isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about people.

“The best part of my job is being side by side with operators on the floor,” Ashley says. “When they bring me a problem, and together we find a solution, seeing the pride and excitement on their faces reminds me that what I do truly makes a difference.”

 

Advice for Other Young Adults 

Ashley knows many high school students feel uncertain about the future; she was one of them. Her advice:

  1. Be adaptable. “Plans change, and that’s okay.”
  2. Find balance. “Don’t let school or work take over your life.”
  3. Speak up. “Your voice matters, even if you’re the youngest person in the room.”

 

Planting Roots in Indiana 

Indiana is home to powerhouse industries, including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, agbiosciences, logistics, and technology. For Ashley, staying in Indiana has meant being part of global innovation while working close to home.

“You don’t have to leave Indiana to do work that matters,” Ashley says. “Right here, there are opportunities to innovate, solve real problems, and build a career that changes lives.”

Ashley Jeffirs’ journey shows that meaningful careers in Indiana’s advanced industries don’t always start with a clear plan. Sometimes, they begin with curiosity, a willingness to try something new, and the courage to discover where they belong.

Her story is proof: the sparks that fly when you follow your passions can ignite a career that changes lives.

 

Want to turn your interests into a meaningful, fulfilling career? Explore opportunities in Indiana’s growing industries and discover the connections, programs, and possibilities that can help you See Yourself IN Indiana’s advanced industries. Get started today!

The path that brought Alex Goebel to her job as a lean digital data analyst at AstraZeneca was not a straight one, but it sure seems to have been the right one.

Alex (short for Alexandra) laughs as she describes the course that brought her to where she is today. Coming out of Mount Vernon High School, she considered medicine – helping patients appealed to her – but didn’t like science. She loved math but couldn’t imagine what she would do with a math degree. (Teach, maybe?) In college, she briefly leaned toward actuarial sciences, but an internship diverted her toward accounting.

When she got a scholarship from AstraZeneca, a conversation with Lean Digital Director Keith Rawley led to an internship working in the company’s warehouse. At first, this only muddied the water. “I had no idea how I would fit in there,” Alex says. “I thought, ‘What am I doing in the warehouse?’”

As it turns out, she was defining her path – a path that, in a way, had been there all along.

Growing up, Alex had always known the hometown pharmaceutical manufacturing operation as Bristol-Myers Squibb (it was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2014). She also knew it as the place where her dad worked. “Honestly, I’d hear my dad talk about it and I’d think, ‘That’s cool,’ she says with a chuckle. “But it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

The internship changed that, shattering misperceptions she had about manufacturing and logistics as low-tech and dirty operations. She found a clean, exciting facility where even a math major could contribute.

Still, Alex wasn’t certain AstraZeneca was for her. But as she finished her bachelor’s degree in math and accounting at University of Southern Indiana (USI), she interned at a couple of other places, and soon realized that she liked the people, the culture and the work she found at AstraZeneca. She signed on full-time in 2020 and hasn’t looked back.

That’s not to say she settled into a job and stayed put. In her time with AstraZeneca, Alex has explored new opportunities and received promotions. Encouraged to continue learning, she’s taken advantage of classes and training supported by AstraZeneca and also earned her MBA from USI.  

Happy to find such a good job in her hometown, where she enjoys hanging out with familiar friends, boating and spending time with family, Alex likes that being with a pharmaceutical firm takes her back to her early passion (“I’ve still got a way to help patients,” she says), and concedes that it is fun to work where her dad works.

So, she plans to stay with AstraZeneca … but not necessarily on a clearly defined path. “I have a career path that I see myself going down, but it’s changed every couple of years,” she says. “One thing about AstraZeneca is, they just surprise me all the time.”

Find even more stories like Alex’s on the See Yourself IN Resources Page!

 

Mackenzie Mulherin went off to college planning to heal people. It turns out her destiny was to heal the planet.

A sustainability project manager in consumer packaging at Evansville’s Berry Global, Mackenzie spends her days working with teams seeking to increase the sustainability of things like plastic drink cups and lids, food packaging and beauty and personal care tubes. Recently, for example, she was excited to announce that her division had just introduced a Wendy’s drink cup made with 20% recycled material, a product that is a trendsetter in the industry.

Consumer packaging was not where Mackenzie saw her future when she entered the University of Southern Indiana. “I started out in nursing,” she says, “but learned that I love marketing. I really love to do that.”

Mackenzie wasn’t out of college long before she set her sights on a job at Berry Global. Growing up in Evansville, she was aware of the company and its reputation as a good employer, and she had some friends who worked there. So, after getting jobs in marketing for smaller firms in the area, she started connecting with people on LinkedIn and networking with colleagues who knew people at Berry Global. The approach worked. She got hired in 2021.

“I just did some things that stood out,” Mackenzie says. “I was able to build up work experience and relevant skills through my past roles, but my network of professional relationships and ability to follow up helped set me apart.”

Sustainability is a multifaceted career, Mackenzie says, that includes everything from the technical engineering of products to the kind of work she does, which often includes working with Berry customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals and provide products that are meaningful to their consumers.

With Berry Global, there are a lot of those customers of customers, Mackenzie points out, as the company makes such a wide range of products. In fact, it is estimated that the average consumer touches a Berry Global product as many as five times a day. It’s not uncommon, she adds, to see Berry Global employees in the grocery store looking at the bottom of yogurt cups and lotion bottles to check for the Berry Global logo.

Citing her career path as an example, Mackenzie encourages other young people to keep open minds, pursue their goals and take risks. She never imagined she would end up in sustainability when she was in college, and she’s delighted to have a job that allows her to help provide for her family and make a real difference in the world.

“I get to do both,” Mackenzie says. “I get to contribute to my family’s income and positively impact the environment.”

Find even more stories like Mackenzie’s on the See Yourself IN Resources Page!

 

From Carmel High School to Purdue University to Allison Transmission, Vincent Mai’s journey shows how curiosity and initiative can lead to a thriving career in Indiana’s advanced industries. 

 

Vincent, what first got you interested in engineering? 

 In high school, I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do. However, robotics was the turning point—it gave me the confidence to pursue a career in engineering. 

 

What classes helped shape your career path? 

 Definitely the Project Lead the Way courses. Those intro engineering classes, digital electronics, and engineering principles showed me the basics. They provided me with a solid foundation for pursuing a STEM career in Indiana. 

 

How did you land your first role with Allison Transmission? 

Funny enough, Allison was a sponsor of my high school robotics team. Later, at Purdue’s Industrial Roundtable, I reconnected with them. That led to two internships—one in 2017 and one in 2018. After that second internship, I knew I wanted to be there full-time. 

 

What do you do today as a Control Systems Engineer? 

The easiest way to describe it is a software engineer with extra responsibilities. Some days I’m coding and designing; other days I’m out on test trucks or public roads testing the systems we’ve built. It’s a great mix of analysis, software development, and hands-on application. 

 

What skills have been most valuable in your career? 

 Communication is huge. When I’m working with peers, they want technical detail. But leaders often just want the big picture. Knowing how to adapt your communication style is essential in advanced industries. 

 

What lessons would you share with students or young professionals exploring STEM careers in Indiana? 

I’d share three things: 

  1. Be open-minded. Don’t lock yourself into one idea too early. 
  1. Be flexible. Life will throw curveballs—be willing to adjust. 
  1. Take initiative. Speak up about your interests so people can help you grow. 

 

Looking back, what stands out most about your journey? 

That you don’t need to have it all figured out. I thought I’d go into aerospace or maybe medical technology. Instead, I found a career in advanced manufacturing and automotive right here in Indiana—and I love it. 

 

If you love problem-solving, design, and teamwork, manufacturing and advanced industries in Indiana might be the perfect fit for you. Explore opportunities and discover your path through See Yourself IN!