Emily Rogan

 

 

Behind that flat-screen television hanging on your wall, the naSa space shuttle, or a state-of-the-art cancer screening device is…an engineer. The three profiled here have helped make life a bit easier and healthier for the country at large. Read on to find out if a career in consumer electronics is right for you.

 

INTEL: FINDING THE ROCKSTAR WITHIN

It takes a special kind of person to commute by car four hours a day, pursuing a PhD in engineering while working full-time as an engineer. However, that’s exactly what Corey Frazier did, driving from Southeast Houston to College Station, TX where he attended classes and worked in a lab.

 

That self-described “stick-to-it-iveness,” is precisely the trait that helps Frazier thrive at Intel. “Having persistence is necessary. Working at Intel is very challenging and to solve the big problems we do, you are going to need to know how to get back up after a stumble,” he says.

 

Frazier has been working at Intel for over three years, drawn by the “opportunity to say I’ve worked on two of the most complex and significant technical achievements in human history: space shuttles and semiconductors,” he says.

 

He earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and his master’s in mechanical engineering at the University of Florida. He received his PhD in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University.

 

As integration lead for high performance computing product engineering in the space program, Frazier contributed or led the trajectory design of 13 successful space shuttle missions. From that experience, he transitioned to working on the development of the cooling system for Aurora, which, he says, “will be the world’s fastest supercomputer.”

 

The professional skills to work on such unique projects are actually related, explains Frazier. “A lot of the systems engineering in the space program applies to a complex system like Aurora, where there are many individual, cutting edge technologies that must work properly together in the system and teams of engineers and scientists who will work together to enable those technologies,” he says.

 

Frazier refers to his “brilliant” colleagues as “Intel Rockstars,” noting that working with them can be both a delight and a challenge. On the one hand, he explains, “They do amazing things and make it easy to feel a sense of pride about Intel’s achievements.” The flip side is that “with so much intelligence and trailblazing character in our employees, leading people at Intel isn’t just about your technical abilities, it’s about your ability to influence and gain support in your goals and objectives,” he says.

 

Frazier has some sound advice for recent graduates seeking work. “Know your worth as a professional,” he remarks. Understand the company’s culture and “professional makeup,” he adds. He also suggests that it’s important to advocate for oneself. “Minorities often accept ‘good enough’ in compensation and recognition without asking for more, if deserved. We often diminish ourselves so as to not rock the boat, intimidate, seem impolite, or reflect poorly on a group (our race, family, etc.), or a host of other social/psychological reasons,” he adds.

 

Networking is also key to career success. “Get to know other people and the jobs they do, the value they add, how what they do impacts you, and the role their business plays in the company - increase your business acumen. Then figure out how you can help them,” Frazier explains. Avoid a “heads-down mentality” and learn to collaborate, he adds.

 

One of the best pieces of advice he received along the way is that understanding people and what drives them is equally as important to success as having technical knowledge in the field. “Augment your book studies with knowledge of how people think and a healthy self awareness,” Frazier advises. “You’ll quickly realize that “behavioral science (understanding and influencing people) is harder than rocket science (having ‘book smarts’)” he adds. “This, coming from a rocket scientist!”

 

Interested candidates can visit http://www.intel.com/jobs/diversity to learn more about Intel and career opportunities.

 

PHILIPS MEDICAL SYSTEMS: A CLEAR VISION AND MISSION

 

Seventy internship applications may seem like a lot, but that’s exactly the number that Jedidiah Jonathan applied to during his junior year at University of Washington, Seattle. Working towards a bachelor’s degree in computer science with no clear direction, Jonathan placed Philips at the top of his list. To his good fortune, he ended up in a six-month internship that ultimately led to his employment with Philips Medical Systems.

 

“During the internship I learned so much about the work and the culture of this company,” says Jonathan. “I worked on a software project with five other interns. Today, I am the lead software medical engineer for the same software domain. But that first six months of internship prepared me well for my role,” he acknowledges.

 

Now with Philips for three years, Jonathan cites some of the company’s qualities that make it an attractive place to work. “The industry experts are in the R&D building, so instead of reading a book about ultrasound development, I can walk across the hall and talk to some amazing leaders. Everyone here is friendly and very approachable,” he says.

 

Jonathan explains that there’s strong and clear leadership at Philips as well. “I can map my current work to the mission and vision here at Philips,” he says.

 

One of the most appealing aspects of his work, explains Jonathan, is “watching real lives transformed. I worked on a project that uses ultrasound to detect cancer with a technology called elastography. As part of the testing, I visited the hospital where a radiologist scanned a patient with suspected prostate cancer. The radiologist took just seconds to rule out the cancer and I saw the patient tear up,” he recalls.

 

Of course, there are challenges specific to such a specialized field. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the work that Philips Medical does, and so everything must be meticulously documented. “This adds a level of complexity to our work, but since our devices affect patients’ lives, this is extremely critical,” Jonathan says.

 

His advice to recent college graduates is clear and concise:

• Don’t “run after the money,” he says. “Ask yourself how the job is affecting real people.”

• Focus on a problem. “You can have great skills and ideas, but if you don’t find a problem to solve or a service to meet the needs around you, you won’t understand how your job is connecting to real problems,” he says.

• Focus on possibilities. “Don’t just settle down for the most obvious job out there once you graduate. Take time to talk to people, teachers, mentors, and career experts,” he says.

 

Finally, Jonathan adds, “Career counseling is good. Don’t think you know it all!”

 

One way to find success at Philips, says Jonathan, is to meet a lot of people who work there and ask questions, as a way to discover opportunities and open new doors. “Also, volunteer yourself for things that are business critical and fill some white spaces between roles to find areas to move ahead,” he adds.

 

Those interested in finding out more about Philips can visit the career homepage: http://www.philips.com/a-w/careers/homepage.html

 

LG ELECTRONICS: A WINNING TEAM

 

Not many people associate their careers with a washing machine, but for Jennifer Li, that’s how it all started. Well, sort of.

 

“My first experience with LG Electronics was when my family had our very first washing machine back in the 1990s. It was an LG and lasted a long time! I was impressed by its reliability and by LG,” she says.

 

Li learned about an actual career opportunity with LG back in 2006 and has been working there ever since. She earned her bachelor’s degree in applied electronics technology from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and her master’s degree in electronic engineering from the University of Windsor in Canada.

 

Today, as engineer, Zenith R&D Lab, she works on a wide-range of projects for LG, including the company’s leading hotel televisions. “LG dominates the U.S. hotel TV market thanks in part to our core technologies,” she says.

 

Li is also responsible for the hardware design of Pro:Centric server, “a stand-alone Linux appliance that manages and controls LG’s free-to-guest platform, delivering unique digital content to hotel guestroom televisions via the existing RF or IP distribution network,” she adds.

 

As much as she enjoys the diversity of the projects she works on, Li also appreciates the collaborative climate at LG. “One of the things I enjoy most about my job is discussing each project with my managers and colleagues. During those discussions, I often learn about new ideas and I can share my ideas and thoughts, which are often considered,” she says. “The LG working environment is great, and I’ve built close relationships with my colleagues,” she adds.

 

One of her greatest challenges is to be both a female engineer and a first-generation immigrant; she emigrated from China to Canada in 1996. “Language and culture are challenges for me,” she explains.

 

There are technical challenges as well, but Li turns them into opportunities. “One time, I was working on hardware design for a special project, and we didn’t have a software engineer available for this project immediately,” she says. “Instead of waiting, I volunteered to do both hardware and software design. I did my best to do the software design, too, and I finished the project on time.”

 

The experience improved her “embedded software design experience,” so that she could bring that skill to future projects.

 

Li advises recent graduates to be persistent, patient, and positive when beginning their job searches. “There’s a suitable job waiting for you at right time in the right place. It just may not be your time yet,” she suggests.

 

She also emphasizes the importance of being a team player and showing enthusiasm once hired. “Show eagerness to learn new technologies and skills, feel a sense of ownership of each project and work as a team verses working from a singular point of view,” Li says. “Be responsible on your project, and help each other,” she comments.

 

While she concedes that work in strictly hardware engineering may not be as prolific, having additional skill sets is a plus for job seekers. “Advances in software engineering and software-based systems generally are somewhat diminishing the opportunities for hardware only engineers. You must be willing to learn new skills to be considered,” she says.

 

Those interested in learning more about a career with LG can visit the company’s website http://www.lg.com/us/careers.

 

“I think LG does a great job on embracing engineers of all nationalities, and the company treats everyone equally,” says Li.