In June 2024, Helen A. joined ACT as a Design Engineer Intern. Since graduating from Penn State this past May, she has officially moved into a full-time Design Engineering role. As an avid learner, she’s hungry to soak up experience and continue learning from our team. Read on to learn more about Helen in our next Employee Spotlight.
ACT: Hi, Helen! Thank you for accepting the Employee Spotlight award. What were you doing before joining the ACT team? Did you intern anywhere else?
Helen: Hi, thank you! ACT was the first place I interned and I did so throughout my senior year at Penn State. Before college, I worked at my local McDonalds and during the semesters, I would do art commissions for family and friends.
ACT: How cool that you can stay creative as well. What was it about ACT that made you want to work here and then stay here full-time?
Helen: I was drawn to ACT because of its vertical integration and that I would be able to do schematics captures, PCB layouts, troubleshooting, and testing. At a different place, I may not have been able to gain all of that hands-on experience. It was the opportunity that brought me here.
ACT: That’s great! Have you always wanted to be a Design Engineer?
Helen: I always knew I was going to be in engineering, but in school, doing the design courses, I knew I really liked it.
ACT: It’s good to do something you’re passionate about. What’s is like being a Design Engineer? Tell us about the day in the life on the job.
Helen: As a Design Engineer, it’s my job to work alongside my fellow engineers to come up with unique solutions to meet a customer need. The job requires constant learning to tackle challenges that may come up.
When I get to work, I get assigned to perform different tasks here and there. One day I could be working on design and research and then, the next day I could be looking at something new and different. You need to be willing to learn and adjust as you go.
ACT: What is one of your favorite things about your job?
Helen: I really like that’s there’s vertical integration and that I have an opportunity to learn all aspects of design and the manufacturing process. Within the design itself, I get to do the whole process—schematics capture, PCB layouts, and troubleshooting. I like that I can be exposed to it all here and am involved in every step of the process.
ACT: It’s great that you can be so hands-on. What can be challenging about your job?
Helen: So, I think some of the most challenging aspects for me is the learning curve, but I also really like that. If you’re not always learning, you’re stuck in one place. It’s rewarding to get more out of it. Everyone has been really kind and helpful and has a passion for what they do, which is really motivating and makes me want to work hard and go to them with questions.
ACT: Way to take on the challenge and lean into your team! Are there any company values that resonate with you?
Helen: I’d say commitment. As a company, we’re always striving for growth and improvement, and you can see that in my fellow engineers. They’re passionate, motivated, and they like what they do—that’s motivational!
ACT: That’s a good one, and it’s great to see true commitment alive on your team. As a young professional, what does it mean to you to work for an employee-owned company?
Helen: I think employee ownership brings more value to the work that you’re doing. It makes the job more personal—I’m not just a worker. It brings value to my work on a deeper level.
ACT: We think so, too. As one of the female engineers on our team, how does it feel to be a young female engineer in a male dominated industry?
Helen: The number of female engineers varies depending on the specific field. I think universally there aren’t too many of us, but that number continues to grow every day. I think being a female in the industry is a pretty cool experience. To me, it shows that you can follow your passions should you chose to pursue them, regardless of gender.
ACT: We agree and are happy you’re on our team! What are your career goals?
Helen: For me, I guess it’s just working toward learning. I don’t have a specific endpoint in mind for 5, 10 years, but that continual growth is what I strive for.
ACT: Continual learning and growth are good goals to have. Do have any advice for new employees or new engineers?
Helen: Keep asking questions and trying to learn as much as you can. It can be intimidating, but it gets easier the more you put yourself out there.
Interested in working alongside Helen? Join on team—click here to get to know us, view our open positions, and apply!