Ben is one of Janicki’s engineering interns for the summer of 2025. Originally from Everett, Washington, Ben is going into his senior year at Gonzaga University studying mechanical engineering.
His day-to-day duties vary at Janicki. Typically, he works with CAD modeling, speaks with technicians, reviews design, processes 3D printing projects and helps on the production floor. He’s involved in several projects this summer, but the main one involves creating a new modified drill jig to improve efficiency on some of the drilling operations.
Inspired by his father, who also works in aerospace, Ben grew up with a strong interest in aviation. He recalls visits to the airport with his dad and sister to watch the planes take off. His early exposure to industry helped shape his passion for engineering.
On campus, Ben is the president of his school’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) club. He also plays intermural sports, skis, enjoys baking and is trying to learn how to play the piano!
When asked about his experience at Janicki, Ben spoke highly of his mentor and the team that he works with. He noted that from the get-go, they were very approachable and wanted to see him succeed. Ben feels that he is offering meaningful contributions to his team. He appreciates being treated as a coworker, not just an intern, and finds it rewarding to know that his work has a real-world impact.
Ben was surprised by how complex and process-driven the aerospace industry is, particularly when it comes to quality control. The quality aspect of engineering was new for him, but he’s enjoying exploring different aspects of engineering during his internship. His advice for future interns was to familiarize yourself with processes before going into meetings, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Ben’s goals over the next couple of years are to graduate, find a job in the aerospace industry, continue learning piano and enjoy his senior year.
“I’m grateful for the amazing opportunity this past summer at Janicki,” said Ben in a LinkedIn post. “Excited to return next year and continue learning from such a great group of people.”
Written by Avery, 2025 Human Resources Intern
Are you interested in becoming a Janicki intern? Visit our Internships page for more information.
In his role, Luke works closely with NDI technicians and engineers to define and implement tests that detect material conditions and flaws that could otherwise lead to catastrophic failure in parts. These evaluations are performed in a way that preserves the future usefulness of the object or material. In short, NDI enables inspection and measurement without causing damage.
One of Luke’s projects this summer involved designing a fixture to help rotate a part, which helped reduce both labor and time during a specific process. He said he was impressed, and at times, almost overwhelmed by the level of detail involved in every part.
Since then, she has worked on multiple projects for the space team. One of her key assignments involves designing and testing a fixture for a rocket, with a focus on pressure resistance and resolving structural issues such as bridges and wrinkles in the part.
She also emphasized the importance of understanding non-engineering aspects of a project, including planning and budgeting. Her advice for future interns: Ask questions frequently and come in with a basic understanding of composite materials.
On campus, Rachel is a member of the Baja SAE team, where she works in the machine shop making parts for an off-road vehicle the team builds from the ground up. That hands-on experience has translated well into her internship this summer.
At Janicki, Hunter’s favorite part is the people and the company’s broad capabilities. He appreciates that Janicki has a hand in so many different markets, making it a dream place to intern for undergraduate students who are figuring out what they like and want to go into in the future. He spoke highly of his team’s support, noting how helpful and open they are when he has questions and when correcting his mistakes.
One thing that surprised him about engineering was the practical role of an engineer. The jump from the classroom to on-the-job engineering was different than he was expecting. Hunter said that it’s more about keeping processes going, making little tweaks, and solving problems rather than theoretical classroom material. He talked about how he’s developing what he calls his engineering “knack.”
