Tag Archives: Intern

Intern Stories: Jordyn, 2025 Production Intern

Jordyn is one of Janicki’s production interns for the summer of 2025. Originally from the Skagit Valley, she is entering her senior year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, where she is studying mechanical engineering with a focus on the propulsion track and a minor in mathematics. Outside the classroom, she competes on the university’s basketball team and enjoys baking. Jordyn’s interest in engineering stems from her early strengths in math and science.

During her internship, Jordyn’s day-to-day work varies but primarily involves working on aircraft panels. She assists with drilling, sanding and other hands-on tasks. Jordyn values the collaborative environment at Janicki, noting that everyone she works with shares the same goals, which helps her stay grounded and purposeful in her work.

One of her favorite aspects of the internship has been the encouragement from her mentor to explore different buildings and projects. That support has given her the freedom to expand her understanding beyond her immediate responsibilities.

What she appreciates most about her current role is that it keeps her active and physically engaged while offering continuous learning. Working on the production floor has given her direct insight into the practical side of engineering, reinforcing what she has learned in the classroom

One of the biggest surprises for Jordyn has been the shift from the theoretical nature of academic work to the fast-paced, hands-on demands of the industry. While she can recognize some parallels between school and work, she said that applying skills in real time is a completely different experience and learning process.

Her advice for future interns:

“Ask questions. Lean into the role of an intern and learn as much as you can.”

Written by Avery, 2025 Human Resources Intern

Are you interested in becoming a Janicki intern? Visit our Internships page for more information.

Intern Stories: Ben, 2025 Engineering Intern

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.

Intern Stories: Luke, 2025 NDI Engineering Intern

Luke is one of Janicki’s engineering interns for summer 2025, specializing in non-destructive inspection (NDI). Originally from Long Beach, California, he attends Iowa State University, where he is majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in NDI.

Luke was inspired to pursue engineering by his grandfather, a design engineer who worked on aerospace programs similar to those Luke is now contributing to at Janicki.

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.

Luke’s days typically begin on the production floor alongside a technician conducting inspections. Later, he transitions to tasks such as designing a fixture, documenting inspection processes, or adding NDI-related resources to Janicki’s internal site.

His favorite part of the internship so far has been seeing parts transform from start to finish. He also appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with Janicki’s NDI technicians, citing their drive, diligence and attention to detail.

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.

His advice for future interns is simple: talk to as many people as possible.

Back at Iowa State, Luke serves as a teaching assistant for mechanics and manufacturing courses, contributes to NDI research, works on the university’s Prism Solar Car team and participates in intramural sports.

Outside of the lab and classroom, he enjoys biking, swimming and attending outdoor concerts. While in Washington this summer, he completed the Lake Whatcom sprint triathlon. Luke says his friends would describe him as lively, personable and confident.

Looking ahead, he’s excited to graduate, explore both professional and personal goals, and maybe take on another triathlon.

Written by Avery, 2025 Human Resources Intern

Are you interested in becoming a Janicki intern? Visit our Internships page for more information.

Intern Stories: Quinn, 2025 Engineering Intern

Quinn is one of Janicki’s engineering interns for the summer of 2025, working with the space team. She is currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Washington State University. Originally from Camano Island, Washington, Quinn has long been familiar with Janicki through her father and uncle, who both have worked at the company.

Last summer, she interned at Sedron Technologies, Janicki’s sister company, where she worked as a supply chain intern. That role focused more on the business side of engineering and introduced her to the logistics and planning aspects of the field. This summer, her internship at Janicki has provided more technical and hands-on engineering experience.

Quinn began her internship on the production floor to gain a deeper understanding of the processes and components used in manufacturing. 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.

Her favorite aspect of the internship has been the level of independence and responsibility she has been entrusted with. She said the challenges have helped her grow both technically and professionally. Engineering has always felt like a natural fit for Quinn. With a design-oriented family—her father is an engineer and her mother an architect—she grew up surrounded by problem-solving and creativity. She has always excelled at math and enjoys the clarity of having one correct answer.
The biggest surprise for Quinn this summer was discovering the complexity of the manufacturing process.

“Making parts is one thing,” she said. “Making them so that they can be machined is a completely different challenge.

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.

Looking ahead, Quinn hopes to graduate, begin her career in engineering and build a healthy work-life balance that supports both her career and personal goals.

Written by Avery, 2025 Human Resources Intern

Are you interested in becoming a Janicki intern? Visit our Internships page for more information.

Intern Stories: Rachel, 2025 Engineering Intern

Rachel is one of Janicki’s engineering interns for the summer of 2025. Originally from Bothell, Washington, she is entering her senior year at Purdue University in Indiana, where she is majoring in mechanical engineering.

Throughout her internship, Rachel has worked in several areas at Janicki, including the mills, the machine shop and with the research and development team. One of her favorite experiences has been learning to operate a lathe. She has contributed to R&D efforts by helping adapt new materials for use in low-production-rate molds.

One thing that surprised Rachel during her internship was the complexity of Janicki’s operations. She noted that even with an engineering degree, there is still much to learn, especially in areas such as machining and manufacturing that are not covered in depth in academic settings.

Rachel credits her dad as a major influence behind her passion for engineering. From a young age, she recalls building things and being encouraged to use her hands-on skills. She and her dad often worked on woodworking and car projects, which helped spark her interest in mechanical systems.

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.

Outside of the office and classroom, Rachel enjoys attending Purdue football and basketball games, going to the gym and hiking. Her friends describe her as responsible, thoughtful and humorous.

“It’s exciting to know that there will always be more to learn,” Rachel said.

Looking ahead, she is eager to graduate and pursue a career in the defense industry. She also hopes to spend more time enjoying her hobbies and exploring new interests after graduation.

Are you interested in becoming a Janicki intern? Visit our Internships page for more information.

Intern Stories: Hunter, 2025 Summer Engineering Intern

Hunter is a mechanical engineering student at Montana State and is one of Janicki’s 2025 summer engineering interns. Originally, Hunter wanted to be a pilot, but after buying an older car and fixing it up, he realized that he had an interest in mechanical engineering and decided to pursue it at college. He said the more he learns about engineering, the more interesting he finds it.

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.

This summer, Hunter has a handful of projects underway, ranging from writing work orders to designing a clamp to aid in process improvement, creating a part for metrology, and engineering a remote-control device to turn a vacuum on and off.

Back at school, he is the vice president of his school’s motorsports club, which works on a Baja SEA car. This club builds and races an off-road car from the ground up. He said that the process of working on that car was more applicable to his current role as an intern than any other experience he’s had so far. Outside of work and school, Hunter can be found rock climbing, at the gym, reading or skiing.

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.”

Hunter’s advice for future interns?

“You should set expectations and deadlines for yourself.”

He also said that while asking questions is important and something everyone should do, an intern should do their due diligence beforehand and be as prepared as they can be.

Written by Avery, 2025 Summer Human Resources Intern

Are you interested in becoming a Janicki intern? View our Job Openings page for our current open roles.

Employee Stories: Shayne, NC Programmer

Gaining Perspective

While working through his senior year at Concrete High School, Shayne was introduced to Janicki by his superintendent. When he learned about Janicki’s internship program for local high school students, he landed a part-time role as a machine shop helper.

As a shop helper, his tasks were straightforward but important: cleaning the machine shop and building tools. It was his first introduction to the precision and discipline of manufacturing work. At the same time, he balanced schoolwork and played on the high school baseball team.

After graduation, Shayne began working full time with Janicki. But like many young professionals, he felt the pull to explore. He left for a short time, trying out jobs in the lumber and tree service industries. The experience gave him perspective, and after a few months, he decided to return to Janicki.

A Journey Through the Machine Shop

Since rejoining the company in 2019, he’s been continuously building his career. Shayne began operating a Doosan mill. He focused on production-run metal parts, gaining hands-on experience with tight tolerances, materials and toolpaths. That deep exposure gave him insight into both the capabilities and challenges of machining complex components.

After several years of sharpening his skills, he made a career change into NC programming.

“It seemed interesting and was a good move for the company to have me learn a new skill,” Shayne said.

Now, he spends his days programming using NX software to produce the code that guides Janicki’s machining processes. His transition from machinist to programmer gives him a unique edge.

“Moving from an experienced machinist position to a programmer is relatively unique,” he said. “Some programmers have never run a machine in their life, and that makes it difficult to know what the operator prefers or needs when they get a program sent to the machine.”

Because he understands how the work gets done on the floor, he writes programs with the operator in mind, leading to better results, fewer revisions and more efficient operations.

Pride in the Product

Shayne is especially proud of the parts he’s helped build for large-scale aerospace and defense programs.

“Any part that comes off the machine is kind of like a trophy, it’s an awesome feeling that you made a part for some really interesting programs.”

He’s worked on complex projects that demand closed corners and tight tolerances. These types of parts push the limits of both programming and the machines, and that’s what Shayne enjoys most.

“Seeing my work get put together into a final product is really amazing.”

No Mountain High Enough

Outside of work, Shayne spends time in the mountains. He enjoys hiking and climbing to high-elevation lakes throughout the North Cascades, where he hunts, fishes and forages.

“If it came down to it, I would have the skills to survive on my own off the land completely.”

He also finds joy in gardening and spending time with his family, especially his almost 2-year-old daughter, who often joins him in a backpack on his many outdoor adventures.

From sweeping the shop floor to programming mission-critical components, Shayne’s journey is a testament to growth, grit and hands-on experience. At Janicki, stories like his remind us that there are limitless opportunities for growth.

Interested in a machinist or NC programming role? Visit our Job Openings page.

Employee Stories: Charles, 2024 Summer Engineering Intern

Charles standing with his rocket team

Charles is spending his summer as an intern at Janicki, where he’s immersing himself in the engineering industry to gain hands-on experience and clarify his career path after graduation. Charles is studying mechanical engineering at Washington State University. He was familiar with Janicki but became intrigued after connecting with our team at a career fair on campus.

During his internship, he’s been tasked with designing a site layout for future Janicki buildings. He has also spent some time working on converting welding technology that currently does TIG welding to laser welding.

“The amount of cool stuff that Janicki does is unlike any other place I’ve ever been,” Charles shares.

At school, Charles is the president of WSU’s competitive rocket-building team. Outside of school, he enjoys playing video games.

He is hardworking and eager to learn all that Janicki has to offer.

Are you interested in becoming an engineering intern? View our Job Openings page for our current open roles.

Employee Stories: Eve, 2024 Summer Engineering Intern

Eve is with Janicki for the summer as an engineering intern gaining experience that will allow her to excel after college. She attends the University of Florida and is majoring in aerospace engineering.

Eve’s favorite thing about interning here at Janicki is the people. “I like talking to people about how I can improve my project and how knowledgeable

everyone is about their specialties,” says Eve.

Eve has been working with Janicki’s research and development team and has been gaining great experience working with projects from start to finish.

“I really enjoy seeing parts that I make in CAD come to life and go through the shops,” states Eve. “It is rewarding to know that something I created has come to fruition.”

In her free time, Eve loves to hike, bake and spend time with friends. She has loved aviation since she was young and earned her private pilot license. She wants to continue to gain further experience and ratings. Eve’s love of aviation and engineering radiates through the work she does here at Janicki.

Eve was featured in our 2024 Engineering Internship video. Watch the video below to learn more about her experience.

Are you interested in becoming an engineering intern? View our Job Openings page for our current open roles.

Employee Stories: Kenna, 2024 Summer Engineering Intern

Kenna with her horse

Kenna attends Montana State University studying mechanical engineering with a minor in mechatronics. During her summer internship, she joined an aerospace parts team, where she worked on creating an angled pie bond and producing various test articles of the joint to find a manufacturable solution without defects.

Kenna’s favorite thing about Janicki is the common mission that everyone shares.

“It truly feels like you are part of a team, and everyone is available and willing to help you learn,” says Kenna.

Reflecting on her internship, Kenna has gained knowledge and skills that will help her succeed in her future engineering career. She has also learned how to navigate the corporate world and practice problem-solving skills.

In her free time, Kenna loves to hike and fish. She also coaches a youth gymnastics team. Kenna is curious, motivated and willing to jump in with two feet, which allowed her to thrive during her time at Janicki.

Are you interested in becoming an engineering intern? View our Job Openings page for our current open roles.

Employee Stories: Serenity, 2024 Summer Production Intern

Serenity will be entering her junior year at Sedro-Woolley High School and is a facilities and maintenance intern for the summer here at Janicki. She has been spending her summer weeding, cleaning, painting and stripping wire. She is eager and willing to do whatever the maintenance team needs to get done.

Serenity’s favorite thing about working at Janicki is the people. She loves that everyone is so kind.

“There is a strong sense of community,” says Serenity.

As she looks towards her future, she would love to study something in marketing and animation. In her free time, she loves to draw and create 2D animations and is currently learning how to create 3D animations. She is creative and empathetic and is a wonderful addition to the Janicki team.

Are you interested in becoming a production intern? View our Job Openings page for our current open roles.

Employee Stories: Jackson, 2024 Summer Engineering Intern

Jackson studies mechanical engineering at the University of Idaho. This summer he was an intern at Janicki in the tooling team. He gained experience through different projects including testing the lifting capacity of various vacuum cups and the radii of J-seal corners.

Jackson also worked in the machine shop for two weeks. He believes that experience will help him become a better engineer by understanding what it is like to work with the drawings that engineers create. Jackson really enjoys how Janicki gives interns a lot of freedom to be able to learn and grow.

Jackson also really appreciated that many interns at Janicki are encouraged to work on a personal project in their free time to further explore the companies’ materials and software. Jackson chose to design a pickleball paddle that he was able to design and build from the ground up.

In his free time, he enjoys skiing, backpacking, and fishing. Jackson is also part of the College of Engineering Ambassadors at the University of Idaho, where he helps set up networking and alumni events, and K-12 outreach programs.

Jackson was featured in our 2024 Engineering Internship video. Watch the video below to learn more about his experience.

Are you interested in becoming an engineering intern? View our Job Openings page for our current open roles.