Archived 11/26/24

Software Coop

June 2019 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

The opportunity to hone in on my programming skills was an experience I didn’t know I needed. However, I found within the first week that my confidence in my abilities was boosted. I found myself apply classroom knowledge to the real world, and that, is an entirely positive experience in itself. Working for a company like Collins Aerospace has given me the certainty to say I want to continue with programming in school and into my professional career.

What I wish was different

Speaking to my experience solely, I wish I had then opportunity to utilize more programming languages on the job. While I now believe I’m quite strong at Python and JavaScript, getting to work in other languages would have made the experience all the better!

Advice

Having only one year of engineering/collegiate experience prior to starting my coop at Collins, I was uncertain I would be able to preform or that I was making a mistake taking time off of school. I can now attest to the fact that this experience offered me more than any lecture or textbook could. The advice I offer is, take any experience you can get outside the classroom because that is where you’ll learn the most and the work will be most applicable to your career skill set. It’s all about growth!

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Technical Intern

June - August 2018 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

The project I worked on was really interesting. It allowed me to learn a lot about new languages and technologies as well as the engineering process and how that would look like on a project. I was able to see the project start to finish and this gave me valuable skills I can use in the future.

What I wish was different

Advice

Part-time remotely can be a time consuming experience. Be certain of your decision before trying to incorporate that into your school schedule.

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Architecture Intern

June 2018 • Annapolis, MD

What I liked

I liked the overall experience. I got to work with architecture, facilities and real estate management.

What I wish was different

I wish I experienced more on the finance side of things.

Advice

Take every opportunity to learn something new, even if it's something that doesn't interest you. Become more diverse in your career.

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Systems engineer

February - August 2018 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

The work life balance was great

What I wish was different

Advice

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Software Engineering Intern

June - August 2018 • Richardson, TX

What I liked

My favorite thing about Rockwell Collins is the company culture. Everyone who works there is extremely supportive and wants to help you get to where you want to be in life. They'll challenge you to solve technical problems, however they'll also offer support when you get stuck.

What I wish was different

I wish that I would have been a part of an Agile team again. This past summer I was on a "semi" Agile team which primarily just used a scrum board and had daily stand ups. I really missed having the other cadences for the sprints and felt as though that would've helped the project move along more quickly.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions! It's easier to spend a minute asking a question than being stuck on a problem for hours. Also, if there's some other location/job you're interested in with the company feel free to talk to your manager about it. The managers really care about keeping their employees within the company so they're more than happy to get you to where you'd like to be.

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SEPP Software Engineering Intern

June - August 2018 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

Freedom of the work schedule and working on an interesting project.

What I wish was different

I wish we had a project that could actually be used in the future for development.

Advice

Go to events with other interns or you will regret it.

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FPGA Solutions Technical Intern

May - August 2018 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

I really enjoyed meeting new people at this internship. There were about 400 other interns at this location and we all lived near each other. It was great learning from one another and forming lasting friendships. The housing was also paid for and set up by the company specifically for the interns.

What I wish was different

Personally, I had some trouble getting used to the physical work environment. There were renovations being done at the time and my team was placed next to the loading dock and construction zone, so it was very loud and distracting. My desk was half a cubicle and directly next to the trash compactor. Normally, groups of interns are seated next to each other, but I was the exception. I wish I'd have gotten the chance to work with other interns or at least work in the lab or a typical engineering office environment.

Advice

Research beforehand what exactly a position entails. It was a great learning experience, but it would have been even better had I prepared myself to work with VHDL and SystemVerilog prior to the start of the internship.

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Systems engineer

May 2018 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

Being such a large company they did a great job of still making you feel like a valuable asset to the team.

What I wish was different

Location for sure. Cedar Rapids is nice but Iowa isnt the most beautiful state.

Advice

Big companies do not always make you feel small if you have the right company.

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Business Integration Analyst

June 2017 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

This internship was a great learning experience because it was quite challenging, but not overwhelming. I really got to utilize the SAP skills I already had and learned many more skills along the way which extended beyond just technical skills.

What I wish was different

The only tough part about this internship was the location, but since they hire so many other interns at that location, there were plenty of people my age to do things with and explore the city with.

Advice

Even if you don't know how to do something right away - still try! The best way to learn is by attempting things you weren't sure you could do.

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Systems Engineering Intern

June - August 2017 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

My manager gave me meaningful work that left me thinking I really made a difference in the 10 weeks I was there

What I wish was different

I'm not a fan of Cedar Rapids- the job was amazing though

Advice

Keep asking for projects as you can handle them and show initiative

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Industrial Engineering Intern

May - August 2018 • Richardson, TX

What I liked

Everyone I worked with was very helpful and caring and they gave me projects that I felt like I could make a difference for the plant

What I wish was different

I wish there were more locations that I could choose between

Advice

Even if you’re not sure if you’re interested, try it out!

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Software Engineering Co-Op

March - August 2018 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

I loved my team! My manager was super nice, my team was incredibly helpful, and I felt like because of the environment, I was able to positively contribute to the projects my team was working on.

What I wish was different

When I got there, it was a bit of a hassle to get all set up. But, once I became familiar with my environment, it got much better for me.

Advice

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Systems Engineer

January - August 2018 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

Lots of autonomous, as well as working on real projects that goes earns the business money.

What I wish was different

Advice

Do activities outside of classes, it's the closest you can get to working, and in some cases the only time you'll learn valuable lessons before it really matters.

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Software Engineering Intern

May - August 2021 • Dallas, TX

What I liked

Very friendly atmosphere, everyone was willing to help me if I needed it.

What I wish was different

Advice

Make sure you speak up and voice your opinion. Managers will like you more if you provide ideas and possible solutions.

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Engineering Co-op

January - August 2022 • Wilson, NC

What I liked

Firstly, I enjoyed the atmosphere. My co-workers have all been friendly and willing to help me with any assistance I may require. I also enjoyed the trust instilled in me. I have lead several projects, held several meetings, and worked independent for a majority of my work term. I felt valuable to the company and in turn, they treated me well. I also enjoyed the opportunities to explore other branches of the company and other RTX branches

What I wish was different

Due to managerial instability, I lacked projects to work on for the first 2 months, but as I networked with other employees and departments, I soon found tasks to work on. The location in Wilson, NC is a newer facility acquired by RTX and therefore many changes are being implemented. Because of this, the turnover rate is high at this location. The work atmosphere seems leisurely at times (a pro or con depending who you are). If you are considering working at this specific facility, research the area prior to accepting a job offer to ensure this area is the lifestyle you enjoy.

Advice

I find networking with you piers is valuable within Collins. Since Collins is an RTX company you can broaden your network to other branches such as Pratt and Whitney to land a job in other companies if desired. Other advice, make yourself memorable. Co-ops tend to fall under the radar and often work in the background. I encourage everyone to make yourself known and push yourself. Proving this will demonstrate just how valuable you are to the company and in turn, they might extend a job offer.

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Chemical Engineering CoOp

June 2022 • Miami, FL

What I liked

Location and team

What I wish was different

More R&D in sustainability

Advice

N/A

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Software Engineering Intern

May 2021 • Burnsville, MN

What I liked

I like that I learn new things. I like that we use Scrum for project management, because your work is divided into smaller pieces that way. I like that as long as I get my hours in for the week and attend the daily required meeting, my boss doesn't mind what schedule I use (I was able to take a summer class because of this! I worked a little more on mondays and a little less on tuesdays). This is a big company with lots of room for growth and career exploration, and they pay super well for an internship.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more 1:1s with my boss, and I wish the company was more eco-friendly.

Advice

Talk to your boss frequently, at least biweekly. If you want to continue your internship into the fall, just ask your boss, and don't be afraid to bring it up multiple times if your boss takes a while to get back to you. Companies want to keep you as long as they can, because it's cheaper than hiring and onboarding new interns.

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Accounting Intern

May 2022 • Windsor Locks, CT

What I liked

I love how willing all of my coworkers were to help when I was just getting started. It made the process seamless as I was never left wondering how to do something. This allowed me to be much more productive because someone was always available to help me when I needed it.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been able to work in-person at some point. My whole experience was remote, and I feel like I could have gotten more experience if I was in the office.

Advice

My advice would be to pay attention to detail. Even the smallest mistakes can cause issues down the line and it is best to minimize this as much as possible.

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Software Engineering Intern

June - August 2021 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

Intern events to get people connected and see more of the area.

What I wish was different

Better preperation for interns. Many stories of people not having the appropriate equipment to do their jobs.

Advice

Get as involved as possible to enjoy your time outside of work. Ask questions if you're stuck, people like to help if you show you are willing to learn.

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Industrial engineering co-op

January - August 2021 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

I really liked the flexibility I had in regards to my schedule. I like the way Collins treats it’s employees and want their employees to have a good work life balance. The work I was allowed to do was fulfilling and useful and I learned a lot.