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HED Integral Interns

Aug 31, 2018

With unemployment at historically low levels and demand for highly skilled technical talent projected to become even more competitive, the role of interns and co-op students has advanced well beyond short term project contribution.  According to Tim Erickson, VP of Engineering, “It takes time for new engineers to develop their experience base so our goal is to rotate them into project work in the early career period to accelerate that learning and help them advance quickly.  Having an early talent pipeline is a key.”

For the intern, the opportunity brings financial benefit as well as practical application of the curriculum studied.   As a software test intern, UW EE Freshman Taylor Draheim “learned a great amount about Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, and testing.  I’ve spent my days writing test cases and testing new pieces of software.  Not only did I learn about working in industry, I also gained some valuable mentors in engineering and in life.”

She is not alone.  Andrew Stoehr, a computer engineering Senior at Milwaukee School of Engineering, on track to graduate with a BSCE in November, enjoyed the diversity in his role in software engineering.  “I helped to test new versions of our Orchestra software as well as our Linux Device Downloader.  I’ve written scripts to analyze various types of log files from our CANect (telematics) modules to highlight performance, and have prepared documentation, including diagrams, to help plan out a modular and scalable CANect programming and testing fixture to support HED production.”

For Madeline Rose, senior BSBE / EE minor at Marquette University, and Elliott Weld, junior Computer Science major with minor in Media Art and Game Design, a collaboration supporting the HED® Business Development team kept them busy for the summer.  While Elliott applied his talents to develop new marketing graphics for the team’s demo kits, Madeline handled the backend developing the functionality requirements for each product and implementing those 

requirements to create a working simulation network providing a complete product demonstration using Elliott’s graphics.

According to Carrie Neumann, Director of Human Resources, “Our interns need to be productive and have the right skill sets that can assist our team.  However, long-term goals are focused on how to employ/motivate/retain the next generation workforce and successful internships help HED get noticed within the college candidate pool.”  Neumann adds “Hiring interns allows HED to promote our company values and culture. This experience allows both parties to determine if the relationship will be a long term fit.”

Mark Jablonski, Computer Engineering Undergraduate at Michigan Technological University, has found that fit.  After spending much of the summer developing and refining HED® cellular test method for CANect®, he decided to extend his time under a Co-Op position to design the related test fixture for production testing.

“HED is expanding its Co-Op program as it offers both the individual and the company a better opportunity to establish a good working relationship. An internship can sometimes be difficult due to the short duration but we will continue to use both” stated Erickson.  The ultimate Goal for HED in both cases is to develop a path towards a future hire.”

CLICK HERE For more information about a career at HED®.

Intern Picture: From Left: Elliot Weld, Taylor Draheim, Andrew Stoehr, Madeline Rose, and Mark Jablonsky