Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1505694
AUGUST 2023 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 59 and saying, "Okay, bye, see you!" e process is from initial design concept to final proto- type phase one, prototype phase two to final concept, and your fingers need to be in that process the whole time. at's the most ful- filling and rewarding way, I think, to tackle a project. Excellent. What's been the most exciting here for you? Smoker: It's funny, because when you're around a project like this you get attenuated to the excitement and that's an unfortunate part of being involved with the kind of resources we have, the kind of people we have. You get spoiled fast and you forget how amazing your life is. You just walk through the facility and have to pinch yourself. Stratos has invested a lot of money into talented people and equipment. Smoker: Absolutely. I'm passionate about our aircra. I've loved aviation for as far as back as I can remember. So, when engineering was a discipline, I chose it and thought, well, if I can do anything with airplanes, that would be amazing. Amazingly, I've ended up here and I'm very grateful for it. It's a real privilege when you don't mind the drive into work every day. ere's a culture of internal customer service, collaboration, and education at Stratos. At Stratos, they've welcomed you to learn about all the other areas beyond your core function; that's a great sort of company to be working for. Park: Absolutely. I feel like I have learned just as much, if not more, working on the job as doing schoolwork. It's being able to work alongside more senior engineers and talking with other departments for manufacturing metal parts, composites, learning about how things go on the flightline; it's all very valuable information and I love getting to learn about all of it. And you get paired up to be mentored by other engineers; I believe one of yours is Austin. So, Austin, you have been on a sim- ilar path as Aaron, and my understanding is that you're carrying a lot of responsibility within the organization as a leader. Alley: Yes. So, I worked hard and did a lot of the things Aaron is talking about, and I steadily worked my way up, nearing the top on that.