March 26, 2025 by SME Membership Career Timeline I began my career as an electrical applications engineer for Harman International. In that role, I learned not just how our products were placed into vehicles but why they were packaged into certain locations to create that “perfect sound”—replicating the sound that the artist intended everyone to experience. Even though I love music, I knew that I wanted to experience living and working in a new state. In 2020, despite COVID-19 and the (very concerning) uncertainty of it all, I decided to leave Michigan and work in Utah as a systems engineer at L3Harris. I had never visited Utah prior to beginning the role, and yet I learned so much about myself as an engineer and person while residing there. I was doubtful and lonely at times, but I felt confident in the growth I experienced over the three and a half years I was there. Every day was an opportunity to explore a new hiking trail and learn something new about systems engineering within the defense industry. My time in Utah led to a Master of Information and Cybersecurity degree and a new position at L3Harris as an information security and systems engineer. Home was calling, and I moved back to Michigan in 2024 to continue as a cybersecurity engineer at General Dynamics Land Systems. I learned that no matter the circumstances, never stop pursuing what you desire in your career. It may require a pivot, a lifestyle change or pure faith, but you won’t go wrong taking that next step. It’s better to follow through than to wonder forever and remain stagnant. Cybersecurity Integration There is a persistent merging of hardware and software, and there’s no slowdown in that progression. It’s almost guaranteed that a product will contain software inside. Cybersecurity aims to be at the center of the manufacturing industry by not just securing the product as it’s being built but having cybersecurity principles executed as far left as possible. This strategy truly represents the “secure by design” mindset: Cybersecurity needs to be evaluated throughout the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from the design phase to end of life. The manufacturing sector is feeling the cost pinch—especially for entire manufacturing facilities that need a complete overhaul. But that upfront cost pays off by protecting not just the product, but also the people who create and use it. Engineers and Manufacturing Realization Engineers strive to solve real-world problems. If an engineer doesn’t enjoy problem-solving or getting a piece of code or equipment to finally work, then they may be in the wrong profession. It’s that desire, from a scientific perspective, to push the limits of what humanity understands and creates from that knowledge. Manufacturing is the realization of engineers’ dreams—questions, chalkboard proofs and repeated testing come to life. Excitement About the Future The speed at which manufacturing and engineering evolve truly dazzles me. I was brought up with dial-up and rotary phones. To now see people interact with the entire world with a push of a (capacitive) button—and that’s just normal—I’m excited to see what humanity brings to life next. Hopefully, it’s as cyber-secure as it can be.
