Jordan

Q. What is your current work experience and on-the-job training like at Raytheon AST?

 

A.

I designed a software package by using LABVIEW for retrieving visual data from an X-ray machine to work in tandem with a system developed here at the company for improving airport security luggage scanning machines. I have also been exposed to server/networking rack hardware for the first time, helped update some existing software for newer hardware, and even received the opportunity to return to the University of Maryland for their Spring Job Fair.

 

   Meet Jordan

 

JordanSystems Engineer

Annapolis Junction,

MD

University of Maryland

B.S. Electrical

Engineering

Hometown: Washington, DC

 

Q. What is your greatest achievement at Raytheon AST?

 

A.

I helped port a device driver for a piece of Raytheon AST equipment from an older operating system to one that is more commonly used.

 

 

 

Q. How did you find out about Raytheon AST?

 

A.

I found out about Raytheon AST through my school’s engineering newsletter. I was actually looking for a summer job at the time and not considering full-time opportunities yet. After a few phone conversations and an interview, I had an offer waiting. It is a great feeling knowing you have a job waiting for you so you can focus on doing well in your last few months at school. In the end, an opportunity for some summer work actually came up, so I had chance to get an early peek at the company.

 

 

 

Q. What do you like best about working for Raytheon AST?

 

A.

The office feels like a little community. People around the office are easy to get along with and the company is very liberal. There are many events that happen within the office. There are a few different locations in this area where our employees work, but every Friday morning, most of them come to the Maryland office for an informal all-hands meeting with donuts and bagels. We talk about what is going on in the company and shoot the breeze a bit.

 

There is also an employee activities committee that organizes events that happen in and outside the office. There has been a skiing trip, a chili cook-off competition (I took second place in the most original category), a trip to an Orioles game, and more.

 

The company occasionally has catered lunches and breakfasts. Once or twice a month there is an optional training event held after the work day. Someone picks a topic and orders food—it is a great opportunity to relax while you learn something new.

 

There is a good sense of comradary here and the dress code is pretty laid back, too. Raytheon AST is certainly the kind of place you do not regret coming to every morning.

 

 

 

Q. What advice would you give to people interested in starting a career at Raytheon AST?

 

A.

Go out and try and get interesting summer jobs in between semesters. Scratch, beg, and probably downright annoy people in order to get internships in order to gain valuable experience about the workforce. Even if they are not in the specific field of engineering that you want to settle down into, just learning about how the working world functions and being in an office environment will make the transition from school smoother and less jarring.

 

 

 

Q. Tell us about your experience with Raytheon AST’s tuition reimbursement program.

 

A.

I have not personally taken advantage of this benefit yet, but I intend to look into Master’s programs once I get settled in a bit more.

 

 

 

Q. What are some of your interests outside of work?

 

A.

Silly little hobby electronics projects, playing with my dog, playing video games, cooking with my girlfriend.