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My STEM Journey: Roselin Campos, Mechanical Design Engineer for Solar Arrays

2/24/2021

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I grew up in South Central Los Angeles. My parents immigrated from El Salvador with no money, searching for a better life in the U.S. They met in Los Angeles and decided to start a family. So that made me first generation for, well, everything. Since my parents did not come from wealth, they always told me that as an inheritance, they couldn’t offer me any riches or property but what they could offer me was an education. They always pushed the importance of school and going to college because they believed it was the only way I could have a better life financially than they did. My dad worked as a security guard and my mom was a stay at home mom with many side hustles (cooking Salvadoran cuisine for events, cleaning houses, working in thrift shops etc.). On my dad’s day off he would often take me to the library because he wanted to cement a love for books.  At that library in Compton, was the first clue, the very first seed planted for my future career as an Aerospace Engineer. 


I always gravitated toward the section full of science books that specifically covered celestial bodies. The titles were Saturn, The Moon, Comets & Asteroids, Jupiter etc. I was hooked. Every chance I got, I chose to do school reports on space and it’s celestial bodies, but I was never told or encouraged to pursue science in elementary or middle school. In fact, I didn’t know what an engineer was until I was 16 years old. 
I was an incoming senior getting ready to submit my college applications. That summer, I attended the UCLA SMARTS (Science and Mathematics Achievement and Research Training for Students) program. SMARTS was a program to get students interested in STEM. I took a Statistics and a Robotics class for college credit through the program. It was my first exposure to coding, building and making something with my own hands. I was hooked, we built tiny robots using breadboards and I wrote my first computer program that summer.


I was riding the robotics course high, so I searched for the Robotics Club when I went back to school that fall. I joined Team 1692, the Crenshaw Cougarbots and participated in my first FRC (First Robotics Competition). There, I met two of the earliest influences on my decision to pursue a STEM career. Mr. Reyes was the robotics club facilitator & the school’s only computer science teacher. Tim was an actual engineer from The Aerospace Corporation who volunteered his time to mentor our Robotics team for FRC. 


I took on a design role within the team, I spent most of my time drawing on the white boards thinking about what mechanisms we could put on the robot to make it accomplish certain tasks. I spent so much time at the Robotics Club that fall semester, I often brought my college applications so I could work on them. One afternoon, I was debating out loud what major to mark on my college applications. Mr. Reyes took one look at my scribbles on the whiteboard and said “You’re always around here talking about space, why don’t you apply for aerospace engineering?” I looked at him stunned. What the heck was aerospace engineering? I had never heard of it. He went on to explain that engineering was basically what I was doing in the robotics club and aerospace engineering meant I could do the same thing but what I built would either fly or go to space. I could not believe what I just learned. I quickly switched all of my major selections to aerospace engineering wherever it was available. I received my acceptance to UCLA for aerospace engineering that Spring, I had made it. I was off to pursue my dream of building things that would someday work in space. 


I was 100% not prepared for what UCLA had in store for me. It’s no secret that engineering is hard, but the UCLA engineering program was on another level. I struggled quite a bit during my time there, all of my friends who were first generation students in STEM did. We weren’t prepared, there was definitely a gap in our basic math and physics education but we kept going because we knew we deserved to be there and we would just have to work a bit harder. While at UCLA, I was part of the Center for Excellence in Engineering & Diversity. I made lifelong friends there. CEED was an essential support system to get me through engineering. I met other engineering students of color from backgrounds like mine and it made me feel less alone in engineering. It was BECAUSE of CEED that I found my next leap opportunity to take a leap forward into my dream career. One of my friends had just finished an internship at Intel, in one of the group chats she joined,  there was someone encouraging people to apply to The Brooke Owens Fellowship. She sent me a link to the program and application because I was the only Aerospace Engineering major she knew (she was an electrical engineering major, shout out to Justine!). As a rising senior in college, I decided to apply. 
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The Brooke Owens Fellowship is an aerospace fellowship that aims to increase the number of gender minorities in the aerospace industry. The fellowship offers a 10 week internship at many startups and big aerospace companies, a summit in DC to meet with the founders and other fellows, and access to a network of professionals in the industry ranging from scientists to engineers to space policy experts. The Brooke Owens fellowship was life-changing. I had the privilege to become part of the inaugural class. I had never met so many women my age, so passionate about aviation and space. Even in my classes at UCLA, I was often 1 of 3 women in a class of 60 and almost always the only person of color. Now, I suddenly knew 40+ young women just as excited about aerospace as I was.
It was through becoming a fellow that I landed an internship with Space Systems Loral (now Maxar Technologies Space Division). Maxar is a satellite manufacturer located in Silicon Valley. We make satellites for space exploration, imaging and GEO applications. I now work full time for MAXAR as a Mechanical Design Engineer for Solar Arrays. I’ve learned SO much in the past three years about space hardware, the industry, what it takes to take a design from concept to test and finally to flight. I am currently working on qualifying (testing phase of a new design) a solar array wing and it is expected to launch later this year! 
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My journey to become an Aerospace Engineer wasn’t easy, it wasn’t linear, it was hard, frustrating and sometimes lonely but it was also fun, exciting and inspiring. I want to help other first generation students realize that they have the option to go into a career in aerospace. I want everyone to know that aerospace now,  more than ever before, is for everyone. 

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Careers in Aerospace Engineering

2/18/2021

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Aerospace engineers develop new technologies specific to the fields of spaceflight, aviation, and defense.  Aerospace engineers are at the forefront of research and development of high-speed vehicles such as aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, satellites, and lunar vehicles.  Those studying to become an aerospace engineer will take courses such as Propulsion, Thermodynamics, and Aerodynamics to name a few.  According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Aerospace engineering jobs are projected to grow 3% from 2019-2029.  

Most aerospace engineers work directly in the aerospace industry.  Some jobs include working as a commercial Aerospace Engineer where they focus on designing and building commercial aircrafts that are used in the airline business.  In addition to designing aircrafts for commercial travel, aerospace engineers are critical to designing aircrafts for space travel.  Aerospace engineers also design satellites that are sent into space and handle voice, data, and video transmission tasks daily.  


A degree in aerospace engineering can also be used to be a modeler- these engineers design equipment on computers, run simulations on the equipment, and make changes for more efficient and effective equipment.   Aerospace engineers are also needed as inspectors and compliance officers.  They use their expertise to enforce laws and regulations and they can work for the government or for private companies to detect faults and violations before inspection.  Aerospace engineers are also in charge of drawings for missiles, spacecraft, and aircrafts.  They draft drawing and specification sheets so that the equipment can be built.  

One of the most common careers that people think about when they hear aerospace engineering is mission or payload specialist, or astronauts.  They are crew members on space missions that collect data and run experiments on space missions.  
Aerospace engineers held about 66,400 jobs in 2019.  Of those jobs, 36% were in aerospace product and parts manufacturing, 16%  were in the federal government, 15% were in engineering services, 10% were navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instrument manufacturing, and 8% were in research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences.  
A bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or another field of engineering related to aerospace systems is required to become an aerospace engineer.  Some universities offer a 5 year program which will allow a student to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.  

Aerospace engineers are at the forefront of technology. This career requires analytical skills, critical-thinking skills, and problem solving skills.  


Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Aerospace Engineers, at
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https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/aerospace-engineers.htm
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Consejos: Civil Engineering by Jazlyn Carvajal

9/29/2020

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What has been your experience as a female in Civil Engineering? Have you ever struggled in the workforce with a male majority? 
My experience has been both rewarding and challenging. I have worked on projects in Boston, New York City, New Jersey and will soon be able to add Silicon Valley to the list. It is rewarding to be able to see my projects when I visit Boston, New York City and New Jersey.
I have faced many challenges in my career. As a woman, I am challenged and questioned at every turn. I have to earn respect. Every. Single. Day.  Yet, there is no project I oversaw that didn’t end with me earning my colleagues’ respect.
Years ago, I was reviewing my subcontractors’ labor rates and had asked several of these subcontractors to revise their rates according to the established contractual requirements. One subcontractor, Mr. X, felt I had unreasonably reduced his rate, and wasted no time going for the obligatory threatening to sue jargon.  When this tactic didn’t work, he gave me the old “do you know who I am missy?” speech. As if his political clout would faze me. It did not. I knew what the contract stated, and when the facts are on your side, you don’t argue semantics.

Mr. X subsequently revised his rates.  No lawsuit was ever filed. 

 So here I was, 26 years old and managing a $176 million construction project. This was one of many daily interactions with subcontractors, clients, colleagues and employees. My authority was challenged daily. My knowledge was questioned daily. I had to prove myself every single day.  

My first supervisor’s teachings resonated with me. He taught me to take the time to study the entire job, and know it better than anyone else. He told me, “Jaz, your preparation must be impeccable. You have no room for error.”  As such, the first thing I did whenever I was brought on board a project was to review all the contract documents: plans, specifications, the contract and all subcontracts. In the case of the $176 million project, I spent nearly 2 weeks working late nights to absorb all the information.

I never did lose an argument or negotiation. 
 

Preparation and mental toughness were instilled to me by my mentors. In business, I made it the central nervous system from which everything flows from.  

 My business partner and I call this: N.B.C.
 Never Be Cold

Mr. X is an inevitability for anyone, but especially women. NBC was the key ingredient to confronting the bullies I encountered, and it guided me when others made me want to second guess my decision-making.  


You will be second-guessed, when you speak up many will roll their eyes and others will look right past you as if you and the wall behind you were one and the same. Being a leader and a trailblazer means you work past that, and outwork everyone else.


Strive to be great. Listen. Speak-up. Be confident, outwork and outperform your peers and NEVER BE COLD.



What are your thoughts around “imposter syndrome”, and what are some barriers that you face when trying to build credibility in a male dominated field? 

On Saturday, March 10, 2018, I gave an 8-minute lightning talk on how my professional efforts helped other women and myself overcome challenges. 


The venue: MIT lecture hall. 

The audience: MIT alumna (CEOs, doctors, professors and producers).


I frequently speak in front of audiences. I have done interviews on Fox, ABC and Univision. In fact, when you hand me a microphone, I ham it up. The week leading up to the 2018 MIT Women’s unConference was different. I was overcome with nerves. As I was preparing to share how, “Preparation and mental toughness were instilled to me by my mentors...”, my mental toughness was not there.


I focused my talk on the concept N.B.C.: Never Be Cold. The central thesis being, how preparation is critical to success on all levels. I was preparing to tell the audience to, “Be strong, speak up and be the smartest person in the room when it comes to your area of expertise.”


As I practiced my talk over and over, the nerves became greater. Why?


These were the smartest women on the planet.

At dinner the night before my talk, I was catching up with an old, brilliant friend.  She reminded me, “And you’re one of them, Jaz.” I am an MIT alum. I have the resume, but I was still rattled. It wasn’t until I was standing at the podium that I felt my confidence come back. I believed in the purpose of my words, the advice, the experiences and what I had accomplished. It was in reciting those words that I realized that I was akin to the women that were now before me, intently listening to my every word. 


The trending phrase for what I felt is called, imposter syndrome. Both men and women feel it, but it is more prevalent in women and people of color. 
How do you overcome Imposter Syndrome? Remind yourself, “YOU belong here.”


I sometimes meet students who are thinking about a career in Civil engineering, and I sometimes meet young Latinx who have doubts about whether it is the right career for them. What would you tell a young latinx who is having doubts about starting their career in civil engineering?

I tell every student I meet to explore the careers they are interested in via internships, externship or shadowing experiences. Take advantage of the summers in high school and college to explore careers. In high school, find a local civil engineering firm and ask if you can meet with a civil engineer to learn about their career. Ask lots of questions. In college, you should do an internship every summer in the field(s) you are interested. 


Exploring careers is the only way you will learn whether or not a career is the right choice for you.



What advice do you have for young professionals who have no idea what area of civil engineering they want to subject area to concentrate on?  

See previous response. Explore the different fields of civil engineering via work experiences.



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Co-Founder Featured on SheHeroes

9/15/2016

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Our co-founder Noramay Cadena is such a rock star.  She is featured this week on SheHeroes.   Watch the video below and be sure to check out the SheHeroes website.
Visit SHEHEROES
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#TBT 7 Latina Engineer Memes  

6/30/2016

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Written by Kimberly Gonzales, Director of Marketing for Latinas in STEM

Last February, we celebrated National Engineering Week with a series of memes about Latinas Engineers. Latina Engineers composed only 2% of the science and engineering workforce in 2010. To inspire future Latinas to consider Engineering careers, we wanted to highlight Latinas currently in working in Engineering Fields. 

If you missed them, we are bringing them back this #ThrowBackThursday and sharing the story behind each image.

​1. Keep Calm and Be a Latina Engineer

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Dayrene is a Latinas in STEM member and an electrical engineering student at NJIT.  In this image, Dayrene demonstrated how to hardwire a LED strip to middle school girls attending a Latinas in STEM 101 conference in 2015. 

2. ​I will be a Latina Engineer

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This picture was taken last spring at an afterschool program put on by Latinas in STEM volunteers.  As part of the afterschool program, the girls designed and built light-up shoes.

3. ​My work in action. I am a Latina Engineer.

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Kristine Gonzales has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's degree in Engineering Management from Northeastern University. Here she is seen with one of the planes she helped produce at BAE Systems. 

4. ​I earned it. I am a Latina Engineer.

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Brianne Martin,  is a Latinas in STEM member and  Customer Account Manger for Zodiac Aerospace.  She has a degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and is currently on the board of the SHPE DFW chapter.

5. ​I want to be a Latina Engineer… Just like my mom

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​It’s never too early to start inspiring young Latinas to become engineers! In this image, our Director of K-12 Outreach Maribel Mendoza's young daughter plays with pieces of wood and colored pencils. Maribel is currently Senior Product Manager for Gaggle.

6. ​Inspiring future Latina Engineers.

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Madeline Salazar is seen here leading Latinas in STEM volunteer event. Madeline is the former director of college programming for Latinas in STEM and is currently a 3-D Engineer at  Northrup Grumman.

7. ​Latina Rocking Rocket Science

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Noramay Cadena, co-founder of Latinas in STEM, is seen here posing next to a rocket she helped create while she worked with Boeing. Noramay now manages her own hardware accelerator, Make in LA, and is considered one of the most powerful women engineers in 2016 by Business Insider.

​Have any other ideas for Latina in STEM memes?

Email me your suggestions! 
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