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Alex Milat (Purdue - Alpha) works at Lucid Motors, an electric luxury vehicle company based on Newark, CA. Read below to find out more about her experience working at a startup company, including what it's like to be in the tech startup hub of America, and how working at a startup differed from her experiences at more established companies.

Photo courtesy of Alex Milat.

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Southern California, without knowing much about the field of engineering. I actually found out about the field late into my senior year of high school and thought it could be a great way to combine my interest in art and math. I attended Purdue University for my degree in mechanical engineering, with an interest in automotive and sustainable technology. After interning at a startup in the Bay area, I moved to Silicon Valley the summer after graduation. Right now I'm working at Lucid Motors, working on electric vehicles.

What internships or co-op experiences did you have during college? At the time, were you looking for something particular? How did those roles/experiences help you decide what you would pursue post-college?

The great thing about mechanical engineering is that it can be applied to a wide range of jobs, so I used college internships and projects as means to try different roles in manufacturing, testing, and design. I interned at both large companies and startups while in school. I co-oped with Toyota in Michigan for two rotations, in the transmission testing and chassis design groups. While on campus, I worked in the engineering machine shop. I also had side projects such as joining my sorority go-kart team and building a hyperloop pod for SpaceX's design competition. My last internship was in battery pack manufacturing at electric bus startup, Proterra, in the Bay Area. It was this last role that sparked my interest in startups, with the smaller teams and exciting work culture.

How did you find your current job? How was the interview process? Was it any different from interviews at an established company?

I was approached on LinkedIn by a hiring manager who messaged me. I also interviewed at other startups in northern and southern California, and the interview process is much more rigorous than what I experienced elsewhere. Teams take the time to screen each person thoroughly to test your understanding of fundamental engineering concepts, and your ability to apply it to current problems. At times, I would go over my FE practice book to study before interviews.

Tell us about your job and the work environment. What is the day-to-day like?

I am responsible for the mechanical design and release of low voltage electronics throughout the car. In addition I work on the design of several injection molded and stamped sheet metal parts. While there are certain milestones that the company continually works on, often tasks change day to day, and you need to learn to prioritize quickly. I need to switch gears when another team needs help with something urgently.

What do you think are the biggest differences between an established company and a startup?

Both have their pros and cons. My time at Toyota provided me with a steady stream of projects on a set timeline. Working at a startup, I worked on a larger variety of projects but they are more sporadic. You are expected to work quickly and diligently without needing a lot of help or guidance. However, being in a smaller work environment allows you to walk across the office to experts in the industry, which is a great resource. More of the people working at a startup are there because they believe in the mission of the company, especially since we all benefit if the company does well and our stocks go public.

What are some challenges people might face in the startup environment? Do you believe there are certain personalities that would be better suited for startup life or do you feel as though anyone can readily adapt to it?

The work culture suggests that you be self-motivated, manage your time well, and be a quick learner. Work/life balance is a common challenge, since there is a lot of work to get done but not a lot of people to do it. This can lead to longer hours than what you may expect at a larger automotive company. I've also heard the quickest way to fail in a startup is to not be open to helping others. My advice is learn to set boundaries early, and not doubt your abilities.

What's it like living in such a startup/tech heavy area?

It's very exciting to live in a tech area like Silicon Valley, for example every time I see self-driving taxis and Tesla's driving next to me. Since the community is made up of many high-earning tech employees, it does tend to drive housing prices up in the area. The community is large, but it feels like everyone knows everyone at other companies, so the community feels close-knit.

Do you see yourself staying in the startup world long-term?

I'll try to stay in the startup world for the next few years. I'd at least like to see our current electric car go to market. This area has some of the greatest minds working on ways to solve the world's problems. If you're willing to put in the time and effort, you'll learn more here in a year than you would elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of Laurie Gilson.

The fires were raging. The fortunate animals, lucky to be alive, were displaced from their habitats. Animal welfare and rescue organizations stepped in and began caring for them -- some orphaned, some burned, others malnourished -- since they could no longer do so for themselves.

A half a world away Laurie Gilson, a third-year mechanical and metallurgical engineering student at Missouri University of Science and Technology and a member of Phi Sigma Rho Sorority’s Rho chapter, was reading about the devastation of the fires and saw that the animal rescue and rehabilitation organizations were asking for sewn donations of pouches, nests, and wraps -- concoctions that would mimic the animal’s real habitat and provide a warm, snuggly temporary home while they recuperated. Immediately upon seeing the request, Laurie “knew this would be a good way I could help.”

For as long as she can remember, Laurie has been sewing. At age 16, she taught herself to crochet because, as a huge Marvel fan, she wanted to make an Avengers doll. “After that I fell in love with the craft!” she said.

Through an online search, Laurie started working with Relief Crafters of America, a volunteer-run organization that “serves to direct handcrafted fiber products to groups in need.” At the time, the organization was largely focused on sending crafted goods to animal rehabilitation organizations in Australia. The organization promotes different projects and causes on a monthly basis.

“The main item I worked on were animal pouches,” she said. “These are essentially sacks with rounded bottoms and sturdy construction that provide a snuggly temporary home for the animals (like joeys and opossums). I also worked on bat wraps, which mimic a mama bat wrapping up a baby bat in her wings. Other items were hanging versions of the animal pouches, bat pouches, and crochet bird nests.”

Laurie began to realize that her efforts could also be needed locally as well. 

“I was thinking about how rehabilitators in my area could use these as well, and not just for huge disasters but for everyday animal care,” she said. 

She contacted Lakeside Nature Center in Kansa City, MO to find out what they might need, which prompted her to supply them with animal pouches, too.

She was planning on utilizing Phi Sigma Rho’s annual Service with Sigmand Week, a yearly spring event that encourages philanthropy and volunteerism within the sorority, as a way of getting her sorority sisters involved in making animal pouches for Lakeside Nature Center. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing global pandemic and the closure of college campuses, that project was put on hold.

As the pandemic has spread and our country’s need for personal protective equipment (PPE) has been highlighted, Laurie has refocused her sewing efforts into making fabric face masks to help with the nationwide shortages, another project sponsored by the Relief Crafters of America. With the help of her Phi Sigma Rho sisters, Laurie was able to supply a nursing home with enough masks to protect both their nurses and residents.

In addition to the face masks, Laurie continues to make animal pouches with the remaining scraps she has, and would like to continue to support future projects sponsored by Relief Crafters. When asked if she had a specific goal in mind with regards to ending the project, she responded, “My plan is to keep sewing until I run out of fabric! Our faculty advisor just donated a ton of extra fabric to me, so I’ll be busily sewing for a while!”