ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

What is your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give us a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?

My current position is “Engineer I” for Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. Although I have only been in this position full-time since July 1, 2020, I also interned with the same engineering team in 2018 and 2019. The department I work for is the Solar Engineering Group. With regard to the solar project lifecycle, we are engaged in the design, development, permitting, procurement, construction, commissioning, O&M, and decommissioning processes. To go further into detail, when it comes to working on a specific solar farm project, I determine the site’s energy requirements, establish the optimal design specifications, populate the drawing package, and run simulations to determine the expected annual energy production of the project. My portfolio of experience includes rooftop, carport, and ground-mount arrays for commercial and small-scale utility projects.

What skills do you need to do the work you just described?

To be a part of the Solar Engineering Group, you must have a college degree in engineering (preferably Mechanical, Electrical, or Civil engineering), and have a strong understanding of energy systems. You need to be skillful in using AutoCAD, Helioscope, PVsyst, and Microsoft Excel in order to design the optimal specifications for the solar power plant. You must be able to work well with others as it takes a team of professionals to construct a solar project. And above all else, you need to be able to explain and relate your ideas to people who don’t have engineering backgrounds and who may not necessarily understand the science behind solar power plants. This becomes important when you talk to other departments within the company, and when you talk to your clients.

Please describe any experiences at Westlake High School that influenced your career decision?

During my time at Westlake High School, I had the privilege of learning from Mr. Amann and Mrs. Newell. As an engineer herself, Mrs. Newell gave me a strong background in Physics (which is necessary to become a talented mechanical engineer), and she kept us up-to-date with current events happening in the engineering world. She helped me fall in love with STEM and motivated me to pursue a career that would change the world. As a highly decorated educator, and a friend, Mr. Amann gave me the tools necessary to pursue my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer. If it hadn’t been for his AP Calc course, I never would have survived Calculus 2 and 3 in college. But more importantly, he was always available to talk one-on-one and give me the guidance and wisdom in order to set me on the right path.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I didn’t always want to go into the energy industry. I originally wanted to become an engineer so I could design a jetpack and fly around in it like James Bond. I even joined the Aerospace Engineering clubs at Syracuse and flew in the state-of-the-art flight simulator on campus because I wanted to fly so bad. However, throughout my sophomore year of college, my mindset changed. I eventually prioritized the ongoing energy crisis and the significant role clean/renewable energy plays in counteracting pollution and climate change.

What advice do you have for students interested in going into your field?

Plan for the future, work hard, and don’t be lazy. Engineering is one of the hardest fields to go into, and it will definitely kick your butt in college. However, if you get your degree and use your engineering knowledge to serve a higher purpose and to benefit the greater good, then you will definitely reap the rewards and eventually see how it’s all worth it. Also, it’s good to have a role model to look up to for inspiration during those hard times. If you want to go into the energy industry, I highly recommend researching Elon Musk. His mission statements are truly motivating, and looking up to him has definitely helped push me to try to become the best engineer I possibly can.