There’s only so much you can learn about engineering from a textbook or a lecture slide. Through RIT’s co-op program, student engineers in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and College of Engineering Technology get out of the classroom and into real labs, manufacturing plants, and tech hubs. They aren't just shadowing, they're running tests, writing code, and building things that actually get used. Here’s a look at several students who spent their co-ops working on real engineering challenges.
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Zara
Product Management Co-op at Honeywell
Major: Software Engineering BS
Hometown: Chester, NJ
"My co-op reaffirmed the direction I seek to take my software engineering degree: into the field of project management."
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Nico
Software Development Engineering Intern at Amazon
Major: Software Engineering BS
Hometown: Piermont, NY
"RIT Software Engineering prepared me with the right tools and techniques to succeed in the fast-paced and highly competitive FAANG environment, allowing me to skip the initial awkward learning stages and dive straight into what I love the most: creation. The design, documentation, and engineering process that is taught here allowed me to lead projects at Amazon and is what ultimately earned me the full time position."
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Aiden
Electrical Engineering Intern at DEKA Research and Development
Major: Electrical Engineering BS
Home State: New Hampshire
"My first co-op taught me so much about my field and the workplace. I feel much more prepared to tackle employment after graduating now that I've had this experience. All of my co-workers were helpful and encouraging and I was able to get real hands-on electrical engineering experience."
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Zachary
Power Electronics Intern at Johnson Controls
Major: Electrical Engineering BS
Hometown: Auburn, NY
"My co-op experience was a real head-first deep dive into the power industry. I was able to draw upon the network I built here at RIT, which included fellow students, professors, and professional connections, to support me throughout the experience of finding the co-op and interviewing for the position. One memorable moment from my time at Johnson Controls was my direct involvement in implementing a new power test unit. Over the course of my co-op, I refined the unit to integrate into the existing testing protocol for harmonic waveform analysis. In my final week, I learned that my department planned to order an additional unit and operate both in parallel within the testing ecosystem. Knowing that my contributions helped drive this decision and the unit's implementation made me proud, as it demonstrated a tangible impact on the company’s testing and design capabilities."
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Dhruv
Mechanical Engineering Intern at MKS Instruments
Major: Mechanical Engineering BS
Hometown: Gujarat, India
“My co-op at MKS Instruments allowed me to bridge simulation with real-world engineering. I worked on validating pressure drop predictions for thermal systems, combining CAD-based flow simulations with hands-on testing. It showed me how engineering isn’t just about getting results—it’s about proving them.”
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Christopher
Quality Engineering Intern at Walt Disney World
Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology BS
Hometown: Rochester, NY
"I have always had a passion for the engineering behind theme parks. At RIT, there are clubs and professional organizations for nearly every interest- including Theme Park Enthusiasts, a group I had been heavily involved with and helped me secure this role through extensive networking and my participation in design competitions that covered many of the same deliverables and safety engineering concepts I worked with on my co-op. Classes are only part of the picture- if you're truly passionate about something, there are additional pathways to achieve it at RIT."
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Luke
Engines Engineering Intern at GE Aerospace
Major: Mechanical Engineering BS
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
"Going into GE Aerospace, I had a fairly narrow view on Mechanical Engineering. I knew I wanted to do design and/or manufacturing but I did not realize just how broad a Mechanical Engineer's duties could be. When I worked at GE, I worked with the EDCP (Evendale Defense and Combat Propulsion) performance team on F110 engine production. Engines would be tested in San Antonio and we would be given raw data to process using NPSS (Numerical Propulsion Simulation Software) and python to determine if newly produced F110s were meeting required standards. If not, we worked to diagnose what the issue could be and report back to Standard Aero to resolve the issue. Leaving GE Aerospace, I had a newfound respect for our MECE-114 class, in which we learned MATLAB. That class gave me a good understanding of how to use and read a coding language and helped shorten my training time while at GE. Lastly, while I will continue to strive for design positions, every position I take is an invaluable learning experience for me. Even having just a basic understanding of what your fellow engineers do inside a company as large as GE Aerospace can reduce communication error significantly and allow you to work more efficiently, being able to anticipate what other teams may be looking for, rather than having to guess what they may need and having to fix it at a later date."
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Edward
Hydraulics Engineering Co-op at GE Appliances
Major: Mechanical Engineering BS
Hometown: Florida, NY
"Being on co‑op has been incredibly eye‑opening for me. I’ve learned what kinds of engineering problems truly motivate me, strengthened my ability to design for manufacturing, and gained hands‑on experience iterating designs based on real production feedback. Working closely with both the manufacturing and design engineering teams taught me how to solve problems collaboratively and think across functions. This experience has given me clarity about the direction I want to take in my career after graduation."
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Julia
Product Engineer at Moog Inc.
Major: Mechanical Engineering BS
Hometown: Spencerport, NY
"My co-op experience exceeded expectations, helping me grow both technically and personally by strengthening my time management, attention to detail, and teamwork skills, while also allowing me to connect with engineers and interns who will support my career long-term."
The best part about an engineering degree at RIT is knowing you don't have to wait until graduation to do real work. Curious about where a co-op could take you? Visit the RIT Co-op & Career Services website to explore programs and student stories.
About the author
Hello I’m Kayla Gullage, a Journalism with applied modern language in French dual major in the College of Liberal Arts. I love being active on campus experiencing different events, organizations, reading, writing, the violin, and most recently banana nut muffins from Java. I hope everyone enjoys the content we create. LET’S GO TIGERS!!!
