https://invent.ge/usstudents

GE Aerospace

Manufactoring Engeering Co-Op

May - August 2024 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

My role was very interesting and engaging. I supplied aid to both process and product engineers. While also conduction my own individual trials/studies. I had a good amount of creative freedom and really enjoyed the day to day work. Also the team I got to work with was very friendly and welcoming.

What I wish was different

I had previously been in this role with GE. I wish they would have assigned me to another position, so I could broaden my engineering background. I also wish the co-op interaction team was more geared to co-ops at other locations. Everything is very geared toward Cincinnati co-ops. As far as plant tours and other interactions.

Advice

Like any work experience your only going to get out what you put in. Do not do the bare minimum. Go above and beyond and show your coworkers what your capable of. Make sure to network and connect with the people in your work center.
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Supply Chain Intern

May - August 2024 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

I like the size of GE. GE is big enough that they have a whole program and onboarding session for the interns which makes it super easy to transition into and get going from day 1. There is also a ton of other co-ops/interns so it is super easy to make friends and connect with people. They are also going through the same experience so it is nice to have others around who are going through the same thing. I also liked what I did as a supply chain intern and found that the work that was assigned to me was actual real work and not just busy work like interns sometimes find themselves getting. The work had a real impact and I feel like I learned a ton in general and about working a real job because of the experience GE gave me.

What I wish was different

As a whole, I think the experience was really good and beneficial for me. While I think they did a great job with the onboarding process, some of the computer set up can be a bit tricky and niche. So when it came to that, I would say that better control on the first day would have been nice. With that being said, they are getting some 400 interns going and starting on the same day. Asking for a smoother onboarding process than what I got seems unreasonable. But if I had to change one thing, I would want a slightly more transparent first day where you get some time in small groups as opposed to all crowding into a conference room type of thing.

Advice

I would tell other interns to put yourself out there as my piece of advice. There was a ton of interns in and around me going through the GE program. Talk with them and make friends with them. Some will be sitting by you in the office and it is easy to start there as you will see these people everyday. Also, GE does a great job at making sure interns have a ton of opportunities to see each other and hangout outside of work. They do all types of events and going to these and meeting your peers is definitely something I would recommend.
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Supply Chain & Manufacturing

January - May 2024 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

During my rotation at GE, I was tasked with working through projects with a mindset of continuous improvement. I worked through current processes and looked to develop more efficient standard work. I love the team I worked with. GE has a wonderful company culture and employees foster a very welcoming and friendly environment. My hours were flexible- I could work from home sometimes/work more or less hours some days to accommodate my activites. My work was challenging and encouraged me to think creatively for unique solutions.

What I wish was different

It's hard to say that I wish something was different- I genuinely enjoyed everything from my work to the team around me. I was in a supply chain & manufacturing engineering role, but more of my work was on the supply chain side. I worked in Sourcing so more of my work was in an office location which meant I wasn't doing as much hands-on work. Depending on how you fill out a survey before your rotation will determine where you are placed, so make sure to fill that out honestly and keep in mind what you really want to do every day.

Advice

I joined a professional development committee and an intern creative team which enhanced my experience and made me new friends. I highly recommend getting involved in outside work sub-committees, going to co-op events, and talking to people around you in your office. If you clock in and glue yourself to your desk, you won't get much out of your rotation. Put yourself out there in your office and meet new people!
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EID Systems Engineering Co-op

August 2022 - May 2024 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I recently completed my third and final rotation as a Systems Engineering Co-op with GE Aerospace. My rotations were in the Fall 2022, Summer 2023, and Spring 2024 semesters. Working for GE has been an extremely rewarding experience! Throughout my time with GE, I was given various responsibilities that not only helped me grow as an engineer, but also as a person. Some of the work I did over my three rotations include, process improvement tasks, LEAN initiative projects, performing tests on power control units, root cause analysis (RCA) on unit failures, New Product Integration (NPI) experience, manufacturing engineering experience, and much more. On top of engineering experience, GE Aerospace also provides an exceptional work culture. The people at GE are some of the kindest and brightest people a person can meet. I highly recommend any co-op candidate interested in aviation/aerospace to look further into the immense opportunities that GE Aerospace offers. During my time, I had the chance to experience many different sides of the engineering world, yet I can say confidently that I barely made a dent in the long list of experiences they offer.

What I wish was different

There isn't much to complain about when it comes to GE Aerospace, however I understand that I am just one experience out of many. There are many opportunities at GE. Therefore, this means that most of the time Co-ops/Interns are placed in a position and on a team that relates to their aspirations and their interests. However, sometimes Co-ops/Interns can be placed in teams that are outside their interests. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you're open to any opportunity or experience, but for certain individuals who have a set field/study/interest, this may be a downside. I will say that during my time at GE Aerospace, I completed several tasks outside my undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering. These tasks were still beneficial to my development though, and most of the time I found them enjoyable. For other people, this may not be the case.

Advice

It took me until the end of my second rotation with GE to realize their emphasis on the mutual growth relationship they promote between themselves and their Co-ops/Interns. If you are offered a chance to Co-op at GE, its because they see a great potential in you. However, unlike some other companies, GE strives to make it a mutually beneficial experience. They want you to grow and to succeed, because that's what makes them succeed. They want to ensure that your experience at work is meaningful to you and that you feel fulfillment in the work that you do. In having this mindset, GE truly wants the best for its employees; in a way that is fulfilling for the employee and therefore beneficial for the company. It took me a while to realize this. So as a piece of advice to anybody seeking a co-op/internship with GE Aerospace, I say don't be afraid to ask for tasks that interest you. You may not always get them right away and you may have to do other tasks as well, but in my experience the people you work with and the company as a whole will help you complete fulfilling work that is meaningful to you. Just don't be afraid to ask for it.
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Engines Engineering Co-op

January 2024 • West Chester, OH

What I liked

I enjoyed the team I was assigned to as everyone was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I even hung out with some of my coworkers outside of work, which was interesting and unexpected. Additionally, the work was challenging and interesting where I applied what I learned in class to contribute to a real-world problem. What I enjoyed the most was the freedom my manager gave me and the clearly defined expectations.

What I wish was different

The way the internship was structured and some of the projects I was involved in. My projects fell into two extremes - easy busy work or difficult technical work. I understand that busy work is normal, but the blend should have been better. A lot of times I was sitting around waiting for something to do because you can extend yourself and ask for more, but you may be limited due to your inexperience and status as an intern. I.e., lack of access to certain systems.

Advice

When your manager reaches out to you try to understand the realm of what type of work you will be doing. For example, will you be doing heat transfer, stress, testing, controls, or whatever so you brush up on certain skills. This allows you to be proactive rather than reactive. Additionally, make sure to ask a ton of questions and connect with the people you work with. You will feel like an imposter but don't worry there is always someone who is able and willing to help you at GE Aerospace.
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Supply Chain Co-op

January - August 2024 • Springdale, OH

What I liked

A brief overview of my responsibilities: I worked on the lean team at ACSC, a repair and overhaul site for GE Aerospace engines. My main responsibilities were to use lean manufacturing principles to improve areas at the site. At this location I worked at I had the opportunity to work with many people, all of whom were very kind, respectful, and easy to get along with, this made working more enjoyable and asking questions easier. I was given many opportunities to expand my knowledge of lean manufacturing and its uses through training and hands-on experience. One example of this was getting the chance to be a part of a Kaizen team and be a part of the process leading up to the Kaizen week. Another aspect that I liked was when I was in a meeting they always listened to what everyone had to say no matter who they were and always took what they said seriously.

What I wish was different

One thing I wish had been different is knowing what I do now and being able to be more engaged in some of the meetings for example a VSA (value stream analysis). Another thing I wish that had been different would have been a better explanation of the actual parts that come through the site I worked at, because it took me a while to understand.

Advice

If you have any interest in any part of the company or different sites and what they do feel free to ask the people you work with. In my experience, the people I have worked with are more than happy to help you find what you like to do and what you are interested in. All that you have to do is ask and they will know how to get in touch with someone to get you the information you need they do have opportunities to tour other areas of the company to get a more immersive experience.
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Supply Chain Intern

January - May 2024 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

I really enjoy the people I work with. You can tell most people are really passionate about what they do. Furthermore, they are happy to share knowledge with those who ask. Additionally there is a lot of interesting tech and machines in the shop that you can see in action. There are CNC's, plasma cutters, waterjets, 3D printers, and cranes everywhere. Hours are also flexible.

What I wish was different

The onboarding process was confusing and sluggish. It was hard to reach the onboarding website unless you had booked it or favorited the email. Additionally, we had two orientation days, one of which was filled with entirely useless information for the plant I'd be working at. More importantly, it seemed like my position didn't really require an intern and I was kind of stuck with the "intern jobs" I had repeatedly been promised I wouldn't have during the interview process. It took several weeks into my rotation before I was given anything meaningful.

Advice

Ask people around the shop if they need help. Ask your superiors or advisors if they need help. Don't just wait for work to come. Ask people in the shop to tell you about what they do I found that many are eager to share. Use this as an opportunity to learn and figure out what you do (or do not) want to do in your future.
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Supply Chain and Manufacturing Co-op

January - May 2024 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

My favorite thing about this co-op was the opportunity for hands-on experience. During this rotation, I was able to learn about how a model line in a repair shop functions by seeing first-hand how parts go through the processes. This model line is the first one at my site, so there is lots of room for growth and change, and it has been very insightful seeing those changes happen and being able to create change. This experience has given me a great background in manufacturing processes and different operations. I have also been able to learn new skills like welding, using a CNC machine, and how to use plenty of other tools while working on projects for the site.

What I wish was different

There really is not much to complain about, I have had a great experience with GE Aerospace. If I am being nitpicky, I think the orientation process could have been better. All co-ops in my area attended one big orientation where we were given so much extra information that only applied to you if you were at the Evendale site. The following day, we had another orientation where we were given a lot of the same information. I think that process could be more streamlined, so co-ops do not have to sit through two full days of basically the same information.

Advice

One piece of advice that I would give about this experience, or any co-op experience is to not be afraid to ask questions. Talk to your co-workers about their role, what their past experiences have been etc. It is crucial to get to know the people who work around you and create a network. Also, do not be afraid to ask for more work if you find yourself bored. There is plenty to do and people around you can also connect you to a new project. Do not waste your time during a valuable experience.
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EID Intern

January - May 2024 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

During my co-op I was responsible for evaluating the performance of a temperature measurement device as well as developing dust sensors. The best part of this co-op was the opportunities I had to learn from others. Every person I spoke with, whether they were on my team or not, was willing to teach me something new about their projects. One of my colleagues would sit down with me every week to explain new technical concepts, as well as help me develop my career. Overall, there is a wealth of knowledge and people were happy to share when I showed interest.

What I wish was different

I wish one of my projects would have been a little more interesting. One project I worked on was very interesting and involved. Whenever we were waiting for parts to be delivered or experienced another delay, I worked on another project which was not as interesting. However, even though the project may not have been as interesting as I would have liked, I was still able to use the project as a learning opportunity. I had calls with our vendors as well as learned new coding and project management skills.

Advice

One piece of advice I would share is talk with as many people as possible. I was able to learn so much from talking to full-time employees who weren't on my team. Even talking to other co-ops in my building we were able to set up a weekly lunch where we all bounced ideas off each other and learned from each other. No matter how new someone is at the company, I was still able to learn something from them and their projects.
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Engineering Engines Co-op

September - December 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

Similar to UD a major highlight of GE Aerospace is its culture. Everyone I encountered had a positive attitude that was inspiring and helpful. GE Aerospace is very excited to invent the future of flight and that attitude is infectious. It is a joy to work with people that enjoy what they do.

What I wish was different

Sometimes as a Co-op at GE Aerospace, there is a lack of work given to you. This, however, does not mean there is a lack of work to do. As a Co-op, you have to seek out projects to work on. For a first rotation, this can be daunting. However, if you go into the experience expecting this it can be a great exercise of assertiveness.

Advice

The best thing you can do going into a GE Aerospace Co-op is come with a hunger for learning. The first week especially you will be bombarded with new information. If you are not proactive in putting effort toward learning it can be easy to fall behind. However, if you come each day trying to learn something new you will leave the experience stronger than you entered.
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Supply Chain Intern

January - July 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

I was given ample opportunity to work on projects that truly impacted the factory. I was treated with respect and welcomed onto my team and the factory as a whole.

What I wish was different

Many of the products I made became obsolete due to employees changing roles so frequently. I wish more of my projects had a longer lifespan post internship.

Advice

You will not necessarily be given busy work. In order to enjoy your job you have to go out and find projects that you want to work on to continuously improve the company.
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Supply Chain/Manufacturing Intern

June - September 2023 • Norwich, NY

What I liked

The people I worked with were very personable and helped me learn a lot about manufacture engineering.

What I wish was different

The area of Norwich wasn't exactly a lively one but I was still able to make the most of it!

Advice

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Engines Engineer

May - August 2023 • Lynn, MA

What I liked

I liked the community that the GE employees have, it was a very supportive and collaborative environment to work in. The projects you get put on as an intern do make a difference to the company and help push the needle in the right direction.

What I wish was different

I wish there were more opportunities to see some of the other manufacturing sites while at my internship.

Advice

I would say to always ask questions, be curious, never be afraid to ask questions, and set up get to knows with your team and your upper management! They have a lot of advice when it comes to career paths and it definitely makes the work place more friendly if you get to know them more on a personal level.
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Digital Technology Intern

May - August 2022 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed working at GE Aviation this summer! My role consisted of working on the Digital Supply Chain RFID team, which enabled me to get hands-on in both logistic sites and product management. The team I was a part of gave lots of insightful advice as well as techniques to make my internship worthwhile. Michael Biggs, Reggie White, and other intern program leaders made me feel welcomed and included in the GE family as soon as I started. I loved connecting and working with other DT Interns throughout the summer while also making friends in the process. Overall, my time at GE has been a great experience!

What I wish was different

One thing I wished went a bit smoother was orientation day. I felt lost at times and being separate from the larger group put us at a disadvantage. Another thing I wish was a bit different was directions after the first day. As a DT Intern, we had a 4-day onboarding process which gave great insight into the business and its needs. During that orientation, I found that my assignment leader works remotely in Michigan. I talked to her, but not as much as I would have in the office. I feel like having an assignment leader that you can be face to face with can help ease the hardships of learning a new job.

Advice

One piece of advice I would give is to try something new. Meet up with other interns after work for an hour of top golf or go see a baseball game. They are in the same boat as you, and it's nice to meet new people. Also, reach out to as many people as you can. Figure out what you like, dislike, and want to be a part of. You may not like the role you were given, but you can find out what you want to do. A 15-minute one-on-one with someone within a different org can take you to so many different places.
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Supply Chain and manufacturing Intern

January - August 2023 • Springdale, OH

What I liked

I loved how collaborative the work environment was. If I ever had any questions everyone was extremely helpful and went out of there way to make my experience better. I would highly recommend doing an internship at GE even if it is in a role you don't necessarily see yourself doing. Also be social and make connections, people want to get to know you see get out there and make awesome connections at a great company.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have had more time. At GE they give you real projects to work on so finishing them in 8 months for some is even a stretch. While I did finish my projects there is so much more I feel like I could go back to do to keep improving the process if I had more time. I also wish that I had joined more of the GE clubs that they had available.

Advice

Try something new. I am a mechanical engineering major and the manufacturing and supply chain role did scare me at first. But, after working with them for 8 months in the role I am so happy that I made that decision. It got me out of my comfort zone and showed me something that I could see myself doing as a career in the future.
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Engineering Coop

January - July 2023 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

While with test engineering, I loved the culture and the people I worked with at GE. I've noticed it's a culture of striving for success while valuing their workers. For example, one of the projects I've worked on is closing out a series of test reports on previously run tests, which means I often need to consult other engineers to understand what I am working on. No matter who I ask, they always are very willing to drop whatever they're doing and help me in my work. Many of the engineers prioritize my learning over me actually getting work done. The culture of people I work with is so supportive and values learning and improvement. In June I shifted to production and spent two months essentially working on the floor packing industrial engine starters at TDI in Dayton. My primary goal was to gain experience working on a shop floor and learn about the relationship between engineering and the shop floor. I really liked how accommodating GE and TDI were to this. The experience I was pursuing was not a standard one offered by GE's co-op office, but TDI and the co-op office worked together to make this opportunity possible, an opportunity I think I learned just as much, if not more in, than I would have had I stuck with design. Both teams were genuinely interested in my learning and growth as an engineer to the point that a company as large as GE was willing to make micro-exceptions for my experience.

What I wish was different

The intern community at GE is also very strong and a large group, most of which are located at larger sites. Unfortunately, this makes it harder for interns at smaller sites to engage with other interns since they are often isolated, and so the experience becomes more about the small location and less about the overall company. GE still does a great job of getting your out of your site to see the company as a whole, but I wish they had more interns at smaller sites. Additionally, at smaller sites, opportunities for projects seem less available, so I wish there had been more opportunity for me to identify problems and try to solve them. As for my role in production at TDI, I wish there had been more opportunity to explore positions around the floor. I wish there could have been more opportunities to explore different areas of production (I was focused in paint and pack) and so while I still learned a lot about the relationship between production and engineering, my experience was primarily limited to paint and pack. This is why I wish the rotation had me moving around the shop floor, whether delving into assembly or machining. Otherwise, I wish I had gotten to know some of the people I did far earlier. Some of the team members I didn't meet until near the end of my rotation, and I found some of these people had incredible stories and life lessons that I wish I could get to know, but unfortunately didn't get the time.

Advice

From my experience with test Engineering, I'd say get to know everyone. If you're looking for an answer, somebody on site will have it, you just need to know who. Even if you don't work with them, get to know them, as they can teach you new lessons or just enhance your intern experience in ways you didn't realize. Most importantly, get to know the people in the shop. Get to know the machinists and spend time working with them, especially if your projects are changing how they work. And most importantly, smile and say hi to them, it gets relationships started that are life changing. From my experience working with production, if you take an opportunity like this to work on a shop floor, get to know engineering as well. Since I worked with engineering prior to moving to production, I was able to talk to both production and the engineering folks on both sides of any issue. Being able to see both sides and understand both sides is primarily where I gained the most experience this rotation. I saw how a lack of effective communication easily leads to frustration. This especially fits with my previous comments from my last rotation - get to know people, as many as you can. Take the time to have conversations with them since they'll teach you more than just job skills, but also life skills.
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power electronic fellow internship

May - August 2023 • Niskayuna, NY

What I liked

I like the diversity culture of the company and everyone in the company is very friendly. They are very willing to help each other on all aspects. The leaders also very care about the employees on the normal lives and work. The HR organizes many activities for us to know more about GE culture.

What I wish was different

I wish I could spend more time on the activitives with other interns. I also wish I could spend more time on the tecnology reseach during my intern.

Advice

Extend your social range. You can learn a lot more by social activities.
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Lean Intern

May - August 2022 • West Milwaukee, WI

What I liked

Flexible, multiple projects and things to do, culture and environment, very casual clothing

What I wish was different

A more specific project to work on

Advice

Definitely go out and network! Meet as many people as you can! Connect on LinkedIn!
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Test Facilities Mechanical Engineer

January - May 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

This was my first co-op that I have done and I absolutely loved it. The group that I worked for was the best group I could ask for, they were so nice and helpful. The work that I was doing was very meaningful and interesting. I was actually doing engineering work not just intern busy work. I liked that I was able to be hands on while also being in the office. I worked on many projects like, fire suppression systems, sound proofing control rooms, data sorting, cranes, and building test cells.

What I wish was different

The onboarding process was a little slow. It took me a really long time to be comfortable doing some of the work because there was zero help getting started. I wish there was more help to understanding the GE way. GE has a very special way to go about things and I was not familiar with there style which caused the projects to be slowed down. I should have gotten closer with some of the people so I had more connections to help move projects along.

Advice

Do not be afraid to ask for more work or if you need help on something. Get to know as many people as you can. Its ok if you do not know how to do something. Find someone that you can shadow
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Supply Chain Co-op

January - May 2023 • Springdale, OH

What I liked

I liked working on a wide variety of hands-on projects. I was able to work with the operators to design and make carts to fit their needs. I also worked on the development of a new repair and through that I was able to learn new 3D modeling software and how to 3D print. I liked having hands on projects and being able to follow the engineering process to create new things. I also liked forming relationships with the operators and learning from them how to machine and weld.

What I wish was different

I wish things within the IT department moved quicker. I had to request access for different programs to do some of my projects and it took 3 weeks for me to get all the access I needed. I also wish that I had a longer rotation so that I could have gotten involved in more depth with some projects. One of my bigger projects that I was working on, the new repair, had to be sent out to a different company for an operation. It didn't come back to ACSC for a couple weeks and by that time I was done with my rotation so I couldn't continue.

Advice

A piece of advice that I would share is to be honest when you don't know something. I was overwhelmed on my first couple shifts because I felt that I didn't know anything about a shop. Instead of faking my way through it I started asking the hourly workers how things worked and what they were doing. I soon learned a lot and I now feel much more confident in machining and navigating a shop floor.
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