Florida Tech Panther Scholar-Athlete Spotlight Recognizes Lacrosse Player Braden Hartlieb
By Jerry Durney, Florida Tech // July 12, 2024
braden is an intern for Bell Helicopter in Texas as a Manufacturing Engineer
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we are featuring Braden Hartlieb of Florida Tech men’s lacrosse. This summer, the Westminster, Maryland native is gaining meaningful experience at an internship in his desired field. We caught up with Hartlieb to learn more about the incredible opportunity.
What company are you interning for this summer? What is your title and role with the company?
This summer, I am interning for Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas as a Manufacturing Engineer.
What drew you to this internship? What steps did you have to take to earn your position within the company?
As an aerospace engineer, I was drawn to the leading-edge helicopters, both commercial and military, that Bell manufactures. Last summer, I had an internship at Textron Systems, another business unit, where they offered me a return offer to Bell.
What are some exciting tasks or projects that you have been able to be a part of?
So far this summer, I have created two Manufacturing Process Instruction (MPI) documents totaling 150 pages for a component of the V-22 Osprey, developed new composite ply shapes in a V-22 Belly Door to reduce defects by a projected 80%, and altered the current 35 composite ply cut out shapes for the Belly Door to reduce defects for inconsistent surface levels.
What is your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction for your education and is this something you always wanted to pursue?
My major at Florida Tech is Aerospace Engineering. I chose this major because I have always been fascinated with space and anything that flies. By majoring in aerospace engineering, it has allowed me to pursue my dream, as well as many other possible career paths.
How has being a scholar-athlete prepared you for the work you are currently doing in your internship? What skills have you taken from your time as a scholar-athlete that help you in your internship?
The biggest aspect of being a scholar-athlete that has prepared me for this internship is learning time management skills. Being able to manage your time efficiently and perform multiple tasks at once has allowed me to become a successful engineer.
What skills have you acquired at your internship that will help you on the field/court/pool at Florida Tech?
A skill that I have acquired here is intent communication which is the ability to choose correct and simple lines of communication that aid in the successful completion of projects, as well as giving an advantage in coordinating on the field.
How is your internship preparing you for a career you would like to do after graduation?
This internship is helping me prepare for the stress and lifestyle of an engineer in the field. With this experience, I will be able to go into a full-time position being fully prepared to make a positive impact in the company.
What advice would you give another scholar-athlete/prospective scholar-athlete who is looking to pursue a similar path?
Go for it. Get as much experience as you possibly can. If possible, go out and gain experience in as many similar fields as possible. That way you can gain a broader perspective on your career choices.
Don’t be scared to introduce yourself and build your connections, you never know when they will be useful.
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