Aerospace Engineering Internship Story: Lockheed Martin
Adetola Koiki
Aerospace Engineering, ‘23
Where did you intern?
I interned with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta, Georgia.
How did you find and apply for your internship? Did you use a specific resource or attend a particular recruiting event to search for internships (i.e. Handshake, career fairs, etc)?
I received my first internship from attending Lockheed Martin Day host by The Society of Women Engineers on campus. This was a two-day event where I was able to network with recruiters from the company and the next day I was scheduled to interview for a potential position. After completing my first summer with Lockheed Martin in 2020, I was offered to come back this past summer in a different area of the company.
Tell us about your internship experience. What types of tasks and projects did you engage in? Was there a particular project or part of the experience you learned the most from?
I worked with the Material Review Board (MRB) within Structures and Materials on the F-35 program. I was responsible for developing dispositions to repair/rework damaged components for the inner wing structure to restore structural integrity on the F-35 fighter jet. I also was able to help develop new solutions for non-standard air frame discrepancies. Rather than working on one large project throughout the summer, I had multiple smaller tasks each day. Inspectors on the production floor provided me with pictures, measurements, and design standards of the issues on the inner wing and I was able to provide them with a practical solution to repair the damaged part.
Each of these tasks that I was able to work on allowed me to think critically and consider which design solution would be most effective. Things like cost, time to repair discrepancies, and the difficulty of the rework were all things I had to think about when coming up with a solution. I learned the most from this experience because choosing the easiest repair or the cheapest repair was not always effective. Not only did this process help me think critically every day, but it also helped me uphold one of Lockheed Martin's core values: Perform with Excellence.
Do you have any advice for other students looking for internships like yours?
My piece of advice for other students looking to intern at large companies like Lockheed Martin is to get outside of your comfort zone and be confident in your work and achievements. Sometimes it is easy to only expose yourself to work that you are comfortable with and good at doing, but expanding your horizons allows you to grow and become more versatile. When talking with a recruiter about a potential offer, you would be able to share with them your experience trying something you would not normally try. Also, expressing your accomplishments can be nerve-racking, but being confident in your work and accomplishments allows a recruiter to view you in a positive light while also boosting your own confidence.
Are you involved in other engineering organizations on campus?
Engineering Student Council – Diversity and Inclusion Chair
Academic Excellence Program – Student Ambassador