In celebration of National Engineering Month, we will highlight our organization’s talent to inspire the next generation of innovators and aspiring engineers. Colleagues will share their stories, pathways to success, and what ultimately led them to an impressive and impactful career.

Growing up, Kat always had a keen eye and ability to solve complex problems. Her formal journey into engineering began in 2016 at McMaster University when she was accepted into the Materials Engineering program. "It was a funky program that not many universities offered at the time. I fully developed my skills during my studies and grew really fond of manufacturing."

In her third year, Kat ignited her passion further with a year-long co-op placement in the pharmaceutical sector, where she was faced with new and exciting challenges discovering that "fast-paced environments are where I thrive best.” Graduating a year later, she moved to Ottawa and accepted a job offer at General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada as a Manufacturing Engineer in the summer of 2021.

Since then, Kat continues to expand her skill set and faces new opportunities with a can-do attitude. Much of her responsibilities focus on supplying the manufacturing floor with the necessary tools and resources to build high-quality and innovative Smart Displays.

While working with diverse groups of talent, Kat feels that engineering is much more than crunching numbers, writing code, or implementing designs. "A lot goes into engineering that most people don't realize. Most of us are stubborn to a fault when we can't solve a problem, but ultimately, we're here to create amazing products that play a critical component in the end user's operations."

"It takes a specific skillset and type of person that draws someone into the field. Here, I met some of my best friends and my partner, too – the long-lasting connections you’re able to make with like-minded people make working in STEM so special."