I joined Skellig Automation as a Junior Automation Engineer in September 2020, right after graduating from the University of Washington amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting my career as a fresh graduate during the pandemic was both exciting and challenging. Remote onboarding and virtual team integration required me to quickly adapt to a professional environment.
Initially, I underwent a long training period of 10 months due to the pandemic. However, Skellig provided excellent support through mentorship from senior engineers and training resources, such as the Emerson DeltaV Live course and internal projects. This support helped me quickly become familiar with industry systems and processes while managing the complexities of working from home.
My first client project, which involved working remotely, was a pivotal moment in my career. I assisted four area leads with code development and updating documentation. Subsequently, I worked with the same client on two additional projects, providing remote site support and addressing a backlog of over 500 change requests.
Effective communication was crucial during this time. As a junior engineer, I made it a point to ask as many questions as necessary to ensure I could confidently complete my assigned tasks. These three projects with my first client were significant milestones, allowing me to apply what I had learned during training and contribute to our team’s success.
Despite the advantages of remote work, I knew that gaining onsite experience was essential. This led me to make one of my biggest life and career decisions: in January 2023, I relocated to Massachusetts to work with my next client as an onsite/local support.
This relocation presented both professional and personal challenges. Personally, adjusting to a new city away from familiar support systems required significant adaptation. Professionally, the transition involved setting up a new workspace and integrating into a different office setting.
This opportunity was a highlight of my career. Working in person provided valuable hands-on experience and allowed me to address client needs more effectively. It also enhanced my ability to manage tasks autonomously and adapt quickly to new environments.
My four years at Skellig Automation, including the initial challenges of starting as a fresh graduate during the COVID-19 pandemic and relocating to Massachusetts for onsite experience, have been incredibly rewarding. This experience taught me adaptability and self-sufficiency. I learned to balance work and life in a new city, which improved my organizational and problem-solving skills.
Moving forward, I’m excited to continue learning, advancing our automation solutions, and taking on new challenges with the skills I’ve gained as a Junior Automation Engineer.
