Madison Gant, a rising senior, recently wrapped up an internship at Delta Tech-Ops, where she worked in components engineering, in charge of writing repair instructions for damaged parts. “I worked on damages involving composites and sheet metal, calculating analysis and justifying the repair,” she said. Through this role, she not only gained technical expertise but also learned to navigate the professional environment with confidence. “I learned many skills, like identifying valid data to justify repairs per FAA regulations,” she explained. “It was also a great opportunity to improve my professional communication skills with industry leaders such as Boeing and Airbus.”
Madison used her already-existing networking in her path to securing the internship. “My father works at Delta and told me about the opportunity to apply as an intern at Tech-Ops,” Madison said. The previous summer, she shadowed co-ops and full-time employees, which allowed her to create connections within the company. With her father’s help, she was able to get her resume to the right people. “I also applied through the Delta portal for the internships in engineering,” she added.
Madison noted that much of her coursework at Merrimack was relevant to her work in the field. “Many classes, like Machine Design, Mechanics of Materials and Material Science, were very useful when performing the analysis to substantiate the repair,” she said. Madison also used the skills she developed in writing lab reports for Professor Peterson’s Mechanics of Materials lab. “Those reports were especially helpful when I was writing up my reports at Delta.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of Madison’s internship was seeing her classroom knowledge come to life in a real-world setting. “It was amazing to see all of my engineering classes being put to use,” she said. Madison was particularly proud of the work she accomplished during her time at Delta. “I was able to finish 11 repairs, and I was told most interns typically only finish one repair.” This experience not only solidified her interest in the field but also gave her a sense of achievement. “I could really see myself enjoying a career in this field after college,” she noted.
Madison’s advice to other students searching for internships is to stay persistent and keep an open mind. “Don’t be discouraged when applying because it’s never too late. Everyone gets offers at different times,” she advised. “Try to apply to at least a couple of places a week, and little by little, you’ll set yourself up for success.” She emphasized the importance of being open to any experience in your field. “The point of internships is to try new things and learn. Whether you like the experience or not, you’ll learn from it.”
As Madison looks to the future, her career plans have expanded significantly because of her time at Delta. “Before this internship, I was only looking into robotics positions, but now I realize I would love to work in avionics as well,” she said. Madison plans to explore full-time engineering roles at Delta and is excited about the possibilities in both avionics and robotics.
