At Performance, innovation starts with opportunity. Our internship program is more than just a stepping stone—it’s a launchpad for the next generation of aviation, space, and defense innovators. In this blog, we’re celebrating the incredible journeys of our interns, showcasing how they’ve not only contributed to cutting-edge projects but also transitioned into impactful full-time roles. Their stories are a testament to our commitment to fostering talent, driving innovation, and shaping the future of safety-critical solutions.
Intern Roles & Current Projects
Our interns at Performance are very involved. From hands-on software testing and verification to active engagement in learning the intricacies of DevOps, there are plenty of opportunities to grow and develop real-world engineering skills that are critical to aerospace innovation development. A couple of our interns shared their current project roles to help provide some insight on what an internship at Performance entails.
Sawyer Kesti, a senior at Arizona State University and a software engineer intern, is on a team working for a top aerospace manufacturer and explains, “The work I do consists mainly of test development and I am responsible for developing and running the high-level software tests in a simulated software-in-the-loop (SIL) environment where the goal of the tests is to verify the software that other engineers have developed are working as they should be.”
Karter Schenck, a sophomore at Utah Tech University and software intern, describes a major component of his role involves writing test procedures for his team’s unique aerospace initiative.
Ethan Nguyen, a senior attending Paradise Valley High School, is currently on a certification project for a piece of equipment that will be on a military aircraft. Learning how to adhere to DO-178c, an important FAA certification standard, is a large part of his intern experience at the moment.
Overcoming Challenges and Learning Through Experience
We believe that lessons learned from challenging tasks are invaluable to the intern experience. And in fact, most days, our interns are encouraged to face complex challenges head-on. Our leaders have seen firsthand how an interns’ ability to overcome a difficult task has greatly improved their technical skills and professional resilience. Kesti reflects on how, “learning industry standard practices as well as proper etiquette when it comes to interacting with customers” has been pivotal to mitigating challenges. Furthermore, in Schenck’s experience, simply asking a lot of questions has been key to his success in his internship. Nguyen also reflects on how he found it challenging to write Low-Level Test Procedures at first, but through proactively seeking guidance from his peers, he has gotten more confident in the task.
Passion for Aerospace and Career Alignment
While some interns specifically seek out Performance’s internship program for the aerospace aspect, some interns are simply looking for a program that fits their engineering interest regardless of the sector. Below, our interns explain what their intentions were upon entering the program and how their passions have evolved.
Kesti: “Coming from a lot of Arizona State University (ASU) students that I have spoken with, it has been a challenge for a lot of them to get a foothold into the field and start their careers. I never had aerospace or avionics as my goal career field, but after working with some talented individuals and learning more about the industry, I can say that I have gained newfound inspiration for aerospace and avionics. I find my work extremely interesting, and I am excited to do more in this sector.”
Schenck: “To be honest, I had no idea what sector I wanted to go into. I have always wanted to do something with computer programming. With that said, I have really enjoyed working on the current project I am on and want to continue working in aerospace.”
Nguyen: “I honestly never imagined working in avionics/aerospace, although I did joke around at the company holiday parties about stealing my dad’s office. I originally wanted to be a game developer and work at the Nintendo offices in Seattle, Washington, but I don’t really strive to be a video game developer anymore. Growing up and going through high school, I slowly wanted to transition into a more feasible and realistic computer science job and interning at Performance Software is a great way to start out my career.”
Transitioning to Full-Time in a Safety-Critical Environment
For those who find a love for aerospace engineering through their internship experience at Performance, there are full-time work opportunities available to further career growth. In fact, we’ve had a few interns who have now been officially brought on-board to the Performance team over the years: Paige Mabbitt and Christopher Stone, both newly hired software engineers working on projects for aerospace clients, and Brad Duszynski, a software engineer that transitioned from intern to full-time in 2019, and currently supports the Performance Data Loader product line.
Each of these employees recall having been well-prepared for their next step in their career through their internship. Mabbitt notes that as an intern, she “did a lot of the same things that she does now.” Chris reflects on his internship experience stating that, “it was an incredible learning experience.” Similarly, Duszynski remembers his learning experience as an intern and recalls gaining a better understanding of “the importance of planning and communication with engineers who are in other parts of the world,” something he still finds incredibly important in his work today.
Mentorship and Career Influence
Whether in the throes of the current intern program, or having transitioned to full-time, our engineers must grow to expect more responsibilities, and we understand that that adjustment can be hard at any level. For this reason, Performance strives to cultivate a work environment that fosters mentorship and a healthy and inviting learning environment.
Kesti notes that mentors like Robert Johnson have done an amazing job at showing him the way in how things operate both at Performance and in the avionics industry at large. Schenck and Stone express valuing the culture in which questions are welcomed and there’s a comfortability to approaching anyone on the project for guidance. Furthermore, Nguyen expressed that working alongside his fellow interns “immensely helped build a positive workplace environment” that he looked forward to entering everyday. “They became my friends who I love talking to everyday and have shown me the benefits of working in-person instead of remotely.”
Mabbitt recalls her mentors being “essential to her success” all throughout her time at Performance. Duszynski recounts in his experience that “every single team member (not an exaggeration) has taught me something valuable, whether it be tips for development tools or even new engineering methodologies. I can trust my fellow team members to put in the effort needed, something I found invaluable throughout my career.”
All in all, the individuals highlighted above collectively praised the Performance internship experience and Performance culture for the following: numerous interactive learning opportunities, down-to-earth people, supportive resources, and its collaborative atmosphere.
We Value Cultivating the Next Generation of Talent
The journeys of our interns, and those turned full-time innovators at Performance, are a testament to the power of opportunity, mentorship, and a supportive work environment. Through challenging projects, meaningful mentorship, and a culture that values growth, they’ve not only advanced their own careers but have also contributed to groundbreaking advancements in aerospace and defense.
If you’re inspired by their experiences and eager to join a team where your talent can thrive, we invite you to explore internship opportunities with us or connect to learn more about how Performance can be part of your journey.
