Simon Chen (May 2024 – Jan 2025)

Co-op Experience

What was the interview process like? 

This was my second CO-OP with Hunter Engineering, so for this term, I contacted my manager about returning for another CO-OP, but my initial encounter with Hunter Engineering was at the MST career fair, where I had an engaging discussion about a software position. After applying online, I found the application process to be one of the smoothest and quickest I’ve ever experienced.

I was invited to interview with Asher Haggard, the Machine Vision Team Manager, and Sarah Adler, the Talent Acquisition Partner. The interview was insightful, providing me with valuable information about the Electrical Engineering CO-OP position I had applied for. Following the interview, I was given a test to complete, and the very next day, Sarah called me with an offer.

Most students just want experience, but they may not know what type of
experience they want. Please describe some of the work you did and what
type of skills you needed. It is important to note the skills you could apply
from what you’ve learned in school and what you learned on the job.

Although it’s an Electrical Engineering CO-OP position, the role is predominantly software focused. I had the opportunity to work with a variety of programming languages, including C++, Python, HTML, CSS, and C#. There was always something new to learn, such as image processing, microphone arrays, Python
scripting, frontend development, radar and much more. Additionally, I conducted ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) procedure testing on various vehicles to identify bugs and enhance accuracy.

What experience do you think will be the most useful for you in the future?

All the experience I gained here will be invaluable for my future. However, the front-end development skills will be particularly beneficial as I’ve secured a Software Engineering Internship with Garmin for next summer. I'll be joining the Aviation front end UI/UX design team, where these skills will be crucial.

How do you think the overall experience will help you in your career?

I am confident in my ability to contribute to a large team project. One skill I truly honed was finding solutions to problems I initially didn't know how to tackle.

What aspect of the work did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed the diverse range of projects I was assigned to. There was always something new to learn. It was also refreshing to take a break from university classes and engage in research and development activities. My team members were exceptional mentors who taught me a great deal.

What aspect of the work did you not enjoy?

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Hunter, which is why I chose to return for a second CO-OP.

Did you learn anything?

I learned a tremendous amount at Hunter Engineering, and I believe that the knowledge and skills I acquired here have a greater impact in a real-world work setting than in a university environment.

Students often want to know if they will work alone or in a group. Was the
work you did more individual or group work and how does it compare with
what you have done in school or at another job?

Most of my work was individual, but occasionally, I collaborated with a Mechanical Engineer on specific projects. The work here was far more engaging, and communication was frequent among everyone, which was not always the case in a university setting.

What were your living arrangements during co-op? This question is
especially important for those that are not from St. Louis.

I lived in an apartment just 10 minutes away from Hunter HQ in St. Charles. Hunter facilitated connections by providing emails of all the CO-OPs, making it possible to discuss and coordinate living arrangements with fellow CO-OPs.

How was the supervision?

Asher Haggard was my supervisor for both my CO-OP terms, and he was very understanding about adjusting my schedule. He also was a great mentor and helped me whenever I was blocked on any of my tasks.

Anything else you'd like to tell us about yourself, Hunter Engineering, the co-
op program or the work?

I highly recommend this CO-OP. While many students worry about taking a semester off, the experience gained from this CO-OP is well worth the trade-off.