Each year, National STEM/STEAM Day highlights the importance of education and careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. These fields drive innovation, solve complex global challenges, and shape the technologies that define our world.
At Ipsen, we’re proud to recognize the engineers and designers who bring creativity and technical expertise together every day. To encourage the next generation of innovators, we asked several members of our engineering team to share how they got started, what they find most rewarding about their work, and their advice for students considering a career in a STEM/STEAM field.
Q: When did you know that you wanted to go into engineering as a profession?
Ty Parker – Controls Engineer: When I wrote my first structured text program, I knew I wanted to do it for a profession. I thought it was so cool seeing the fruits of my work come alive.
Kathleen Fiedler – Controls Engineer: I started my career in Engineering later in life. I’d been an accountant and a merchandiser, but I was also raising my two children, and I was looking to find a better way to provide for my family. When I looked for careers that would keep me in the region, I could see there were lots of possibilities that come with an engineering degree. What I discovered was that an engineering career would make me self-sufficient.
Noah Lindon – Controls Engineer: I knew I wanted to be an engineer since middle school. I took a general technology class that had stations setup covering a variety of technology fields such as CAD, robotics, graphic design, etc. The introduction to practical uses of STEM fascinated me and the problem solving involved was rewarding.
Drake Buss, Mechanical Engineer: I was not sure throughout high school. I loved shop classes and building things, but I never thought about a career in engineering. When I took my first 3D modeling class in college, I knew engineering was the way to go.
Joshua Hinkemeyer – Engineering Manager: I was a stereotypical engineer as a kid, taking everything apart, working in the garage with my dad, generally being obsessed with understanding how things worked. By high school I was certain that was the direction I wanted to head. I shadowed my uncle, who is an engineer, at work one day and there was no turning back after that.
Scott Borota – Lead Mechanical Designer: I started taking drafting classes back in high school and that carried over to technical college and into my career. I’d like to go back to my high school drafting teacher and thank him for teaching me about this field.
Q: What do you find to be the most rewarding part of the engineering work that you do?
Ty Parker – Controls Engineer: I find helping the customer/the operator of the machine the most rewarding – hearing about how much impact the machines we make have on their lives. I’m really pleased when I hear about how easy our machines are to use, or how efficient they are to operate.
Kathleen Fiedler – Controls Engineer: I’m very detail-oriented and I like to figure things out. Even in my hobbies, I like to plan and make drawings before I start a quilting or knitting project. It confirmed to me that even within a very process-oriented project, there is creativity that lies within the process. The art of figuring out how to do something new.
Noah Lindon – Controls Engineer: The thing I find most rewarding as an engineer is the troubleshooting process – fixing issues and coding new software programs.
Drake Buss, Mechanical Engineer: The most rewarding part of engineering is watching something you designed become a finished product. Seeing the object completed is a really cool feeling. It’s an actual object that you can stand next to and be proud of – not just an image on the screen.
Joshua Hinkemeyer – Engineering Manager: I am lucky to lead a team of highly skilled, intelligent, and talented individuals. Working with that group every day, collaborating with them, and learning from them is greatly rewarding.
Scott Borota – Lead Mechanical Designer: I just love creating new designs for our products whenever I get the chance.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d tell someone who is just beginning to pursue a career in a STEM field?
Kathleen Fiedler – Controls Engineer: Since working at Ipsen, I wanted to prove to my colleagues that I was a person that they could count on. It’s important to take your responsibilities to your peers and customers seriously.
Ty Parker – Controls Engineer: The classes can be difficult or complex at times, but it’s so worth it. The field is always evolving and becomes more interesting as time goes on.
Noah Lindon – Controls Engineer: My one piece of advice to give to new people in a STEM field is to constantly document things you do and learn. It makes redoing the task a lot easier if it needs to be done again in the future. Detailed notes will save you time, rather than needing to go back and relearn everything you did months or years ago. It also acts as a standard for others who are new. Good documentation is the best way to prevent mistakes.
Drake Buss, Mechanical Engineer: It’s okay to not know everything – don’t let the learning curve overwhelm you. When you start in engineering, many of your peers have been working in the field for 10+ years. It’s not possible to know how everything works. Ask a million questions and soak in as much from the more experienced engineers as you can.
Joshua Hinkemeyer – Engineering Manager: Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you, ask questions, be humble, and listen to what they have to say.
Scott Borota – Lead Mechanical Designer: Don’t be discouraged when looking for a job in this field. You might end up working at a few places before finding that job that is right for you.
At Ipsen, innovation begins with curiosity. We’re proud to support the engineers, designers, and problem-solvers who turn bold ideas into real-world solutions every day. By sharing their experiences, we hope to inspire the next generation to explore the possibilities of STEM and STEAM — and to imagine the impact they can make on the future of manufacturing and technology.