 Paulette
January
Senior Software Quality Engineer
DRS Technologies, Inc.
IEEE Women in Engineering
Newsletter Editor
Parsippany, NJ
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 B.S.
Computer Science, Alabama A&M University |
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Senior Software
Quality Engineer responsible for the review and approval of
software designs for air combat training systems, complex
avionics, radars, homeland security systems, vertical launch
systems, and various integrated systems for military
applications. |
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"Stay
focused on your goals but also keep a good balance in life - dig
your feet right in and get grounded to accomplish what you need
to be doing, but also make time for family, friends and have
fun. And never forget to take the time to dream and think
outside the box -- that's usually where big ideas and new
technologies are realized." |
Q:
When did you know you wanted to become an Engineer?
January:
Over thirty years ago, I was fascinated about
computers after seeing a commercial on television about them. It was
after this, I started to dream about becoming an engineer at twelve
years old.
Q:
What was your college experience like?
January:
College life was a structured and disciplined
learning environment, especially living on campus. Classes and course
work took up a lot of time, but I learned to prioritize and stay focused
to get things done - and still have time for fun.
Q:
Did you incorporate work experiences while you were an undergrad?
January:
I worked in the Computer Science Department on
campus as a student assistant. This not only helped pay for college but
it also provided me with a great learning experience in working with the
systems as well as working with the students.
Q:
How did you get your first job?
January:
I sent out resumes during my last year of college
and landed a job with Harris Corporation in Syosset, New York. Since I
grew up in a small Alabama town in a close-knit environment, the hardest
thing I ever had to do was to get on a plane and move to New York.
However, if I really wanted to start a career, I knew that I had to take
a leap of faith. Twenty three years later, I look back at my decision
and can say that it was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.
Q:
What's the most rewarding thing about being an Engineer?
January:
The best thing about being an engineer for DRS
Technologies is the work that I do really matters and helps other
people. Our most important customer is the United States Military. In
order for them to keep us safe, they need to have the best training and
equipment available.
Q:
Is there an example you can provide that shows how something you've
worked on has positively impacted the world?
January:
I work on Air Combat Training Systems at DRS
Technologies, primarily the P5 Combat Training System (P5 CTS) Program.
Our team supports fighter aircrews in the US and overseas with airborne
instrumentation systems that offer training accuracy. This is to ensure
the performance of aircrews during a live mission is improved. I also
work on various other Airborne Instrumentation Pod Systems that allow
pilots to simulate military combat missions using Air Combat Maneuvering
Instrumentation (ACMI) Training. Information is recorded during the
combat training simulation and the pilots review and learn from it when
they've completed their training mission. This increases the pilots'
effectiveness during live combat. These systems include a complete
ground infrastructure system (display and debriefing stations, ground
stations, training, documentation and logistics support). This
combination of test and training instrumentation offers range
performance accuracy to training range users providing more effective
tracking, credible weapon simulations, and overall realism for fighter
aircrews in the US and internationally.
Q:
Do you spend a fair amount of time traveling?
January:
I do not travel much but I do provide support to
field engineers who work in the field and report status on how the
systems are performing, whether or not the system is working correctly,
and if there are problems occurring with the systems that require
resolution such as a software change or improvement.
Q:
Do you have a mentor? Or did you in your college years?
January:
Although I do not have a mentor and did not have
the opportunity for mentorship while I was in college many years ago, I
do recognize the value of having a mentor as this person will be able to
guide and encourage a person to reach their goals, as well as offer
advice. Luckily for me when I was in college I was so focused on what my
career path would be, because of my dream to work on computers since I
was twelve years old. I had a sure destination already on course.
Q:
Do you find yourself working more in a team situation, or more alone?
January:
For the most part, I work in a team environment
performing life cycle support of the entire system. The team consists of
systems engineers, software engineers, configuration management
specialists, test engineers, and manufacturing engineers and testers to
design, develop, integrate and test systems from beginning (design) to
end (production and deployment) to ensure delivery of systems that
perform as required.
Q:
Do you find you are able to balance work with social/family life while
working in your current job?
January:
My family and I work together to coordinate our
activities and schedules as we all have busy schedules. Working
together, we are able to make sure that work, family life and
extracurricular activities are accomplished, and still have time even
for a family hobby. Overall, I think that we manage to keep good
work-life balance.
Q:
If you had to do it all over again, would you still become an Engineer?
January:
To work on computers has been my dream since
childhood. Yes, if I had to do it all over again, I would still follow
my dream to work on computers.
Q:
Did you think that school prepared you for the way the work gets done in
the real world?
January:
Yes, I think school gave me the basic building
blocks that I needed to expand my knowledge base upon and taught me to
be disciplined in accomplishing tasks. Following the curriculum and
recognizing that it was important to schedule and prioritize studies,
established a pattern for me to follow that has proven beneficial
throughout my career.
Q:
Where do you see jobs for Engineers in the future? What should students
be doing to prepare themselves to take on those roles?
January:
There are many facets of Engineering that have not
even been tapped into yet -- expanding research in Artificial
Intelligence, Green Technologies, Space Technology, Power and Energy,
and the list goes on. What students should be doing is thinking. They
should be dreaming of what they want to do and what they want to
accomplish. Students should work with career guidance counselors at
their schools to channel their studies in areas that they are really
interested in. This way, they can benefit the most from their
education, while preparing for their future career. They should stay
involved or become involved with the IEEE and/or organizations like the
IEEE that will provide a great informational resource and support
network in the Engineering fields.
Q:
What other advice do you have for students?
January:
Stay focused on your goals but also keep a good
balance in life - dig your feet right in and get grounded to accomplish
what you need to be doing, but also make time for family, friends and
have fun. And never forget to take the time to dream and think outside
the box -- that's usually where big ideas and new technologies are
realized.
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