Alumni Profile

Jack Rinaldo

Engineering school may be difficult at times and some of the more conceptual things may not seem useful, but you will learn a lot and are putting yourself on the right path to many good opportunities. It only gets better as time goes on."

Where I've Been

Cities

  • Buffalo, NY
  • Rochester, NY

Organizations

  • The Gleason Works
  • Harris Corporation

Positions

  • Tool Design Engineer
  • Hardware Design Engineer
  • Additive Manufacturing Process Owner

What I've Done

What types of work have you performed? What projects have you worked on?
I've designed parts/assemblies used to manufacture gears for the automotive, aerospace and other industries. I've worked on optics for ground telescopes and space bound optics for satellites. I'm now also working with new and rapidly changing technologies like 3D printing.

What have been some favorite aspects of your work?
I get to design a variety of things, work with manufacturing, work away from the desk/assemble things, and see what I worked on used in real life.

What was one of your most satisfying days as an engineer?
It's always great to have a large project that takes months of work go well and have the customer give good feedback.

Was it worth it? What has your engineering background made possible for you? What value has it added to your overall life?
It was definitely worth it. I've been able to get great jobs doing interesting and important work which has given me many opportunities and experiences and a good quality of life.

Why it Matters

What would you say to the first-year students currently sitting in your shoes?
Engineering school may be difficult at times and some of the more conceptual things may not seem useful, but you will learn a lot and are putting yourself on the right path to many good opportunities. It only gets better as time goes on.