University of Waterloo and Pratt & Whitney Canada empower students to shape the future of aerospace
By: Jed Bick (he/him)
Waterloo co-op students apply innovative skills to design efficient programs and chart a path forward for the company.
Athithiya Mohanakumar (she/her) is a second-year Systems Design Engineering student who spent two co-op work terms at Pratt & Whitney Canada. She now works for the company in a part-time role, while on her study term, as an engine simulation developer in the engine control software department. Her team is developing a closed-loop gas turbine engine simulation from scratch.
“Waterloo students are recognized for their strong technical skills, especially in fields like engineering, computer science and business,” says Meriem Ghoul (she/her), campus and rotational recruitment programs leader at Pratt & Whitney Canada. “They're also known for their innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities. Our hiring managers greatly value their collaborative skills and adaptability.”
During Mohanakumar’s first project as a co-op student at Pratt & Whitney Canada, she developed code for flight engine controls to integrate a testing utility into the simulation process. Tests are normally done on a test bench, or in the control room, and the machines take time to return results. The process is expensive to operate, and the team needed a quicker and more efficient option. The testing utility Mohanakumar developed saves time and costs as it allows for faster system test procedures on a standard desktop computer.
Athithiya Mohanakumar, Faculty of Engineering co-op student
Real-world challenges and hands-on learning opportunities
“Waterloo co-op students bring valuable practical and technical expertise and readiness to contribute meaningfully to the organization during their internships and beyond,” says Ghoul.
“It was very rewarding to see people use what I built and to have it work properly,” says Mohanakumar.
As Mohanakumar’s project evolved during her co-op work term, so did her skills and contributions. She worked on a tool to translate plain English flight command scripts to Python code. The tool allows the simulator to properly understand and run commands.
Pratt & Whitney Canada appreciates that Waterloo co-op students like Mohanakumar come prepared to work on designs and develop elements that create efficiency for its complex systems.
“My manager treats me very well; he’s not afraid to give me responsibility,” says Mohanakumar. “I’m allowed to be in charge of my own work and because of that, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m motivated to do a good job.”
Pratt & Whitney Canada is committed to creating a nurturing environment for co-op students where they can develop their skills on the job through valuable work and learning experiences. Mohanakumar sharpened her coding skills during her co-op work terms by working on a variety of coding projects.
Everyone at Pratt & Whitney Canada wants you to learn. You can always ask anyone anything and they can teach you about it. Or they will point you to someone who will teach you about it.
Future workforce
Beyond their co-op work term projects, Pratt & Whitney Canada helps students to prepare for future careers in the industry.
“Our partnership with Pratt & Whitney Canada continues to be exceptional,” says Jeff Chamberlain (he/him), account manager, east region at the University of Waterloo. “The company fosters growth and responsibility in students by giving them opportunities to apply their knowledge and innovative skillsets to purposeful projects during co-op work terms.”
Meriem Ghoul, campus and rotational recruitment programs leader at Pratt & Whitney Canada
When students complete a successful work term at Pratt & Whitney Canada, the company looks to hire the student back for another work term or as a full-time or part-time employee.
“We have interns/co-ops on four-month work terms, and we remain flexible from a recruitment point of view,” says Ghoul. “If their term is successful and there’s a suitable fit, we often extend that internship part-time or full-time when possible.”
This is the case for Mohanakumar, as she continues to work at Pratt & Whitney Canada. By seeing students innovate and work hard during their co-op work terms, the company can test drive talent and know they’ll be a good fit for more permanent roles.
“Everyone has something to bring,” says Ghoul. “Co-op students who come in with a lot of ambition, desire and hunger have the ability to seize opportunities and be successful.”
Pratt & Whitney Canada, a global leader in aerospace and engineering, has nearly 100 years of leadership and innovation in the field. The company relies on a robust internship program to attract a skilled and innovative future workforce. Pratt & Whitney Canada hired more than 800 interns this past year, many of whom are Waterloo co-op students looking to jumpstart their career.