Hello! Both of us, (Cameron and Lucy) are interning this summer at SharkNinja in Boston, USA! We wanted to share our experience so far, both within our individual roles and our summer in Boston. We have been embraced by both of our departments and are having the best summer!
In a relatively short time, I have learned an inconceivable amount about the industry, career prospects and my capabilities.
The journey ahead of me did not fully register until I boarded my one-way flight to Boston and the door was sealed. This is not just my first-time leaving Europe but also my first time working as an engineer! The excitement and nerves were unparallel.
The first few weeks at work were an adjustment period filled with enthusiasm, networking, metric system confusions and fancy team lunches. From day one I felt like a valued member of the Shark New Product Development Team, everyone was extremely welcoming, helpful and happy to have me. Highlights at work have included brainstorming sessions with the entire team in one room – collaborating on product specifics, weekly international calls with the Boston, Japan, China and UK teams and of course free breakfast Fridays! My favourite week so far was Hack Week – everyone’s calendars are cleared, all other agendas paused, and routine meetings cancelled to have everyone prioritise the development of one product. The entire product lifecycle is considered, and the multi-disciplinary collaboration is incredible.
Of course, this only accounts for the 9-5 life. Considering this is the first summer I’ve worked full-time, I have done a phenomenal amount of travelling, socialising and exploring. So far including a packed long weekend in NYC and a fantastic beach trip to Cape Cod. Of course, I am taking full advantage of living right in the centre of Boston and will be attending a Red Sox game tonight at Fenway Park! The best part for me is without a doubt the like-minded, humorous, amazing interns I met along the way - that have grown to be very good friends of mine.
Not only has the experience of interning abroad had an immense impact but also the preparation beforehand is an endless source of learning experiences. I cannot recommend the incredible Saltire Scholar program enough! It will change your life and open doors in unimaginable ways.
If I were to advise anyone applying or beginning this journey it would be to show face, start conversations, and approach this opportunity with everything you have. You are on the other side of the world, no one knows who you are – make sure you leave a great impression. You are part of something much bigger than yourself – a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Much like Lucy, this summer I’m in Boston completing a Mechanical Engineering internship at SharkNinja. My experience so far has been massively rewarding, where the opportunity to work with many highly skilled engineers across a range of projects has helped to build my technical confidence and overall skillset.
My role with the company is as a part of the indoor heated team, where I am helping to develop the next generation of kitchen appliances. From prototypes to shelved products, I find myself involved in different stages of multiple interesting projects. The tasks throughout my day-to-day span a range of engineering disciplines involved everything from the optimisation of airflow and development of thermodynamic studies to systematic root cause analysis and the fabrication of parts in the machine shop.
I thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity to solve problems unconventionally, where SharkNinja holds a great balance between the technical structure fundamental to consistency and the creative freedom required to innovate. Working in such an environment has granted me a fresh perspective on what engineering can be, building the faith I have in myself to determine when it is best to work to the norm, and when it is best to push to find more creative solutions.
The opportunities presented to me across the past two months have been incredible and leave me with incredible gratitude for the Saltire program and those behind it. From the internship itself to watching the Red Sox play at Fenway Park, attending networking events at the Great British Consulate, and visits to both NYC and DC – it’s a summer I won’t ever forget. A particular highlight was the celebration commemorating SharkNinja’s official listing on the New York Stock Exchange, a truly historic date for the company.
To echo what Lucy has conveyed already, one of the greatest parts has been getting to know the other interns, both within the Saltire program and at SharkNinja – like-minded, kind, funny, and driven people who I now consider as great friends. If you’re reading this looking for the chance to build your career, explore somewhere new, and undergo some truly incredible experiences, then the only thing I can do is urge you to apply like me close to a year ago today.
Some final advice from us!
Coming together for a final reflection on our time here in Boston, we truly hope we have been able to convey just how great of an experience this has been. SharkNinja has welcomed us with open arms, granting a perspective on what drives success in the world of consumer product development.
If you are looking for a summer internship, a new experience, to widen your perspective and your career prospects you’re already in the right place. The program has delivered an experience like no other, providing an outlook into what it’s like to live and work on the other side of the world. The talented engineers worked under, the technical knowledge gained, and the engineering challenges undertaken are all things we are sure will help to shape our future careers. Each moment has helped to highlight the real impact we can have as engineers, giving us the direction to make our mark on the world.
As a final word from both of us, there’s no better way to end this than to extend a massive thank you to the Saltire Programme and those who make it all possible. You have sent us on the adventure of a lifetime and for that we are truly grateful!
