## [Thriving In Engineering: Making The Most Out Of Every Opportunity](/spotlight/student/thriving-in-engineering) *"If you're thinking about engineering or if someone you respect suggests that you might be good in engineering, give it a try."* ![Mariah Newman](/sites/default/files/styles/max_480w/public/spotlight-images/2023-06/Mariah_Traveling_Resized.png.webp?itok=j1FZN6ye) ## Mariah Newman Share- [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2F"e= "Share on Facebook") - [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=https%3A%2F%2F&text=:%20https%3A%2F%2F "Tweet") - [ ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2F&title=&summary=&source=https%3A%2F%2F "Share on LinkedIn") - [ ](mailto:?subject=&body=:%20https%3A%2F%2F "Send email") - **Degree:** - Bachelor of Applied Science - **Grad year:** 2016 - **Program:** - [Mechanical Engineering](https://engineering.ubc.ca/programs/undergraduate/mechanical-engineering "Find out more about Mechanical Engineering") - **Campus:** Okanagan **Job title as of April 2023**: Mechanical Staff Engineer at Intel Corporation ## **Why did you want to study engineering?** I thought I wanted to apply for undergraduate programs in physics and philosophy – in hindsight, I now see that [engineering](https://engineering.ubc.ca/why-engineering) often combines the two! It was my high school physics teacher who pointed out to me that I would likely thrive in engineering, which was a program I didn’t know much about. It was just what I needed to hear at the time – he knew me and better than I knew myself. [Why Engineering](https://engineering.ubc.ca/why-engineering) ## **Why did you choose UBC?** I am from Alaska and my parents were interested in having me study closer to home than the east coast schools I was also applying to. I toured the UBC Vancouver campus and while I liked it, it didn’t feel quite right. The tour guide encouraged me to consider UBC Okanagan – and when I visited the UBC campus in Kelowna I knew it was the place for me. ## **What were some highlights of your undergraduate experience?** My first two big group [projects](https://mech.ubc.ca/undergraduate/curriculum/45x-capstone-design/) were definite highlights. The first was developing a [can crusher](https://democart.phas.ubc.ca/doku.php?id=demonstrations:5_electricity_and_magnetism:5k_electromagnetic_induction:can_crusher:start) to crush cans horizontally rather than vertically and the second was building a [balsa wood hovercraft](https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2011/04/01/ubc-engineering-students-unveil-novel-design-projects-next-week/). Both of these were hands-on projects from designing through to building and testing, and they confirmed for me that engineering was a good program choice for me. [Mechanical Engineering Projects](https://mech.ubc.ca/undergraduate/curriculum/45x-capstone-design/) [Can Crusher Project](https://democart.phas.ubc.ca/doku.php?id=demonstrations:5_electricity_and_magnetism:5k_electromagnetic_induction:can_crusher:start) [Balsa Wood Hovercraft](https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2011/04/01/ubc-engineering-students-unveil-novel-design-projects-next-week/) ## **What were your co-op work terms like?** I honestly believe I can attribute some of my career successes, even seven years after graduating, to experiences I had in [co-op](https://coop.apsc.ubc.ca/prospective-students/). There was a lot of support from the co-op co-ordinator, which was helpful to me as an international student. I also liked the flexibility. > Soon into my first co-op placement, I realized how much I enjoyed the work and asked to extend what was supposed to be a four-month placement to eight and then to 16 months. Even though I knew it was an industry I didn’t want to work in, I wanted to extend my co-op because of the experience and opportunities it offered. [Co-op](https://coop.apsc.ubc.ca/prospective-students/) ## **Tell us about your career since graduation.** For my next co-op placement I was quite strategic about finding a position in the US and I got a job at [Intel](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/homepage.html) as a facilities engineer intern. At the end of that placement, Intel offered me a job and I have been here ever since. I started as a facilities engineer working with technicians, equipment vendors and tradespeople to manage and support the expansion of industrial heating and cooling water and vacuum systems at a site. In my current role, I support Intel’s chip manufacturing facilities and data centres across the US. This involves strategy and budget development for a group of about 600 people. I also run a training program for our group in a global setting. The training program is really my baby. When I was working in the facility, people would always come to my manager and I for help. It was great, but it also took a lot of time. My manager and I thought we could do something more strategic – to basically set up a business boot camp where we would offer different courses and get people to volunteer to teach them on a specific schedule. That started four years ago and about 25 volunteers lead about 60 classes each month on a range of topics, from business processes to technical topics, like the one I created a few years ago on fire-tube boilers. [Intel](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/homepage.html) ![Mariah Newman Working at Intel](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-06/mariah_working_resized.png.webp?itok=kScWHXgd) ## **What are the highlights of your job?** When I first graduated I did straight-up mechanical engineering, working with mechanical technicians on equipment and systems every day. I did that for four years and then I needed a change, so I transitioned to working as a business analyst engineer doing project management for about 18 months. The position I now have is a combination of both, which I love. > I am still using my engineering skills to support two mechanical-focused departments, while also doing work in other areas, like strategic planning, training facilitation and program leadership. ## **What would you like to achieve as an engineer?** Looking ahead to the next three or five years I’d like to continue setting up more repeatable processes and advancing strategy within my team. I’d also like to deepen my understanding of Intel’s R&D and integrating that at our sites. ## **Do you have any advice for students considering engineering?** Once I was actually working on those initial design projects in first and second year, I realized that this is where I was supposed to be, whereas when I originally heard the word “engineer” it didn’t mean much to me. And even if you don’t end up as an engineer, the skills you learn in engineering are very transferable to other disciplines and to life in general. ### **Find me on:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahsnewman/) [ UBC School of Engineering (Okanagan) ![UBC School of Engineering (Okanagan) logo](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2026-02/ubco-school-of-engineering-logo-shortname-368x32.jpg.webp?itok=DOxRPlwI) ](https://engineering.ok.ubc.ca "UBC School of Engineering (Okanagan)") - [Alumni](/topics/alumni "Alumni") - [Alumni Success](/topics/alumni-success "Alumni Success") - [Engineering](/topics/engineering "Engineering") - [Women in Engineering](/topics/women-in-engineering "Women in Engineering")