MARY PALUMBO

Regardless of the application of the hardware I am designing, the process I go through to complete the task is very similar. The first step is to define the requirements for the parts I am designing. This usually involves talking to people, reading documents, looking a drawings, etc. Next, I will typically outline a schedule of the tasks that need to be accomplished and estimate how long each step will take. I document this schedule using a scheduling computer program, such as Microsoft Project. Next, I will outline who else I need on the design team to complete the design. Very rarely am I the only person working on a project. Now the fun part starts - the design team designs the parts and produces drawings that are given to a fabricator who builds the parts. All our drawings are created using a computer program, such as Cadam, Autocad, etc. by a designer, typically not myself. Not only do we need to make sure the design meets the requirements, but we also need to make sure the parts don¹t break and can be physically built. In some designs, we also have to meet specifications established by the FAA, Space Shuttle program, etc.

After completing the drawings, I am responsible for buying any commercial parts used in the design and sometimes ordering the material the parts are manufactured from. We then give the drawings, material, and commercial parts to a fabrication shop to physically build and assemble the parts. Finally, I am at times responsible to work with a technician to install the hardware and assist in performing the test.

In performing my job, I use may of the skills you are learning in school. I use communication and English skills in the documents I prepare and the many conversations I have in order to do my job. I use math and science skills to understand the design requirements and to do the calculations necessary to make sure the part is designed correctly and won¹t break. I was very fortunate when I was your age that my parents and teachers encouraged me to pursue a career in math and science.

My work at NASA is only a part of who I am as a person. More importantly, I am a Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. My husband and I have two boys under the age of 5, who keep us very busy. Outside of work, I spend as much time with my boys and husband as possible. In addition, we are very involved in our church as youth group sponsors.

Working for NASA has been very rewarding. The projects I have worked on are at the forefront of exploration and science. This offers daily challenges to me, but also a great sense of satisfaction. I enjoy the challenge of taking a vague idea of a design and producing a functioning piece of hardware.

As for a meaningful quote, I would have to turn to the Bible, which is the book that most inspires me. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, the bible says: "So we fix our eyes not what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This verse helps remind me to evaluate my life from God's perspective, not from my worldly perspective.

A Day in the Life of a Mechanical Design Engineer - Mary Palumbo

My work day usually begins about 10 pm the night before. My husband and I prepare breakfast and lunch for our two sons who will be at the baby-sitters while I am at work. After getting up one or two times during the night with my younger son, my alarm goes off at 5:45 am. It takes me a little over an hour to get myself ready for work and get the kids up and dressed. Thankfully, my husband drops them off at the sitters. After a 45 minute ride to work, I am ready to start my work day.

I start my day by listening to my phone messages and reading my electronic mail. Since I am a part-time employee, I rely heavily on voice and e-mail to communicate with other people. I typically have multiple phone messages and 20 or so e-mails to read and respond to. I also review the tasks I have outlined in a planner that need to be completed and look ahead in my calendar at upcoming meetings I need to prepare for and attend.

The design task I am presently working on involves providing the support hardware for a test of an aircraft engine exhaust nozzle component. I am responsible for managing the design effort and providing the mechanical design of the hardware. Since I am managing the design effort, I typically call, e-mail, or visit the members of the design team to determine what progress has occurred. Today, I meet with the designer who is responsible for producing drawings needed to fabricate the parts. He shows me the drawings and tells me what information he needs from me to finalize the design. I also meet with the two people doing the thermal analysis of the nozzle component and discuss the latest computer results. We develop a plan that outlines the changes to make to the thermal model for future runs.

By late-morning, I finally get the opportunity to sit down at my desk. For the rest of the morning and on into the afternoon, I work on the mechanical design of the test hardware. The designer asked me to select the type of metal the hardware will be made from and to verify that the hardware won't break during the test. To do this, I reference various books that have equations to calculate stress and deflections in the components and perform the calculation. Once I have the stress values, I use another set of reference books that list the physical properties of different metals to select some candidate materials. I then determine what size plate, rod, and bar stock I need to fabricate the hardware and call companies that manufacture the stock to determine delivery time and cost. After selecting the materials, I take the results back to the designer , who will incorporate the information on the drawings.

At the end of the day, I take some time to update the project schedule using a scheduling computer program. This is in preparation for a project status meeting I have scheduled for my next work day.

After work, I go home and transform into a wife and mother. My husband and I share the responsibility of making dinner and cleaning up the dishes. A couple times a month, we have meetings at church to attend during the week, but today, we spend time with the kids after dinner. After giving the kids bathes, putting them to bed, and picking up the house, it is around 9:30 pm. At this point, I pick up a book or a magazine to read or talk to my husband. My days are full, but I enjoy the diversity in my life.