#EngineeringAtNUVA is a new series that will highlight talented engineers who make up NuVasive Engineering. Every feature will have a unique set of questions to give you the most diverse knowledge into Engineering at NUVA including roles within Manufacturing, Development, Software, and Electrical Engineering. The series is for students interested in the field, for prospective engineers who want to understand our culture, and for those intrigued to meet some of our incredibly intelligent Shareowners!
Quickly approaching her two year anniversary at NuVasive, our August feature is Sarah, Associate IOS Test Engineer in Surgical Intelligence™.
Sarah, why did you choose to work as an Engineer in the Medical Device industry versus other industries?
Working with medical devices is extremely rewarding for me, because there is a direct connection with what I am doing and the positive impact I can have on other people.
What was your path from realizing you wanted to be an Engineer to working at NuVasive today?
I started college studying Mechanical Engineering, because you get exposed to a little bit of all types of engineering. I spent three summers working my internships as a process engineer. During this time, I worked on implementing company-wide processes, helping organize assembly lines and programming manufacturing machines. Process improvement was fascinating, but not my cup of tea! Toward the end of college, I took a computational structural mechanics course and by the end of the course I realized I was more intrigued with the software. A few months later, I found myself at NuVasive—what a wonderful place to be!
Can you share what inspired you to pursue Engineering?
I was inspired to be an Engineer, because it is notorious for being challenging. When I was little I would love emptying the pantry and reorganizing it, until everything was just so. It was a puzzle that I enjoyed repeating—so did my mom. One Christmas I asked my parents for stilts: they gave me wood, a couple bolts and a saw. I spent all day in the freezing garage crafting my stilts. Next, my egg drop project: I told my dad I wanted to suspend an egg inside a box. After some discussions, drawings, and a trip to the hardware store, we had a PVC skeleton that kept it safe from a two story drop onto concrete.
Ultimately, my parents inspired me to pursue engineering. There was never a lack of resources to design, create, and/or organize anything that came to mind.
For those deciding on which type of engineering path to pursue, what would be your advice?
Engineering can lead you anywhere and everywhere—try a little of all of it, then pick the discipline you would do without pay.
Finally, what makes Engineering at NuVasive unique in your opinion?
NuVasive is unique, in my opinion, because the possibilities seem endless.
Interested in the engineering field at NuVasive? Learn about open roles and what it takes to be an engineer with NUVA by clicking here.