Stephanie began her college career at Michigan State University as a pre-med student. But, because she liked her physics classes best, she switched her major to mechanical engineering and received her undergrad degree in 2010.

After graduation, she was hired into Auburn Hills, Michigan-based Chrysler’s Chrysler Institute of Engineering (CIE) program, a two-year leadership development program for recently-graduated engineers who do six rotations of four months each and must obtain a master’s degree in either electrical or mechanical engineering at one of six Michigan universities with which Chrysler is affiliated.

In part, the CIE program influenced Stephanie’s decision to join Chrysler. “I found out about the position through my university’s career website,” she says. “Chrysler had the position listed there.”

To find out more about the company, she contacted a Chrysler employee who acted as a liaison between SWE (Society of Women Engineers) at her school and SWE Detroit and who had actually been in the CIE program herself. Stephanie asked her about the CIE program and about the open position, receiving valuable information that enabled her to make her decision. The position was also located in Michigan, another important factor for Stephanie.

She is currently doing a power train rotation, after completing chassis and after-chassis rotations. She is also working toward her master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Lawrence Technical University. Chrysler gives her a day off from work each week to study, Stephanie says. “They also pair you up with an executive sponsor [a mentor] who gives you a lot of guidance,” she says. “It’s a really great way to see all of the company, get a lot of great advice, and meet a lot of interesting people that I wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to meet.”

Part of Stephanie’s current job allows her to drive Chrysler cars. This she enjoys very much, she says. “I’ve gotten to drive cars pretty frequently, but it’s just for various tests.” She adds, “I guess I never really wanted a job where I would be sitting at a desk for eight hours a day.” She also accompanies drivers, collects data about the cars, and analyzes the data in order to see what changes might be needed. “I really enjoy having that much variety in my job.”

Being in the CIE program has given Stephanie the confidence to speak up and ask questions, something she had not been comfortable doing before.

“I try to be friendly and that’s made it easier to interact with people and get along, since I’m always the new person in the group,”

she explains, because she rotates into and out of a new group every four months.

Upon completing the CIE program, Stephanie anticipates choosing to work in one of the six groups in her rotations, assuming an open position exists there. Although it will be an entry-level position, Stephanie says, she’ll start out with considerably more experience than someone who didn’t participate in the CIE.

Through Stephanie’s involvement with Chrysler’s Women’s Forum, an employee resource group that’s active outside the company as well as within, she’s involved in the planning and logistics for Chrysler’s attendance at the national SWE conference. She’s gotten to know other members of the group. “It’s good to know them, in case I ever want help moving to a different position,” she says. “It’s nice also just to hear about their positions and what other people within the company do, and even for people who aren’t in engineering, it’s nice to get a view of what their job is.”