ATK, To Infinity and Beyond

Tonight, at 6:38pm, I got a call from ATK on my cell phone, offering me a full time entry level position as an Analysis Engineer. Basically, what that means is I will be receiving schematics for parts, from such things as rocket motors, and doing hand and computer calculations to determine if the part will fail or work properly and make recommendations for materials.

It all started back when I talked to them at the Technical Opportunities Conference (TOC). I applied for an interview on TartanTrak, and eventually got an on campus interview at the Career Center in late November. After that first weekend, they asked me to come in for an onsite interview in Elkton, MD. I agreed and we set the interview for Friday, December 9 at 8:30am.

I had to fly out Thursday evening, which I wasn't looking forward to because of all of the snow. My first flight was cancelled because it was coming from Chicago and nothing was coming from Chicago. They got us on a plane an hour and a half later. I finally got into Philadelphia around midnight, but from there I had to pick up a rental car and drive myself to the hotel which was 45 minutes away in Maryland. Luckily, there wasn't any snow.

I made it to my hotel and it was a really nice room, but it was close to 1:00am, so I wasn't able to enjoy it fully. I did have INTERNET, and I did take advantage of that. When I made it into bed, I decided to relax myself with some TV before I went to sleep. I turn it on and the first thing I see, was CNN, where they were showing footage of the plane in Chicago that slid through a fence at the end of the runway and crashed into traffic. Try and claim that on your insurance.

That night we were pounded with snow. I enjoyed a lovely, free, continental breakfast and then I had to go dig the car out and get myself to ATK. Unfortunately, I was 15 minutes late, but the person who met me said he was glad I made it alive, given all of the conditions. That was fine with me.

I had a lovely morning, I had a total of three interviews and then I headed back to the airport in Phili. My plane wasn't leaving until the evening, but whatever, I just wanted to be there. I wandered around the airport mall and eventually finished my wait in the airport bar. Hurray for alcohol in airports. I made it back to my apartment by 10:00pm, just in enough time to let Mike Yin and Erika into my apartment for a party Dan Tasse was having. I'm glad I made it.

I have until Jan. 4 to let them know. I'm still waiting to possibly hear back from Toyota, but ATK is my first choice anyway, especially since they made me an offer. ROFLCOPTER, looks like I'll be designing ROFLROCKETS someday.