Recurring Spheres

Ben

Area: Recurring Spheres

Role: Mechanical Engineering Intern

Education: Clarkson University

Major: Mechanical Engineering

What kinds of skills did you learn at Optimax that you couldn't learn in a classroom? I've learned to develop my social skills a lot better than sitting in a classroom, as well as being able to manage more than one project at once.

What I learned about optics: The materials used for optics aren't just restricted to glass. They can also be made out of crystals, glass, and sometimes plastics.

What I learned about manufacturing: I've learned to come up with out of the box solutions to help increase the efficiency and success of the manufacturing process.

Why I like working at Optimax: The community here is something that is entirely unique and one that I'm sure I will never find anywhere else.

The best part of Optimax in one word: Community

Quality Assurance

Zoë

Area: Quality

Role: Packaging Science Intern

Education: Rochester Institute of Technology

Major: Packaging Science

How has your internship helped you with your studies? In the classes I've taken, I haven't really learned about protective packaging yet and I'm learning a lot about that here.

What kinds of skills did you learn at Optimax that you couldn't learn in a classroom? I've learned a lot about problem-solving. In class we're given a problem, told the solution, and then we create the packaging for it. But in the real world, you aren't given that solution.

What I learned about optics: I know a lot of work goes into making optics and that they are really fragile, so that's why my role is so important. I need to ensure that the packages protect the optics so that everyone else's hard work pays off.

The coolest thing I did during this internship: I conducted a package drop test on my own. It was something that I have never done in class before and it was really cool because my package actually passed.

The best part of Optimax in one word: Family

LGO

Michael

Area: Laser Grade Optics (LGO)

Role: Mechanical Engineering Intern

Education: Rochester Institute of Technology

Major: Mechanical Engineering

How has your internship helped you with your studies? Programming languages that are going to be relevant to work experience.

What kinds of skills did you learn at Optimax that you couldn't learn in a classroom? Procedurally attacking engineering tasks in a way that makes logical sense is something you can only do while you're working here.

What I learned about manufacturing: I learned about the lean model of manufacturing, which is something that I have heard of in my classes but never actually seen in action.

Has this internship helped you figure out any career goals or paths? Because a degree is such a major commitment, having the opportunity to practice something in a really supportive environment has really enforced my decision to be an engineer.

Why I like working at Optimax: I feel like I'm getting legitimate tasks that benefit both the people around me and the people I interact with on a daily basis.

The best part of Optimax in one word: Culture

Coating

Nick

How long have you been at Optimax? 3 years

Areas: Coating, Aspheres, Spheres

Current role: Coating Engineering Intern

Education: Alfred University

Major: Biomaterials Engineering

What kinds of skills did you learn at Optimax that you couldn't learn in a classroom? My communication skills.

What I learned about manufacturing: Having worked here for 3 years, I've seen the whole process of how these optics are made – from the production of the actual glass material to the grinding and polishing and all the way up to the coating of it.

Why I like working at Optimax: The friendly culture and the laid back attitude. I was really drawn to work here when I was looking for internships because both my dad and grandpa work here, and when you're an employee at Optimax, they really do treat you like family.

The best part of Optimax in one word: Precision

Coating

Ally

Area: Coating

Role: Coating Engineering Intern

Education: University of Rochester

Major: Chemical Engineering

How has your internship helped you with your studies? You can sit in a classroom and be told what's going to happen and how it's going to happen, but sitting there and actually watching a reaction occur, you learn so much more about it and actually understand what is happening.

What I learned about optics: The aspect of an optic that makes it work for its application is often the coating itself that you put on it and that even a tiny nanometer can make a difference.

Why I like working at Optimax: Working here has given me some really important values. All of the employees are the number one priority here.

The best part of Optimax in one word: Atmosphere

Research & Development

Zach

How long have you worked at Optimax?
This is my 5^th internship back at Optimax between summer and winter sessions.

What area did you start out in?
When I first came to Optimax, I started out in engineering and then moved to IT and currently working in Research & Development (R&D).

How has your internship helped you with your studies?
At Optimax, I have had the opportunity to work in multiple departments which have given me a good variety of the people I work with as well as different projects. I get to understand how the company works and how engineers can provide a positive impact.

What kind of skills did you learn at Optimax that you didn’t learn in the classroom?
I have the opportunity to work along experienced engineers and learn from their expertise.

Were you able to apply what you learned in the classroom to your internship?
My most prominent skills from school have come from my time on the Baja team where I was captain and designed and built a Mini-Baja car for the SAE collegiate competition. It is through this experience that my knowledge of materials and ability to design and machine have had the largest impact with my time in R&D.

How has this internship helped you figure out any career goals or paths?
Since working here at Optimax, it has introduced me to the growing field of optics. My internships here have confirmed my desire to be an engineer.

Describe Optimax in one word
Team Work – No matter where you are in the company you have the freedom, even as an intern, to work on your own projects. You have support no matter where you go in the company and someone is always willing to help you.

Optician

Jonah

How long have you worked at Optimax?
I have worked at Optimax for three years starting in 2014.

What internship did you start out in?
I started in quality assurance, then moved to the shipping department, and now I am working as an optician.

How has your internship helped you with your studies?
You learn a different way of thinking that helps in the classroom.

What kind of skills did you learn at Optimax that you didn't learn in the classroom?
I get to work hands-on in the machine department by dealing with real deadlines and customers. The classroom is more individual focused while working here is more team based. I get to work on projects like the Mars Rover.

Were you able to apply with you learned in the classroom to your internship?
In the classroom, I learned measurement techniques such as geometry.

How has this internship helped you figure out any career goals or paths?
I am going into engineering, but I realized I want to be on the shop floor and not in a cubicle. Like a lot of engineers here, they are out on the floor, and that is something I want to do.

Why I like working at Optimax: 
It’s a very relaxing environment, where you can be yourself and everyone is friendly and helpful.

Best part of Optimax in one word?
Family

Optician

Matt

5 Internships
1 – Maintenance | 2 – Maintenance | 3 – R&D | 4 – Optician | 5 – Optician

How long have you worked at Optimax?
I have worked at Optimax for three years starting in 2014.

What internship did you start out in?
I started in quality assurance, then moved to the shipping department, and now I am working as an optician.

How has your internship helped you with your studies?
You learn a different way of thinking that helps in the classroom.

What kind of skills did you learn at Optimax that you didn't learn in the classroom?
I get to work hands-on in the machine department by dealing with real deadlines and customers. The classroom is more individual focused while working here is more team based. I get to work on projects like the Mars Rover.

Were you able to apply with you learned in the classroom to your internship?
In the classroom, I learned measurement techniques such as geometry.

How has this internship helped you figure out any career goals or paths?
I am going into engineering, but I realized I want to be on the shop floor and not in a cubicle. Like a lot of engineers here, they are out on the floor, and that is something I want to do.

Why I like working at Optimax: 
It’s a very relaxing environment, where you can be yourself and everyone is friendly and helpful.

Best part of Optimax in one word?
Family

Marketing

Jess

How long have you worked at Optimax?
This is my 1st internship here at Optimax.

How has your internship helped you with your studies?
In many of my marketing classes, we have a lot of marketing projects. At Optimax, I have had the opportunity to get a hands-on experience that will help me with all my projects in the classroom.

What kind of skills did you learn at Optimax that you didn’t learn in the classroom?
In my marketing classes, I have a one-semester long project. Here at Optimax, I get to do so many different marketing projects that it has exposed me to so many different areas.

Were you able to apply what you learned in the classroom to your internship?
My marketing classes gave me a good foundation because of all the projects I had to complete. Many classes outside of marketing also helped me understand the company better such as supply chain management.

How has this internship helped you figure out any career goals or paths?
It has definitely solidified my decision in wanting to pursue a career in marketing. At Optimax, I have been exposed to every area of marketing. and I have found through my internship that I really enjoy branding.

Describe Optimax in one word
Fun!

Information Technology

Starbuck

How long have you worked at Optimax?

This is my first summer working at Optimax.

How has your internship helped you with your studies?

It has helped me understand the practical side of things. When you are in class, you learn things your professor wants you to learn, but actually being in the industry and getting a feel for what is needed has helped out a lot.

What kind of skills did you learn at Optimax that you didn’t learn in the classroom?

It’s easy to jump right in and start coding but having a good plan beforehand is greatly needed because you will be backtracking if you didn’t have a plan, to begin with.

Were you able to apply what you learned in the classroom to your internship?

Everything in the classroom has come to play while I have worked here at Optimax.

How has your internship helped you figure out any career goals or paths?

It definitely has, when you’re required to do something you question is it something I enjoy or am I’m just doing it, but you get a real sense when you are actually in the field. I come to work and I really enjoy what I am doing.

Describe Optimax in one word:

Inviting, this is the first place I have ever worked where everyone is smiling and saying “hi” in the hallway and everyone is content at work and it’s pretty obvious why.

Maintenance & Metrology

Loudon

How many internships at Optimax: Four

Areas: Tool crib, Maintenance and Metrology

Role: Everything form logging in tools, to painting, cleaning and inspection of lenses.

Education:

• McQuaid Jesuit High School
• University of Rochester

What I learned from my internship at Optimax: I learned different aspects of manufacturing here at Optimax that I probably wouldn’t have gotten working anyplace else.

What I learned about optics: Optics are extremely sensitive and they are probably one of the most widely underappreciated manufacturing appliances in the entire world. So few people know what optics are or what they do, yet they use them all the time in their daily lives.

What I learned about manufacturing:  Being the end-of-the-line in quality assurance, you see how parts go from point A to point Z and you really get to see the full picture.

Why I like working at Optimax: Flexibility – I was able to have multiple internships in different departments, which allowed me to learn about various aspects of manufacturing.

Best part of Optimax culture (one word): Tie-dye

Did your internship help decide your career path: I always knew that I wanted to do some type of engineering. Physics and the sciences were definitely some of my favorite subjects in high school and naturally, that lead me down that path and my internships helped confirm my decision.

What I want to be when I grow up: It’s pretty up in the air right now, I’ve done a lot of work with engineering, but going to law school could be an option and being a patent lawyer, or even a sales engineering.

If so, are  there one or two jobs you would like to try? Sales – I’ve seen pretty much every aspect of manufacturing, but the only part that I really don’t know anything about is the sales aspect, which I know is a huge part of the process.

Quality Control

Jonah

How many internships at Optimax: One

Areas: Quality Control

Role:  Inventory and wrapping finished goods

Education: Williamson High School

What I learned from my internship at Optimax: Quicker problem-solving skills as well as more experience in a fast-paced environment.

What I learned about optics: One of the things I learned about optics is that it is an up-and-coming field.

Best part of Optimax culture (in one word): Music

Did your internship help you decide your career path: Currently I'd like to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, but since being I've changed my perception slightly and, I’m thinking a possible minor in optics.

Maintenance

Matt

How many internships at Optimax: Three

Areas: Maintenance

Role: A variety of maintenance tasks – from painting doors to repairing machines on the shop floor.

Education:

• Williamson High School
• University of Buffalo

What I learned from my internship at Optimax: How to work with people to achieve a common goal, and getting things done in a fast-paced environment.

What I learned about optics: Before I just thought of optics as being able to see stuff, and now that I’ve worked at Optimax I know there's so much more depth to what optics do.

What I learned about manufacturing: Manufacturing is more than just the traditional assembly line. It’s working with multiple departments within the manufacturing environment to achieve a common product, like an optic.

Why I like working at Optimax: It’s a very relaxing environment, where you can be yourself and everyone is friendly and helpful.

Best part of Optimax culture (in one word): Crazy

Did your internship help you decide your career path: Working at Optimax has helped push me towards wanting to be a mechanical engineer. Seeing what the engineers do here has piqued my interest, and I’m hoping to come back to intern in the engineering department.

What I want to be when I grow up: A mechanical engineer, and design my own products one day.

If you were asked to make a pitch to other companies to hire youth during the summer – what would it be? Give young people a chance to work for their future jobs.

Sales, Purchasing & Production

Dan

How many internships at Optimax: One

Areas: Sales, Purchasing and Production

Role: Overall sales support, purchasing support and materials inventory and delivery.

Education: West Irondequoit High School

What I learned from my internship at Optimax: What it’s like to work in a manufacturing business and also what the work environment in a larger company is like.

What I learned about optics: There are many different glass types that are used to make optics and various applications that optics are used in. I also learned about the dimensions of optics and the different tolerances in the glass and how the angles and radius play roles into the production and the effectiveness of the lens.

What I learned about manufacturing: I learned how many steps and skills it takes to take something from raw material to a finished product.

Why I like working at Optimax: I was able to learn a lot about the field that I was interested in. Also, the people here, whenever I had a question they would answer it. They taught me a lot and were very supportive in my learning process.

Best part of Optimax culture (in one word): Encouragement

Did your internship help you decide your career path: Yes, I was very interested in optics before I took this internship, and then through this internship, it only confirmed my desire to go into optics.

If so, are there one or two jobs you would like to try? I would like to try more work on the shop floor in the manufacturing areas making and polishing lenses, but I’ll be happy to work anywhere. I don’t think there’s one bad job here.

What if we asked them to make a pitch to other companies to hire youth during the summer? I think it’s very good for youth because having real-world experience will greatly influence what we want to do and pursue next in our lives.

Marketing

Andi

How many internships at Optimax: Three

Areas: Marketing

Role: Creating and designing marketing materials and providing overall support for the department.

Education:

• Webster Schroeder High School
• Buffalo State College

What I learned from my internship at Optimax: Basic marketing skills and techniques.

What I learned about optics: Before coming to Optimax, I thought that optics were just lenses in eyeglasses. When I came here I learned that that’s not the case. Optics vary from small intricate lenses to big spherical lenses, and are very significant and serve a variety of purposes across many different industries such as space, defense and semiconductors.

What I learned about manufacturing: I just thought manufacturing was a bunch of guys working in a machine shop, and now I realize that you have to be very knowledgeable about the optics industry and what you are doing.

Why I like working at Optimax: The main thing that I like about working here at Optimax is the closeness of the company.

Best part of Optimax culture (in one word): Laid back

Did your internship help you decide your career path: Optimax has greatly influenced my career path and what I’ve decided to pursue, just by working in the marketing department here, I know for sure that’s what I want to do.

What I want to be when I grow up: Fashion Merchandiser

What if we asked them to make a pitch to other companies to hire youth during the summer? Companies should incorporate internships like this because it's a great experience for the youth since they’re going to be the next generation of workers.