James Brann, Pratt & Whitney

Right: James Brann, 30, a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, “dove right into” a career at Pratt & Whitney and is now a manager.

Pratt & Whitney: Well-Rounded Intro

James Brann, 30, was studying at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., when he was selected for an internship at the East Hartford, Conn., headquarters of Pratt & Whitney, an aerospace manufacturer.

“I dove right in,” he recalls. “I ended up with a full-time job offer before I went back to school for my senior year.”

After graduating in 2011, he returned to Pratt & Whitney to take part in its manufacturing engineering development program. This allowed him to gain exposure to different disciplines through rotations through positions like turbine blade manufacturing, mechanical component manufacturing, development engine testing and production readiness.

“You get to see many aspects of the business and become well-rounded, and they work to place you into a full-time position that fits your skill set,” he explains.

Working his way up the ladder, today he’s a manufacturing engineering manager at the company’s 1 million-square-foot North Berwick campus. He heads a team of manufacturing engineers and technicians focused on solving technical problems that arise in manufacturing processes and driving perfect quality at the lowest cost.

“I love new challenges,” he says. “I’m always looking for that next radical solution.” ◾