dwBEGINNINGS

“I started my co-op at DornerWorks back in 2023. I had previously worked as an apprentice in the tool and die field, so I had expected it to be a somewhat similar experience. It was not. From the first day I started here, I was never treated as “just an intern”, it was clear that they saw great futures in us and genuinely wanted to help us grow and learn as engineers.

Now three years have passed, and I have completed my master’s degree with great assistance from DW. In that time, I have been lucky enough to work on advanced networking projects, military research projects, and I have even found myself physically assembling satellites that are now in low earth orbit. While the work is incredible, my favorite part of DornerWorks is the people and the culture. Many companies claim to be a family, DW acts like it. I have never seen a workplace where everyone is so willing to work together to overcome problems, so excited about the work they’re doing, and who cares so much about their coworker’s wellbeing. DornerWorks is a great place to work, and I am blessed to be here.”

Ian Burgess

“I started at DornerWorks as an Embedded Engineering Co-op in 2024, and it has been an incredible experience. The vibrant company culture and collaborative team environment make it a truly special place to work. In my role, I have had the privilege of working on numerous unique projects alongside exceptionally talented engineers who have mentored me every step of the way. Furthermore, DornerWorks offers endless opportunities for professional growth while genuinely encouraging a healthy work-life balance. I cannot say enough good things about this company or the remarkable people who make it feel like home.“

Olivia Smith

“I didn’t co-op or intern here but started here as a recent grad. Working at DW has been the smartest and best move I have made for my starting career. It gave me the opportunity to experience and work on a variety of different projects which has greatly expanded my knowledgebase. The unique projects have made me a vastly better engineer. A big concern for me after graduation was that my learning would stagnate but DW ensures that never happens and I am continuously improving and learning. Everyone here is so welcoming and kind. The benefits really make this place stand out. I am extremely happy with my decision to work here. I don’t think there’s a better place both for my career and for me.”

Kaitlynn Hudenko

“ I started working at DornerWorks as a new grad from Grand Valley State University. When I started, I was introduced to many of the team members I work with on a regular basis now. Additionally, the DornerWorks team provided me many resources regarding onboarding, starting my career, and the technologies used here.

While working here, I have both learned new skills (embedded Linux, frontend UI/UX development, etc.) and applied skills from my education (low-level programming, hardware configuration, etc.).  The projects I have worked on have been fulfilling for multiple reasons:

• The team members at DornerWorks are heavily invested in sharing knowledge and expanding each other’s toolsets.
• There is a clear output on most projects that is observable in both form and function.
• Each completed task serves as a reference point you can look back to for future tasks.

Overall, I’d describe my experience at DornerWorks as very positive due to the collaborative environment, opportunities to expand my skillset, and variety of interesting projects going on here.

Kaitlynn Hudenko