Pivoting his career path
Schiefelbein’s journey began when he decided to pivot his career path from biomedical engineering to working in the aerospace industry.
“Doesn’t a future where we are among the stars sound inherently more interesting than one where we are not? I long debated going into medicine as a profession so I could give people life when there otherwise would have been none. But then I realized the excitement of space gives people something to live for.”
He took a risk and applied for an internship with NASA at the Langley Research Center as a design engineer. To his surprise, he landed the internship and began his first of three with NASA.
“The first time entering the NASA facility, I continually thought, ‘how did I end up here?’ At the same time, I knew how many people would do anything for this opportunity, so I did not want to waste it. I wanted to represent myself and the university exceptionally so it could lead to more opportunities for myself and others,” Schiefelbein said.
With a mission to work full-time in the human spaceflight industry, Schiefelbein set his sights on NASA’s Pathways internship program, typically a direct pipeline to full-time employment after graduation. Making significant contributions during this program, he excelled in his second and third internships, both within Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). The second was in Daily Operations and Crew Support, and the third was with the Environmental Systems group.
Due to budget constraints in the Environmental Systems group, the possibility of moving into a full-time position after completing the Pathways internship program was no longer viable. Schiefelbein found himself quickly adapting his post-graduation plans and attended the Engineering Career Fair where he connected with Boeing. Within 12 hours, he was interviewing with Boeing and landed an incredible job opportunity, which is the position he’s currently in.
After realizing that achieving his career goal of having an influential role in shaping the human spaceflight industry meant he would eventually need to pivot into a managerial role, Schiefelbein pursued an MBA concurrently with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
“You can only control what is in your power. I maximized my grades, made the most of my internship experiences, elected when to have fun versus when to work hard, and ultimately endured to live my passion.”
— Nick Shiefelbein
“Nick’s vision of pursuing an MBA to help position him for future leadership roles is a very common theme amongst alumni and prospective students,” said Tabatha Carney, director of graduate career services. “Comprehensive advanced business degrees offer insight into the whys of business, as well as the understanding of the importance of strategic planning, critical thinking, and collaboration with internal and external constituents.”
This strategic move positioned him as a level two engineer directly out of college with higher compensation and provided him with the skills required for influential positions. The MBA experience, particularly through case competitions, mirrored his day-to-day responsibilities at Boeing and contributed to obtaining his current temporary managerial role.
Schiefelbein is confident the temporary manager opportunity will prepare him for a full-time management position in the near future.
“While it is cliché, you never truly know what your future holds. You can only control what is in your power. Throughout this process, I believe I was only able to come out in a favorable position by believing in the power of maximizing your opportunity. I maximized my grades, made the most of my internship experiences, elected when to have fun versus when to work hard, and ultimately endured to live my passion.”
To connect with Nick Schiefelbein or follow his professional journey, visit his LinkedIn profile.
