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����aa����opher Guerra, a junior at The ����aa����, says that his time in TMU’s engineering program has prepared him to take on real-world challenges.

This year, he had the chance to put that statement to the test during an internship with SetPoint Medical, a Santa Clarita-based company developing bioelectronic devices.

Guerra has long been interested in creating products that address everyday concerns, from entertainment to health. But prior to the internship, he wasn’t aware of any opportunities for mechanical engineers in the medical industry.

His experience at SetPoint was both eye-opening and hands-on. As a manufacturing engineering intern, Guerra helped develop test stations for various device components and establish procedures to protect electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD). He also learned the strict documentation processes required to meet standards in the medical field.

Professors commended Guerra as an excellent candidate for the position. But taking the first step into the workforce, particularly at a biomedical company, can be intimidating. Guerra says becoming a part of the SetPoint team increased his confidence.

“One of the biggest things I struggled with when I first got the position was that it seemed like everyone was so experienced and so knowledgeable, and I’m just this college intern coming in,” he said. “But my coworkers really helped me to be more confident in my stances and be willing to put forth my ideas, and even take more initiative and leadership positions.”

As it turns out, Guerra was more than prepared to step up. He credits TMU with training him in the necessary skills. For instance, he learned in class how to operate SOLIDWORKS, the 3D design software used at SetPoint. He said, “Having that experience from my classes and having the certification that I got at TMU has been really, really helpful. When they show me a SOLIDWORKS drawing, I’m instantly able to understand what’s going on and navigate it properly.”

In TMU’s engineering department, Guerra says he appreciates the smaller class sizes and insights he’s gleaned from experienced faculty. He says he looks forward to advancing further in his skills as he completes his degree.

“In class, it was sometimes hard to see exactly how things related to an actual job,” he said. “Now that I’ve seen what it’s like in my internship, it’s become evident that what I’ve learned at TMU has been extremely valuable.”

TMU offers degrees in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. Learn more at masters.edu/ecs.