This year marks a second summer of internships provided for UNLV engineering students through the StepUp & StartUp (SUSU) program. Since February 2023, SUSU has partnered with 28 start-up companies across the Valley to create 133 internship opportunities — many of which may not have been possible without the program’s innovative model. Housed in the College of Engineering and funded by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, SUSU reimburses employers for a student’s paid internship. Two UNLV engineering students experienced a particularly robust and comprehensive internship at local startup EO Solutions.

Eddymar Cabading and Riley Santiago didn’t just stand by and observe during their 10-week internship stint at aerospace and defense contractor EO Solutions. The two were assigned intensive and hands-on projects that they were expected to complete over the course of the summer. It was also the company's first time delivering an internship program.

Cabading’s assignment involved troubleshooting a malfunctioning fast-steering mirrors system (FSM), an important component of optical communications systems, essentially used to guide lasers. Finding the source of the FSM’s issues required him to disassemble the component and test various parts, a task requiring a diverse skill set ranging from electrical and mechanical engineering to proper project and time management. 

Santiago was tasked with designing and manufacturing a solar shield system, which required him to build and test various prototypes. Then he had to determine which material was best for the system, based on how well it held and transferred the sun’s heat compared to its cost.

“The internship was a transformative experience,” said Cabading. “I study mechanical engineering at UNLV, but the internship pushed me to become comfortable with electrical. I enhanced my engineering skills while learning to problem-solve through measuring and modeling.”

Santiago shared similar sentiments. 

“My project taught me topics that can’t be learned in school,” he said. “EO Solutions created a healthy learning environment and it helped tremendously.”

Out of many great experiences with the company, Cabading and Santiago both agree that one of the main highlights was their field trip to Arizona. EO Solutions brought the two interns to the Lowell Observatory to see the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer, a highly specialized telescope capable of optically imaging stars that are so far away they would otherwise overlap one another. 

Beyond assigned projects, EO Solutions hosted 10 professional skill sessions for their interns, providing opportunities to strengthen their soft skills. These sessions covered topics ranging from communication and project management fundamentals to aerospace industry trends and career pathways.

“At EO Solutions, nurturing the next generation of talent is a top priority, and our summer internship program is central to this mission,” said Isla Young, director of talent acquisition and operations at EO Solutions. “This program has been transformative for our interns, many of whom experienced the aerospace industry firsthand for the first time.”

After watching Cabading and Santiago’s end-of-summer internship presentations, SUSU Coordinator Alejandro Chacon praised EO Solutions. 

“EO Solutions created a strong internship program,” said Chacon. “They make sure the students learn about the aerospace industry as a whole, even outside of the scope of their own company. I’m very happy they are a partner of ours.”