All of us want to see the fruits of our labor.
For Mary Cooksey, that means looking up. Like, way up.
“The most rewarding part of my job is walking out to the parking lot and seeing an F-35 fly over my head,” she says. “It’s the best way to remind myself that my work is really important.
Cooksey is an manufacturing engineer who works on fighter jets. She’s currently in her final year of Lockheed Martin’s three-year Engineering Leadership Development Program, which offers experience in a different aspect of engineering each year. (Lockheed Martin employees can apply to the competitive program within 1–3 years after joining.)
Interested to know what it’s like to work on a supersonic aircraft? We were, too, so we asked Cooksey about her role(s) during a recent interview.
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From Finance To Fighter Jets
After college, Cooksey knew one thing for sure: She wanted to work at Lockheed Martin. She just wasn’t sure what she’d do with her degree in Manufacturing Engineering.
Her strategy? Apply to everything.
She was hired as a Value Engineer—a role heavily rooted in finance—which got her closer toward her goal of working on aircraft. After proving herself, Cooksey landed a position in the Leadership Development Program.
In the time since, she’s worked on the F-35, F-16, and F-22 fighter jets and has worked with engineering teams across the company.
A World-Class Team
So, what has stood out to Cooksey during her time at Lockheed? The support new hires receive, for starters.
“Everyone loves to tell you stories,” she says. “They’ll tell you how different things were when they started, and how the company has changed. It’s really inspiring.”
Despite working in a mile-long facility (!!!) with 15,000 people, Cooksey says she recognizes almost every person she works with. “It’s amazing how large the company is, how many different sites we operate around the world, and all the different products we touch, from space to helicopters to fighter jets,” she says.
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Flying Into The Future
As she completes the Leadership Development Program, Cooksey has a lot to be excited about. “Lockheed Martin’s future looks really bright as F-35 production ramps up,” she says. “It’s a culture of all hands on deck, as we work to put out more and more jets every year. And one of the company’s largest goals is that everyone feels part of the same team.”
As for her career path? Cooksey often feels like the opportunities are endless. “I feel like I could go through another 10 rotational programs,” she says.
Her Advice For Future Lockheed Leaders
When Cooksey first joined Lockheed Martin, she felt out of her comfort zone in her finance-focused role. Looking back, she says she learned the most that year.
“When you’re just starting your career, try new things and take on new challenges. You’ll be surprised by how many opportunities open up to you,” Cooksey says.
She stresses the best candidates at Lockheed Martin are the first to volunteer for projects other people aren’t raising their hands for. She quickly found that saying yes—even when she didn’t know where to start on a project—was always a good decision. “Everyone is so approachable,” she says. “It’s not like you’ll be all on your own working on an F-35.”
Nowadays, Cooksey knows one thing for sure: She’ll get to work with innovative, supportive team members and will play a pivotal role in helping create amazing products that change the world—regardless of where her career at Lockheed Martin takes her.
See yourself at Lockheed Martin? They’re hiring on WayUp now!
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Lockheed Martin is a leading global aerospace and technology company that works with partners around the world to drive forward scientific research and innovation.
