SWE Member Highlight of the Month:
Amy Machinson Hess
Amy Machinson Hess is an Engineering Manager at Caterpillar
Tell us about your position:
I lead design teams in Large Power Systems Division Fuel Systems. I currently have two teams. One team has design control responsibility for Electronic Unit Injectors. The team ensures the injectors delivery the fuel into the combustion chamber for optimized diesel combustion. My other team has responsibility for Low Pressure Fuel Systems. That team makes sure the fuel is delivered from the tank to the high-pressure fuel system at the right time, temperature, pressure and cleanliness levels. Both teams have responsibility for design changes and validation of any design or manufacturing changes to protect our customers. My role is to make sure the teams have the skills and tools to get their jobs done.
What attracted you to a STEM Career?
I thought I wanted to be an architect, so I took I a drafting class in high school. I liked the mechanical side of drafting better then was able to do a coop with Caterpillar Fuel Systems my senior year of high school. I love solving problems but have never been a math person. I love brainstorming new ideas and finding creative solutions to problems.
Who is your inspiration?
The high school kids I mentor for FIRST Robotics Team 4143 Mars Wars are my inspiration. The potential in each of them is inspiring. The incredible designs they create. The way they overcome challenges and setbacks. The ways they find to work together and their openness to coaching and learning. These kids put countless hours into a robot that at most, gets to compete in 3 tournaments. They keep pushing and improving. I'm so excited to see what they can do at the World Championships in Houston April 19 to 21st.
Why did you decide to join SWE?
When I was in college, they had free food. Everyone joined all the "societies" so we could go to meetings and get good food for cheap. I stayed because of all the great mentors and friendships. Over my 25+ years of membership, I have found friends and new career positions.
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
My usual interesting fact (Mechanical Engineer with 7 US Patents) isn't so interesting to this group. So we'll go with my fallback interesting fact: I grew up on a dairy farm here in Central Illinois as the oldest of 6 kids. I get my work ethic and leadership skills from that base. I was also the oldest of my 35 cousins, so I had to be in charge of the younger kids quite often. When dealing with that many, adaptive leadership is a must. Sometimes directive: "STOP! It's not safe to run in front of the tractor". Sometimes collaborative: "What game does everyone want to play?". Sometimes persuasive: "If everyone helps feed the calves, we can go ask Grandma for ice cream." There was always work to be done but it could be made fun with the right attitude.
Tell us about your position:
I lead design teams in Large Power Systems Division Fuel Systems. I currently have two teams. One team has design control responsibility for Electronic Unit Injectors. The team ensures the injectors delivery the fuel into the combustion chamber for optimized diesel combustion. My other team has responsibility for Low Pressure Fuel Systems. That team makes sure the fuel is delivered from the tank to the high-pressure fuel system at the right time, temperature, pressure and cleanliness levels. Both teams have responsibility for design changes and validation of any design or manufacturing changes to protect our customers. My role is to make sure the teams have the skills and tools to get their jobs done.
What attracted you to a STEM Career?
I thought I wanted to be an architect, so I took I a drafting class in high school. I liked the mechanical side of drafting better then was able to do a coop with Caterpillar Fuel Systems my senior year of high school. I love solving problems but have never been a math person. I love brainstorming new ideas and finding creative solutions to problems.
Who is your inspiration?
The high school kids I mentor for FIRST Robotics Team 4143 Mars Wars are my inspiration. The potential in each of them is inspiring. The incredible designs they create. The way they overcome challenges and setbacks. The ways they find to work together and their openness to coaching and learning. These kids put countless hours into a robot that at most, gets to compete in 3 tournaments. They keep pushing and improving. I'm so excited to see what they can do at the World Championships in Houston April 19 to 21st.
Why did you decide to join SWE?
When I was in college, they had free food. Everyone joined all the "societies" so we could go to meetings and get good food for cheap. I stayed because of all the great mentors and friendships. Over my 25+ years of membership, I have found friends and new career positions.
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
My usual interesting fact (Mechanical Engineer with 7 US Patents) isn't so interesting to this group. So we'll go with my fallback interesting fact: I grew up on a dairy farm here in Central Illinois as the oldest of 6 kids. I get my work ethic and leadership skills from that base. I was also the oldest of my 35 cousins, so I had to be in charge of the younger kids quite often. When dealing with that many, adaptive leadership is a must. Sometimes directive: "STOP! It's not safe to run in front of the tractor". Sometimes collaborative: "What game does everyone want to play?". Sometimes persuasive: "If everyone helps feed the calves, we can go ask Grandma for ice cream." There was always work to be done but it could be made fun with the right attitude.
Welcome!
Society Resources
Advertisement
SWE News