“Can I come with you?” was the question Jeff Hill recalls asking his mentors on his first day as a Boeing intern. A resounding “Yes!” began his fabulous relationship with the team. Today, two years later, Hill is a maintenance mechanic on the 737 factory floor in Renton.

Hill was a Core Plus student attending North Seattle College when his class took a field trip of Boeing’s Everett facility. During the tour, he was encouraged to sign up for the Facilities and Equipment Maintenance internship. He interviewed for the position and was accepted as an intern in the summer of 2018.

His education and training, which earned him an associate’s degree in industrial power and control, as well as an associate’s degree as an electrical technician, prepared him well. He credits North Seattle College, his internship, and his Boeing teammates for making sure he was well-qualified for his position at the company.

“The school did a lot to help prepare me for my position here but it was the internship that did the most, “said Hill. “It gives you an idea of what you’re going to work with and you are here in the factory doing the work that mechanics, techs and the mechatronics do. That is the favorite thing for me.”

He says it is not just working on machines, it’s the people that matter. “Another thing I love is the people that I work with. They have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience that they share. That sharing of knowledge with me really did the most to help me in my career.”

His advice to others considering internships and careers in manufacturing, “Put yourself in the game!”

For more information on the community and technical college manufacturing programs that Boeing partners with, visit this website.

By Catherine Rudolph/Eric Olson

Boeing mechanic Jeff Hill talks about the value of his experience as a Facilities and Maintenance intern.

Eric Olson